Opened - never used? What is that supposed to mean?

[gnosemalf]

What is 'Opened - never used' supposed to mean?

I'm asking this of sellers because I would assume that they have some idea what they are thinking when this description is used.

I just bought an item which was listed as 'Opened - never used' but it did not have its original packaging or any original accessories. So, what did the seller do? Open the item (an Apple keyboard), throw the box away, lose the charging cable and just leave the item sitting on a shelf until they thought, 'hmmm... I opened that but never used it, I think I'll sell it, where did I put that cable?'?

I was just looking for a television and narrowed it down to a particular model then searched for the cheapest. There was a link to an 'Opened - never used' listing on eBay. I hit the link and there was this telly sitting on a carpet with the power cable plugged in looking a bit dusty. I read the description and it said, and I quote:

'This TV is about 8 months old, hardly been used, with no noticeable marks or scratches on it, and still in good working condition...'

8 months old? Hardly (not never!) been used? And the rest is head-smacking - still working and no noticeable marks or scratches despite 8 months of not being used very much.

I once (long before Simple Delivery reared its ugly head and caused me to stop selling) listed an item that was 'Opened - never used' and I had actually powered it up to see if it worked and felt obliged to point this out in the listing lest somebody found me out.

It used to be that the expression 'like new' was banned on eBay (back in the olden days) even if an item literally looked new but now sellers seem to be able to imply that something is 'like new' without it needing to be so.

[edwardian-dreams]

Opened never used means it’s been opened and not used

as you say , all the parts should be  present and as new 

the description should let you know if this isn’t true as you’ve said 

if it doesn’t and it’s described as such you can file an item not as described claim 

but yeah, people shouldn’t do this , ie be dishonest 

[gnosemalf]

I agree but after having read countless descriptions that contradict the statement it gets very tiring*, I think that from here on, I'll just ignore anything described thus.

*Just one of dozens of examples of eBay giving inaccurate results. I've recently been considering buying a Mac Mini M2 but want one with 16GB RAM yet when I search for Mac Mini M2 16GB, I get dozens with 8GB in the title with no mention of 16GB. It isn't just eBay, of course. When I was searching for the TV, I just searched the model number but G°°gle threw in other models and other brands before the one I was looking for.

If it's down to AI, it's not as smart as it thinks it is - if I bought a new toaster (reluctantly) on Amaz°n with vouchers, why does the Amaz°n brain think I need to buy another one.

[edwardian-dreams]

That’s why I always put used if it’s not brand brand new  and  iyer can make up their mind 

ie a bit of the cellophane packaging was torn but the contents were as new 

either chose new or used or for new other ask sellers questions before bidding or buying 

as for ebays search function,  meh

Lots of  complaints about it 

It’s  all controlled and not very well 

[goodibags]

"if I bought a new toaster (reluctantly) on Amaz°n with vouchers, why does the Amaz°n brain think I need to buy another one."

That's still a few notches up the Smartness Ladder from the Ebay brain, which thinks I want to buy the exact same thing that I'm selling. Presumably, from myself? With buyer fees?

[edwardian-dreams]

But why not ? 🤣

it knows better than you

its artificial intelligence 

about as much good as a chocolate teapot here 

[goodibags]

It won't even let me arrange collection from me. I'll end up with a useless SD label.

Has anyone tried reselling Useless SD labels yet? There has to be a market for them.

[edwardian-dreams]

Mr bean material lol

you have to wonder how a multi billion dollar company go doolally 

ghen again trump is a prime example and leader now so more will follow 

sorry op for hijacking your thread 

[kyanyama]

To me it means an item that may have been removed from original packaging, e.g. a box and not used (e.g. a toaster) but didn't like the colour or the the buttons, etc., then replaced in the box.  Box opened but appliance not used.  One slice of bread toasted and it is 'used'!

Maybe a jigsaw taken out of the box but decided it was too difficult and the plastic sealed packaging unopened (i.e. not used) and replaced in the box (box was thus unsealed but contents remained intact).

Anything that has been used, even once is now used!  But seems some folks think different!

[selective_distribution]

I have a particular problem with this. As a seller of mainly vinyl records, I have many that are `Brand New` but that have had the shrink wrap opened to prevent warping during storage. Ebay does not have a way of describing this. Personally I do not use the `Opened- never used` description, but it is difficult to get across to a potential buyer that the item is actually `New`. The same applies to an item that has damage to the shrink wrap, but is actually `New`, If you cannot describe it as `New`, and you cannot describe it as `Used`, then you are stuck.

[goodibags]

In the case of the jigsaw the pieces could have been removed from their packaging but the jigsaw may not have been started, let alone completed. Who's to know whether or not it had been if the seller themselves can't remember?

You may have to take an item out of its packaging to take photos or make sure it's working. You'd have to admit doing so but it doesn't make it 'used'. And while it make take a bit of work you can definitely clear up a few pesky bread crumbs!

I also have vinyl records that were bought 'new' and pretty much still are, goodness knows which ones got played? As well as maps and books that have been opened but not used or read. Ok, maybe they were in the shop but that'd have been before I bought them.

[kyanyama]

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@goodibags wrote:

In the case of the jigsaw the pieces could have been removed from their packaging but the jigsaw may not have been started, let alone completed. Who's to know whether or not it had been if the seller themselves can't remember?

You may have to take an item out of its packaging to take photos or make sure it's working. You'd have to admit doing so but it doesn't make it 'used'. And while it make take a bit of work you can definitely clear up a few pesky bread crumbs!

I also have vinyl records that were bought 'new' and pretty much still are, goodness knows which ones got played? As well as maps and books that have been opened but not used or read. Ok, maybe they were in the shop but that'd have been before I bought them.

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And so it's no longer 'Opened - Never Used'.  It is definitely used!  Since there is no way to know if the jigsaw was completed and replaced in the bag if the internal sealed bag is opened / torn / cut it is 'used'.

Suppose it comes down to whether the seller is honest or dishonest.

[missdollydaydream]

If suppose, I needed a rare value/size fuse but they only came in packs of five. I would open the pack, removed one of the fuses and sell the rest as 'Opened - never used'

[goodibags]

"Suppose it comes down to whether the seller is honest or dishonest."

Except that a seller could be being honest if the jigsaw was both unused and that's how they've described it. How would you go about proving that they're not? In practice, all you can do is either believe them or refuse to. 

[akemp1]

Sometimes I buy things, inspect them and decide I don't want to use them especially if they are the wrong size etc. Also if I have an item removed from a multipack (eg a sealed but unpackaged printer cartridge for a printer that no longer works) then I might list it as opened/not used. It's dodgy when people list things that they have tested by really using in some way so as a buyer it's something to have on your radar as a possibility but then there isn't a way to say 'minimal use' on ebay, If you have in any way used it even if only to test it's functioning without putting fully into the usage scenario (like testing hair clippers work without cutting hair) it's best to mention on the listing.

[the-nutwood-collection]

Etsy's on the same ladder.  It sends me emails headed 'Curated Especially For You' 

They're my products.  The ones I'm selling.

[caryl576]

I'd say everything should be there and unused,

but i wouldn't expect the original packing unless the listing said it was there (if it says it does or uses a photo showing it but doesn't include it then it's not as described)

Plenty of people buy stuff they think they need/want but end up not using them, but not keeping what could well be a box far larger than the item itself