Damaged Goods Returned

[rolfecorp]

I sold a BNIB item to a buyer, they have found the item is not suited to their needs. I have agreed to have the item returned, however the item has been damaged, the original box torn and made very dirty. The condition of the returned item is plain awful. I am now unable to resell this as BNIB due to damaged caused by previous buyer. What recourse do I have? Do I have to give a full refund? Where can I read about seller rights? Please help.

[bsal6160]

So you sell car parts and a buyer got the wrong part sent to him. Just how does the buyer know it did not fit their car? Got a mechanic to fit it for them by the sounds of it. And just HOW is the mechanic supposed to try and fit it when its still in the box? COMMONSENSE applies here. Just refund and relist as Brand new without original box, wheres the problem? Some sellers will do anything to try avoid responsibilty. By the way, it would not be a change of mind it would be a Not As Described dispute. Buyer may even win the dispute and not have to return if return postage is too costly.

[digital*ghost]

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@bsal6160 wrote:

So you sell car parts and a buyer got the wrong part sent to him. Just how does the buyer know it did not fit their car? Got a mechanic to fit it for them by the sounds of it. And just HOW is the mechanic supposed to try and fit it when its still in the box? COMMONSENSE applies here. Just refund and relist as Brand new without original box, wheres the problem? Some sellers will do anything to try avoid responsibilty. By the way, it would not be a change of mind it would be a Not As Described dispute. Buyer may even win the dispute and not have to return if return postage is too costly.

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The OP has stated that the part is correct for the buyer's car, and I would think that a mechanic - if they knew what they were doing - would know without having to try and fit and/or damage most parts whether it was made for a certain car or not, surely? So, from the info given by the seller, it sounds to me like the part the buyer bought was the part the buyer was sent, and the mechanic is the responsible one here, not the seller.

And the buyer won't win a PP dispute - it's in the T&Cs that a) items are not to be tampered with prior to return, and b) sending items back without PayPal's direction to do so voids protection, which is actually something that needs to be kept in mind for all buyers.

[bsal6160]

Why did the OP agree to return of item if he was so adiment it was the right part? An agreement to allow return might be seen by ebay and paypal as an admission of them supplying the incorrect item. And like dave said, if the  buyer bought it from cheaperauto parts he could just return it for the correct item. Why the disparagy in return policies?

As for the box. With out opening the box how the hell would you know if its the right part?

[*sparklz*]

Because the box would have on it what the part was and what makes of cars it is suitable for.

 And the seller would be able to resell if it was still in the condition it was sent in so that is why they accepted the return BUT it is not as it was sent

[bsal6160]

and if the box contained the wrong part?

[phorum_junkie*]

Dear XXXXX

I agreed to a full refund if the item was returned in the same condition as sent. Obviously that did not happen so I am prepared to offer two options to resolve this. The first is that on receipt of postage I will return the item to you so you can either find a mechanic who knows what they are doing or I will attempt to auction the item on your behalf in it's present condition and will refund you whatever I get for it less the selling fees.

Yours etc

I am assuming that you have checked the actual part to conform it was the correct one for the packaging.

[*sparklz*]

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@bsal6160 wrote:

and if the box contained the wrong part?

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It was returned and and the seller has said it is the correct item just that it had been damaged by the buyer's mechanic as stated by the buyer to the seller.

If it was the wrong part in the box then the seller would not be here asking about the problem with the transaction.

[davewil1964]

And like dave said, 

I said nothing of the sort.

The OP is a reputable motor vehicle seller/servicer. I suggested that their policies for over the counter sales should be the ones they apply to online sales.

[*new2vintage]

One option I would offer the buyer would be to ask for the cost for return postage because if the part is correct and not faulty the only thing I need to do is post it back to him. The only alternative I'd offer is PJ's - sell the part on their behalf and give them the proceeds minus fees. No one needs to do more than necessary when a buyer may have decided they just want their money back.

[foxette-in-sox]

The items returned have been fitten & removed and the packaging severely damaged and left in an awfully fithy state

Then the parts are now USED & if they were the wrong parts,how could they been fitted ? Buyer sounds a bit suss or mechanic has nfi what they're doing IMO.