Ebay return with a twist

[jebedar123]

I sold a laptop. The buyer complained about the battery and took it for service to check they said it needed to change the battery and the whole top chassis of the laptop (all free of charge because it is still under warranty). 

The buyer returned the laptop, and so I took it to repairs to get it checked. To my surprise, the technician told me it had already been serviced with a new battery and a keyboard while it was in the buyer's custody.

So my question is, since the item has been tampered with and modified, can I refuse the return? Consequently, this isn't the exact item I sold; it has new/different parts from what I sold. So, can I refuse the return based on it alone, right? They shouldn't have sent the laptop for service before sending it back, right?

I appreciate any help you can provide.

[*sons_and_daughters*]

If you don't want to take the 15 seconds to relist the laptop, throw it in the bin. I seriously don't know what your gripe is. Relisting will get you more money, but if relisting is an issue, chuck it out and get nothing.

The buyer didn't know what they were getting until they received it. They apparently received a lemon. It's been fixed, at their cost. Win win for you...................or not.

These forums aren't in the habit of telling you what you want to hear. They are in the habit of giving facts. If you take offence to that, that is your problem.

Edited to add: You can probably end your Fixems listing. They are gone. Done and dusted. Kaput. Especially with that insane postage cost. Once the ads on the TV end, all interest is lost. Why keep relisting them, that aren't going to sell, yet you aren't interested in relisting your laptop?

[eol-products]

These Fixems ( 185575355245 )  just sold a few days ago at a higher price so I don't feel their listing is anything different.

[jebedar123]

It has nothing to do with things that I want to hear or not.

I don't want your opinion about me, my God or my gender (you can have it if you want). Unfortunately, I see myself responding to kids with ZERO feedback on eBay these days where I was really looking for a stable and fruitful community which you are not the representation of.

Had I had, the same type of response in the USA forum (positive or negative), it would just be OK, and I'd accept it. I'm getting the same responses here that I'd get on Reddit and this is nuts! You guys need to do better. 

What happened with the young Australians that once we used to be?

You are now muted on my end Sir!

[jellybirddesigns · Accepted solution]

It's is a weird situation to be in, that's for sure. No idea why a buyer would go to the trouble of having repairs carried out and then send it back. I mean...why not keep it after all that?

However, I don't really see the point of refusing the return. Sending it back to the buyer would probably just result in a case being opened, which can be a lot more risky. The buyer obviously doesn't want to take the chance that something else could go wrong and they returned it on their own dime.

It sounds like the laptop is in better shape than before, so you should have no trouble reselling it. Just refund the buyer, and re-list it. You don't even have to mention that there have been repairs.

[padi*0409]

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@jebedar123 wrote:

 If the buyer had a problem with the item, he/she/they shouldn't have pressed the buy button!

If the buyer had known there was a problem with the battery and the keyboard they probably would not have bid on the item.

Furthermore, I got a great review because I even kept in contact with the buyer after they received and inspected the items and I intend to keep having open communication with the buyer if I can; I want to solve this problem.

You CAN solve the problem before it gets out of hand and just refund the buyer.

Unfortunately, this thread was nothing like the one in the eBay USA community where they told exactly what I wanted in a very simple sentence, unfortunately under the wrong jurisdiction.

You were told in that thread that US policies are not the same as Australian eBay policies, different countries different rules.

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I will add that judging by the amount of feedback the buyer has, they will be very aware of eBay's Money Back Guarantee so I think you can expect them to open a dispute against you with eBay - if they haven't done so already.

[padi*0409]

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@jellybirddesigns wrote:

It's is a weird situation to be in, that's for sure. No idea why a buyer would go to the trouble of having repairs carried out and then send it back. I mean...why not keep it after all that?

Jelly, it could be that because it was under warranty the Apple repair shop has just gone ahead and done the repairs needed.

However, I don't really see the point of refusing the return. Sending it back to the buyer would probably just result in a case being opened, which can be a lot more risky. The buyer obviously doesn't want to take the chance that something else could go wrong and they returned it on their own dime.

Exactly my point earlier.

It sounds like the laptop is in better shape than before, so you should have no trouble reselling it. Just refund the buyer, and re-list it. You don't even have to mention that there have been repairs.

No, no need to mention the repairs BUT i would be saying that the laptop now has a new battery and keyboard along with the extended warranty on those parts.

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[janeababe]

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@jebedar123 wrote:

Thanks for the input. BTW, It is a great laptop, but that's not the point. I want to sell it! Do I have grounds to refuse the return? It isn't the same equipment that was sold. The buyer sent it to be fixed without my authorization, so he shouldn't be able to return it, right?

I'm not looking for the ethical thing. I want this sold. If I had to re-enlist again I'd have to put in the description as "Refurbished" or "Serviced"... the equipment was devalued in my opinion.

Has anyone ever seen this thing happen before?

Input is appreciated.

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Call this morals do you? Maybe you do!  
You lack integrity. This is not an assumption on my part, but concluded by the content of your responses here! 

Oh, and BTW….. a lot of members here have a zero feedback account just for posting on the boards. They keep their selling accounts to selling only! 

The responders you have on this thread are LONG TERM members, I can guarantee you that! 
So be rest assured, the info you get here, is accurate and relevant. (Just not what you obviously want to hear!) ….. but that’s your problem, not ours! 

I can also suggest that you have now been added to a few BBL since your little adventure here to our boards.  Well done! Nothing like making a few Sellers jobs easier, that’s for sure! 

The avenues are open for your buyer! I hope they come here so we can lead them towards a full refund!!! 😉

[padi*0409]

Jane, I don't believe the OP realises what the ramifications will be to their selling account if they continue to deny the buyer their just refund, and a dispute is opened under the MBG.

It's bad enough that the OP has not refunded already, if that dispute is opened straight away a flag goes up on their account, and if eBay has to step in the consequences will be even more severe for them, because the buyer will almost certainly win the dispute.

The auction finished at over double the start price - which presumably the OP would have been happy with if there had only been 1 bid. I'm afraid all I see here is greed and a good possibility that things will go very badly for the OP if they don't do the right thing by the buyer, one of those would be a likely limit on the value of future listings - so they may not be even able to relist the laptop.

Every one of the members responding here has said they see no reason at all for denying the refund.

But hey, what would we know........... but I certainly don't like the odds of the OP winning and keeping their money.

[domino-710]

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@jebedar123 wrote:

I sold a laptop. The buyer complained about the battery and took it for service to check they said it needed to change the battery and the whole top chassis of the laptop (all free of charge because it is still under warranty). 

The buyer returned the laptop, and so I took it to repairs to get it checked. To my surprise, the technician told me it had already been serviced with a new battery and a keyboard while it was in the buyer's custody.

So my question is, since the item has been tampered with and modified, can I refuse the return? Consequently, this isn't the exact item I sold; it has new/different parts from what I sold. So, can I refuse the return based on it alone, right? They shouldn't have sent the laptop for service before sending it back, right?

I appreciate any help you can provide.

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How on earth can you refuse a refund - you've stated the buyer returned the item.

This begs a question - in my mind anyway - why you didn't have the decency - given the item was still under warranty - have these repairs made yourself - BEFORE - listing a faulty item.

Oh - just for the book - multiply your feedback by about 59 - ZERO kids - indeed. lol

[gutterpunkz05 · Accepted solution]

As soon as the buyer claimed faulty battery, you were doomed.  There is a way around it, but it was not included in your listing.   As far as the refund goes, as you have received the item back, you have 3 days to complete the refund or ebay will do it for you.  Ebay is only interested in the fact you have received the item back, as to it being serviced, you will be hard pressed to prove, the when, where and by whom, at least to ebays satisfaction.