Buyer complaining item is faulty over 30 days after receiving?

[noctilucence]

Buyer messaged me complaining that item is faulty 32 days after signed delivery date. Not sure whether or not to respond...and if yes, what with? Can they open a case against me? I already know how eBay is, and that they would side with the buyer. (Very rare that they don't...) I've also heard they can open a PayPal case after 180 days??

I'm a small seller and as of recently I've incurred a fair few losses due to buyers claiming item not recieved and I just refund or replace with no hassle. This is a more expensive item I am reluctant to take a loss on...or I'd be breaking even at this point.

Thanks in advance.

Edited to add: Item was a used item.

[red_magpie]

Buyers are guaranteed a refund for almost any reason by eBay (eBay doesn't even see the item, and accepts the buyer's word), but only for exactly 30 days from the latest estimated or actual date of delivery. After that they have no involvement.

PayPal's buyer protection period is longer at 180 days, but still only covers the condition of the item on delivery. It is explicitly not a warranty. For example, it might cover an item discovered to be counterfeit even months after purchase, but is unlikely to cover an item that becomes faulty in use, even after a matter of days. PayPal recently tirned down a "not as described" dispute for this reason.

[tsmgmd]

As virtually all your listings are for brand new items it would appear that you are trading on eBay using private seller status whilst operating a small business. 

This means you are incorrectly registered and as such the law states your buyer could actually return items upto 12 months old. 

Your quote of 32 days after despatch means nothing due to your seller status. 

Accept the return and refund. 

The last thing you need is for your buyer to contact C. A. B.. 

[noctilucence]

I should add that this specific item was used, and listed as such.

[noctilucence]

I am very surprised to hear that my account constitutes a 'small business'...I am a newbie (for bg I'm 22, just doing this casually on the side) Are you certain about this?

I have to admit I don't know very much about the corporate side of eBay selling - the blueprint/fineprint stuff if you know what I mean.

I would assume even for a small business you'd need to be making a certain amount and selling a certain amount... Even though I have a fair few items listed, I do not have much stock going at any one time, no warehouse or anything...and I don't make much profit...not sure I'd be making a profit at all if I signed up for an eBay store.

I had no idea I was possibly breaching any rules...I thought setting up a store was just an optional thing.

[*guinevere*]

They  are just about out  of time for an ebay case. They can open a dispute but they can't escalate it.

Yes they can open a Paypal dispute but Paypal may see it as a warranty issue which they won't hold with.

There is no saying really.

[noctilucence]

"They can open a dispute but they can't escalate it." not sure what this means...

[*guinevere*]

It just means they can go through the motions of opening a case but it won't go anywhere. It will time out in the seller's favour.