Help Needed - Sale of Electrical Items to Overseas Buyer

[abigailbunny1]

As as UK based seller, I regularly sell electrical items without issue.  However, I recently sold two cordless telephone handsets with their charging bases to a European buyer.  They are now complaining because the chargers have UK plugs and this was not specifically stated in the description.  To be honest, it would never have even crossed my mind to state this in the description; as a UK based item, surely this should be assumed to be the case.  For example, I wouldn't buy something from USA and expect it to have a UK plug.

I suspect the buyer will open a NAD case which will force me to accept and pay for the return but feel this is a blatant misuse of the policy.

Does anyone have any similar experience?  They buyer has apparently contacted eBay who have told them I must cover the cost of return, but is clearly explaining the situation as the item not being as described.

[jma2815]

There isn’t anything you can do. Discussing it will be pointless. I think the best thing to do would be to limit messaging to advising them to open a return if they don’t want the goods. ‘No returns’ doesn’t mean ‘No refunds’ so if you fight this with CS and the buyer you’ll likely lose the money and the handsets. 

If its not worth paying the postage to have the handsets returned you could just refund the money and let them keep the item. 

They will choose ‘Not as Described’ as the reason and you will have to send the return label, which both suck, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. At least you should have the item back to resell. 

[*vyolla*]

How did you manage that without a GPSR partner (see link below)?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sellercentre/global-sales/general-product-safety-regulation

Your options here would be to cover the cost of the return or to refund if it's not cost effective to do so.

[abigailbunny1]

All the items I sell are preowned and hence should be covered by Article 51, although I do add the information where this is available.

[4_bathrooms]

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@*vyolla* wrote:

How did you manage that without a GPSR partner (see link below)?

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For whatever reason eBay don't seem to be currently enforcing GPSR compliance.

[555njp]

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@4_bathrooms wrote:

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@*vyolla* wrote:

How did you manage that without a GPSR partner (see link below)?

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For whatever reason eBay don't seem to be currently enforcing GPSR compliance.

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Nor do EU/NI customs thus far.

[missdollydaydream]

There are USA spec chargers available at a reasonable price on eBay UK. Would it be worthwhile you purchasing one and sending it to the buyer?