"Faulty item" 3 months after delivery

[5077christine]

Hi

I sold a dress on 29 August and the buyer was happy with it.

Now, on 10 December, I've had a message saying that she tried the dress on, but put it away until now.  Having a wardrobe sort out, has found a stain on the front of the dress, which wasn't noticed on delivery. She hasn't worn the dress, literally took it from my parcel, tried it on and put it away.

She has provided photos.  Indeed there is a faint mark.  However, it's in such an obvious place that I'm certain I would have noticed it when listing the item, and packaging it for posting.

Looking at my photos, it's very difficult to decide whether or not there was a mark on the dress before I sent it.

What shall I do? It's over 3 months since she received the dress.

Also, I cant find an appropriate phone number to contact ebay for advice.  Any ideas?

Thanks

[m25jet]

If the buyer has had the item for four months then surely she ought to have noticed the stain before this time, especially when she took it out of the packaging, because that's what most people usually do - ie:  check the item to make sure that it's as described and doesn't have anything about it that would warrant opening an Item Not As Described case.  I'd be inclined to refuse to refund her, the reason being that although she says that she hasn't worn the dress you have no way of knowing whether she's telling the truth.  She may well have worn the dress in the meantime, stained it at some point and has now decided to try and get her money back in full.  Therefore, stand your ground and refuse the refund.  She's way out of time to pursue a case in eBay anyway, and even if she were to open a PayPal case in relation to the item PayPal may well start thinking that it's a bit odd that she's taken four months to come up with the conclusion that the item isn't as described, in which case they may well throw her case out, as was suggested earlier.

[5077christine]

Thanks to you all for your advice.


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[rusticrye]

Ebay will have no interest in this. Their Money Back Guarantee only covers buyers for 30 days from the last delivery date on the order.

Buyers have 180 days from purchase date in which to open a PayPal case, but that long timeframe is generally for international purchases, where orders can take many months to arrive. So although the buyer could open a Not As Described case there, PayPal will wonder why it's taken the buyer almost 4 months to notice an apparent stain on a UK to UK purchase, and may decline the claim. Impossible to say for sure, though.

So what you do is up to you, but before making a decision, you should ask her for photos.

If you decide to refund, be aware that you'll be stuck will all the fees, Ebay's and PayPal's. And if you want the dress back, you will have to pay the return costs too.

@5077christine 

[95ardenfield]

The buyer had 30 days from receipt to open a not as described case which she clearly didn't,so you do not have to accept the return due to the timescale

[5077christine]

Thanks for your advice

[m25jet]

In addition to the advice that has already been given in relation to this query, if you haven't already done so add the buyer's User ID to your Blocked Bidders List.  In case you are unfamiliar with how to do this click on this link https://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/isapi.dll?bidderblocklogin and a big white box will appear on the screen.  Add the buyer's User ID to that box and then click on the Submit button beneath it.  Once you have done that the buyer will be unable to purchase anything else from you that you decide to advertise for sale on eBay, in which case she will be unable to cause you any further aggravation in relation to any of your future sales.

[5077christine]

Thanks, appreciate your advice.

[tsmgmd]

Your buyer can still make a claim under the PayPal 180 day system.

If you think you may have missed the stain and the dress was not expensive you could just do a refund.

[5077christine]

Thank you for replying