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What am I even supposed to do in this situation.
Summary: t0mwe88 sold a faulty computer part on eBay for spares and repairs. Despite clearly communicating the item's condition, the buyer requested a return, claiming it was defective. t0mwe88 is concerned about refunding the buyer and potentially incurring a defect on their eBay account. john1297576 and *vyolla* advise that if the case is escalated, eBay might force a refund and issue a defect, emphasizing the difficulties new sellers face with such cases. The situation highlights potential vulnerabilities in eBay's seller protections.
So on the 30th of July I sold a computer part for spares and repairs since it was just something I had lying around and something I had no use of, I ended up selling for £15 after accepting an offer, 1 day after it got delivered to the buyer, they requested a return, claiming its 'defective' and that it 'artifacts' and that it 'crashes the system' which is odd because I did describe it as faulty, I said the GPU had driver issues and it works best as a basic display adapter, not as a fully functioning graphics card, yet he still wants to return it, he hasn't even provided any evidence, the only thing he's sent is a picture of the GPU in his computer, nothing else.
I'm somewhat new to selling on eBay, having only sold 5 items, but I don't believe I should have to accept a return when the buyer knew it was faulty, yet still purchased it, If I do accept a return, then I have to pay for it to be posted back? so at the end, I'm like a few pound worse off because of that.
It says to resolve it by the 10th august but I don't know if that is just when they refund the buyer without return or if that's when eBay steps in because surely it should be obvious that If a buyer buys something that is described as faulty and for spares and repairs, that it will arrive, still faulty.
any help and advice is appreciated.
john1297576
Mentor1 month agoIf buyer has opened a case Not as described, then if you do not act, after 3 days he can escalate to ebay who will refund at your expense and you get a defect.
For a new seller one defect is serious, as ebay expect no more than two per 100 transactions.
After refund, you can report buyer to ebay for abuse of the system, but it will not get your money back.
t0mwe88
OP1 month agoWould there be a way to like, dispute it, surely this kind of thing happens a lot right? An item being sold, then buyer wants to return it on the basis that it isn't as described even though it is described and that's provable, I think there should be more protections for sellers because it seems far to easy for a buyer to rip a seller off even though the buyer gains nothing (unless they swap the item when returning) but the seller loses a few pound because they have to pay for postage, also, the return reason the buyer chose is "Doesn't work or is defective" which makes no sense to me considering the item I was selling was being sold as faulty, would there be any chance if i just wait till the 10th, and like, me asking eBay to step in, and they realising that the item was described correctly and the symptoms the buyer is experiencing aligns with what I said in the description?
*vyolla*
Mentor1 month agoProblem is, your buyer can ask eBay to step in in 3 business days and then they'll force the refund, let the buyer keep the item and give you a defect. As @john1297576 has explained, these defects are very damaging. eBay don't see the item in question, they have no idea if it was described or not, so if you ask eBay to step in the outcome will be the same.
red_magpie
Mentor1 month agoWhen a buyer bought an item as "for parts or not working" and the buyer complained that it didn't work, this used to be one of the few situations when eBay could be relied on to support the seller.
Unfortunately you have probably blown even this chance by describing ways in which the item is still working, for example that the graphics card displays and posts fine, and that its still ok "as a basic display adapter and maybe light gaming".
I'm afraid this makes it almost certain that eBay would support the buyer - because the buyer could dispute any of these claims. The only way a seller might win is to win is to stick to eBay's own definition, that the item does not function as intended and is sold as for spares or repair only. I do not think that even eBay could support a buyer who then complained that it didn't work - although it would surprise no-one here if they did. There is no right to any independent appeal against eBay's decisions and we have all agreed in the user agreement to accept them.
Bluntly, it isn't worth risking a defect on your account for a £15 sale. It probably isn't even worth paying to have the item returned. I would just accept the case, agree to the refund - and make theirs the first name on your blocked bidders list!