Buyer is claiming item is not as described but offers no evidence and I have a video recording

[arnieboy66]

Hi everyone, I recently sold a video recorder on ebay and a few hours before I sent it I recorded a short video showing a tape playing without any issues. Equally I took photos showing the item as being clean with just some minor wear due to age. The buyer is now claiming the item is very dirty and that it does not work, yet does not provide any evidence whatsoever, not a single photo. Where do I stand?

[tressygirl]

It may be that they are trying for a partial refund,  of course you do not have to oblige here.

Photos,  I'm afraid do not provide any evidence for either party,  as it cannot be proved to be the item in question.

If they open a case for item not as described,  you will have to fully refund through those case details and within 8 days, that way no seller fee to pay,  no gaining any defets for your account.   You obviously  want the item back,  so the case enforces you to pay for that fully tracked return postage.

Hopefully ,  you'll receive the item back in good working order,  if not, you will have to try and fight that corner with eBay CS.  We never know how successful that ends up,  it   may all depend on the agent you talk to,  but at least it should  be recorded,  so if the buyer has a pattern for abusing their 30 day MBG,   eBay will act.

[tobiasd4]

Your video doesn't prove you sent that actual item, buyer does not have to provide proof of damage, ebay always believe them.

Buyer opens ebay case for not as described, you issue returns label through case & refund in full.

If you refuse or ignore case, ebay refund buyer with your money & they keep item.

[red_magpie]

Where do I stand?

If the buyer opens a case under eBay's money back guarantee you will be required to refund them in full, and send them a prepaid return label if you want the item back.

Your video recording will count for nothing. What matters is the condition of the item on delivery, and eBay will take the buyer's word for this, not yours. No evidence is required.

If you contest the case, the only difference it will make is that you will forfeit any return of fees, and receive a damaging defect on your account. If the buyer doesn't receive a prepaid return label they will be able to keep the item as well as the refund.

EBay has become a very risky place to sell things. The best you can hope for is to got the item back in the condition you sold it, or even the same item. If you don't, don't count on eBay taking your word for that either.

[arnieboy66]

Thanks everyone, just out of interest, if I get it back and re-sell as for parts or not working would this make a difference for next time?

[1902elder]

If you are so sure it was working, so why are you now asking about selling for parts etc? Why would you sell like that if it is working?

[*knight-rider*]

it could be not working now and o.p is taking the buyers word it is`nt, hence the question 🙂
Best thing to do o.p, is get it back, test it and take it from there, that`s all you can do really.

[arnieboy66]

Hi
I am simply thinking that if ebay always believe the buyer, then how do you cover yourself. The recorder was working when I tested it but I accept in theory it could have stopped working immediately after. If I get it back is it best to resell as spares or faulty even if working, so there cannot be comeback?

[*knight-rider*]

This is just my opinion only, but i think it doesn`t matter either way, if a buyer opens a return request for not as described, ebay will nearly always side with the buyer, there are plenty of threads on these boards where people have sold stuff as spares and/or not working and still had returns opened.
The only thing you can do, is get it back, test it and take it from there, if it does work fine, simply re-sell it if you wish, because the next buyer could be perfectly happy with it and cause no issues 🙂
I certainly don`t doubt it was working fine when you tested it, but anything could have happened on it`s journey to the buyer, such as the parcel being dropped and the shock effecting something inside, who knows, it`s a bit like driving out a garage after an m.o.t pass and a mile down the road a cop pulls you over because a bulb is out, it was fine at the garage 10 minutes ago, but can blow anytime after.

[arnieboy66]

Thanks for the steer. This is interesting as I see, for example, lots of laptops as spares or repair with smashed screens etc. where the seller is adamant there are no returns, yet it seems they have no option but to accept such. I agree with your analogy about the MOT but if an item is described as broken I struggle to see how a buyer could not understand. Anyway, I will live with it.

[tobiasd4]

If you list as spares, do not say what possible fix is,
you can say doesn't turn on, but don't say needs probably needs new power module.