buyer returning faulty item

[bo70four]

hello,

i sold a new/selaed item (pressure washer) that the buyer received some 4-5 weeks ago,

yesterday i randomly got a return item case stating the item is faulty with no previos messaging from the buyer.

they`ve ended up saying that the item was faulty from the start (leaking water from the main machine/connection to water pipe or something to that effect) so it sounds like they carried on using it.

the return was totally unexpected both with the amount of time past and the buyer not contacted me about any problem from the start etc, at the moment i can`t help feeling like i maybe being fobbed off slightly.....

what would happen if i get the item back and it either works or something seems untoward about it?

i did except the return and have sent a return label for them to post the item back (not exaclty cheap with the weight of the item)

but i`m wondering where i stand as the seller.

i can`t help thinking that you don`t really have a leg to stand on when you sell something even if it turns out to be a slightly suspect return or worse.

i have a private account and have a high amount of feedback but this is predominantly for purchases, i generally sell a handful of used items a year so i`m not exactly an experienced seller and i`ve not had a return case opened against me before as far as i can remember.

[red_magpie]

i`m wondering where i stand as the seller.

Where you stand is explained in eBay's money back guarantee policy. If eBay can't determine that the item matched the description, they will find in favour of the buyer.

What this means in practice is that as eBay never even sees the item, and can't know what the buyer received, or what condition it was in, it's almost inevitable that they will support any buyer. As a further "encouragement" to sellers to accept the return, if a seller disputes it, and loses - which they will, they will then forfeit any return of fees and eBay will penalise them with a damaging defect on their account.

As for what happens if the seller claims that their item had been returned damaged, or even switched for a different one, it may not surprise you to know that many sellers complain that eBay has still made them refund the buyer.

EBay has become a very risky place to sell things.

[bo70four]

the item was new and sealed and if it arrived not in that state then i`m sure the buyer would of contacted about it upon arrival.
at the moment i am a bit worried what i`m going to receive when it does get back to me to be honest,
will just have to wait and see, but i do feel i`m being potentially slightly or totally conned in some way at the moment.