Seller wanting to take issue outside of ebay - does this violate TOS?

[jocol_7214]

Hi guys, I bought a pokemon card off of Ebay with the estimated delivery date set as Wednesday the 19th of Feb. On Thursday, I submit an item didn't arrive query and upon communication with the seller we agree to wait until today (Saturday 22nd). I go to the shop I ordered it to for collection to see if they had it and they didn't. I inform the seller of this and they give me a full refund. 

Just now, I get a notification that my order is ready for collection. I inform the seller of this and ask what they want to do. I still want the card so they ask me if it's okay for me to take their phone number to take this off of Ebay so I can pay them the refund amount back. 

Is this normal/acceptable?

Thank you in advance for your help 🙂

[auctionmike1]

Quite apart from anything else, a bit of patience is required when dealing with any carrier. I posted two items with Royal Mail last Monday to different parts of mainland UK. One arrived the next day, the other took 4 days longer.

eBay estimated delivery dates are perfect-world guesses and mean nothing.

[technthread]

I’d collect the card and check it before doing anything. 

I would suggest the seller then re-lists the card on eBay, you buy it again and they can just mark it dispatched with no tracking. 

[jocol_7214]

Sure, this item took 9 days to arrive and was sent 1st class. 

Either way, I don't need help with the estimated delivery date. I just added that as context to the situation. I need help with how to proceed with the issue at hand.

[jckl1957]

The issue for the seller (and you) is that there is no way for you to pay them again through Ebay.

Ebay won't reverse the refund and the seller can't send you another invoice so you have to come to an arrangement between the two of you.

Collect the card before doing anything (sound advice from another poster) - as you have been refunded through Ebay, there is not any buyer protection for you.

Then, if you are happy, you can pay the seller through Paypal or send the money to their bank account.  Either way, they will need to give you details of their Paypal account or their bank account

[jocol_7214]

I suggested something similar, they said that they didn't want to do that because of the new payment holds and the buyer protection fees.

The only options they've given me is for me to take their phone number and discuss how I can return the refund money to them or to return the card (at my own expense for postage) and keep the refund money.

[jocol_7214]

Okay, I'll collect the card ASAP. Thank you.

- Should I take their mobile number or keep the conversation in ebay's messages?

- Would taking their PayPal/bank details violate ebay's rules of not sharing personal information in messages? 

I'm worried about my account being suspended for accepting their personal information ultimately, that's why I made the post.

[technthread]

It’s up to you. At the end of the day you’re being honest, they are fortunate you haven’t gone silent on them. I find it a bit funny that they are now stipulating things to you about options they will or won’t accept. 

If your eBay profile has your mobile number then they can just go to the order details and get your number there to contact you directly. A number doesn’t have to be exchanged over messages then. 

[jocol_7214]

I don't believe my profile does unfortunately.

I didn't want to just blank them and collect it anyway because I've bought from them before and the service was very good, though the dictation of what options they would accept did annoy me a tad.

It's not like this card is £100 either, I bought it for £7. The seller has made over 2000 sales too, so I'm quire surprised they didn't just put it down as the cost of doing business.

[technthread · Accepted solution]

Are there any other cards of theirs that you would want to buy? Maybe a good compromise would be to overpay on something else and write it off that way, they may be more open to that as it forms part of another sale.

If not then I’d go with post 5 and say you’re happy to send the funds back but the seller will have to work out how to get that information over to you without the eBay bots flagging the message… if they are going to send a mobile number to you they may as well send a bank sort code and account number instead. 

[jocol_7214]

Thanks a lot for all your help 🙂

[jocol_7214]

 Just recieved this message, works for me I guess 🤣

Thanks again for your help everyone, much appreciated 🙂

[missdollydaydream]

Yes, eBay are very good at giving away other peoples goods and money! Unlike eBay however, you have morals and standards!