eBay

diamondhead · ‎03-07-2025

Hello all,

I sold an old G-Shock to a buyer. The buyer was happy with the watch. They asked me if the watche had been serviced. I said it had NEVER been serviced in the years I had it. The buyer said they were going to take it to G-Shock and have it serviced (I have all this in messsages)

Four days later the buyer contacts me to say they took the watch swimming and it is not working. I asked if they had the watch serviced? No. I suggested an old watch should be looked at before swimming. They asked what to do. I said take it to the place you were going to - Gshock. They said the watch place said the rubber seal on the watch was lose after last it was opened - I never had it opened under my ownership and they now want me to pay for the repair! Pretty much the price of the watch.

This cannot be right, can it? Surely eBay are not going to side with the buyer over this when they neglected to have the watch inspected before swimming when they told me that was what they were going to do? It’s an old watch, not a new one and it was never advertised as such.

Any experience or advice would be appreciated because I feel I have a right to refuse on this issue, but I fear the old “eBay always sides with the buyer” is going to come and bite me.

Thanks,

M

nutrafituk · ‎03-07-2025

That's ebay for you... next time think twice before selling anything here 😕

With regards to the issue, it is important when the transaction took place, has there been a case or return tequest opened? If it still falls within the money back guarantee period you will have to take it the hard way if the buyer goes all the way, sorry.

plpmr · ‎03-07-2025

the buyer cannot force you to pay for repairs, but to advise you fully you need to say when the watch was sold and received by the buyer.

diamondhead · ‎03-07-2025

The watch was sold via the Global Shipping Programme to a chap in Denmark on 12th June. It was delivered 27th June. He messaged me aaying he was satisfied and asked the service question, which I answerd.

i am a private seller on eBay but have been made to offer returns. If I thought his claim was something I was at fault, I have no issue, I have taken returns before, but the guys took the watch swimming even though I told him I had never had the watches serviced and he said he was going to do that and then neglected to do so. Surely that negligence is on him?

Thanks.

4_bathrooms · ‎03-07-2025

@diamondhead wrote:

Surely eBay are not going to side with the buyer over this when they neglected to have the watch inspected before swimming when they told me that was what they were going to do? It’s an old watch, not a new one and it was never advertised as such.

Has the buyer actually opened a case via eBay or are they just sending messages?

Give me ambiguity or give me something else.

thepillenwerfer · ‎03-07-2025

By any moral judgement you are in the Right. As this is e-Bay though I doubt you'll win. The only hope would have been if you'd said in the listing that it shouldn't be regarded as water resistant.

You'll just have to wait and see if they open an official return request. If they do you could fight it and probably end up loosing both the watch, not that that's much good now, and the money besides getting a black mark on your e-Bay account.

It is possible that the Buyer is making the whole tale up in the hope you'll offer him a partial refund and won't open an actual case. If he does and is given the sole choice of returning it for a full refund he may mysteriously go quiet.

Cacas vendit.

diamondhead · ‎03-07-2025

Just sending messages. Asking me to pay for the repair.

vinylscot · ‎03-07-2025

If I was the buyer, and this watch was meant to be waterproof, I would expect it to be waterproof. The service issue is a red herring (if the buyer is being honest). All that happened was that he took a chance that it would be waterproof, as it should have been.

In the seller's position now, I would tell him he needs to submit a return request, although that will prove awkward as the buyer is in Denmark. Have you had a look at his feedback, in particular feedback left for others, to see if he tries this on regularly?

Overseas returns can be a nightmare, and there is a possibility he's just angling for a part refund - you accepted an offer below your asking price, and maybe he sees you as an easy touch. I generally don't offer part refunds, but I know some do, and it can be an easy way out of a tricky situation if he only wants twenty quid or something. It's up to you.

ile136yz · ‎03-07-2025

@diamondhead wrote:

Hello all,

I sold an old G-Shock to a buyer. The buyer was happy with the watch. They asked me if the watche had been serviced. I said it had NEVER been serviced in the years I had it. The buyer said they were going to take it to G-Shock and have it serviced (I have all this in messsages)

Four days later the buyer contacts me to say they took the watch swimming and it is not working. I asked if they had the watch serviced? No. I suggested an old watch should be looked at before swimming. They asked what to do. I said take it to the place you were going to - Gshock. They said the watch place said the rubber seal on the watch was lose after last it was opened - I never had it opened under my ownership and they now want me to pay for the repair! Pretty much the price of the watch.

This cannot be right, can it? Surely eBay are not going to side with the buyer over this when they neglected to have the watch inspected before swimming when they told me that was what they were going to do? It’s an old watch, not a new one and it was never advertised as such.

Any experience or advice would be appreciated because I feel I have a right to refuse on this issue, but I fear the old “eBay always sides with the buyer” is going to come and bite me.

Thanks,

M

Hi,

Reading your eBay advert for the sale of the watch.

You said the Watch was Waterproof to 200 meters.

You could wait & see if the Buyer opens a case for 'not as described'.

diamondhead · ‎03-07-2025

The buyer has a rating of two transactions. He’s asking for €130 for the repair. More than half the price of the watch. Should I offer him less and hope that satisfies or should I wait to see if he takes a return out on eBay?

It’s all very upsetting as I hate this kind of thing happening and I was as honest as I could be.

vinylscot · ‎03-07-2025

Personally, I wouldn't agree to a part refund of that size, and I wouldn't volunteer to repay any lower amount. As stated earlier, he may just be looking for some cash back - remember, you don't even know if he went swimming! The watch may still be in perfect working order.

I would ask him to raise a return, which will be automatically accepted by eBay, although admin-wise, this will be an awkward process as he is in Denmark. He's wanting almost all of his money back, so you've got nothing much left to lose. You can come back here if you have further problems once you receive the item back. (Although I stated in my first paragraph that it may be in perfect working order just now, it probably won't be, when it gets back to you, so you do need to be prepared to pretty much write it off)

thepillenwerfer · ‎03-07-2025

If it's the watch I think it is it's digital so may well be OK when it's dried out and had a new battery.

I agree with the advice to see if he opens an official return case and to not do a partial refund.

Cacas vendit.

ile136yz · ‎03-07-2025

@diamondhead wrote:

The buyer has a rating of two transactions. He’s asking for €130 for the repair. More than half the price of the watch. Should I offer him less and hope that satisfies or should I wait to see if he takes a return out on eBay?

It’s all very upsetting as I hate this kind of thing happening and I was as honest as I could be.

Myself, I would wait to see if an eBay case is opened.

If an eBay case is opened, I would not offer money for repairs as the damage may be unrepairable. Any Watch waterproof rubber seals deteriorate with age & should be replaced before water is introduced to the item.