ebay return question

[Dog Biscuit]

Bought a new spare key for our volvo off an ebay seller. It was non gen and cost 150.

I then took to a mate (volvo technician) and we paid for the software and he coded it - the bit for the ignition and the remote locking

2 weeks later the central locking remote function stopped working. I cnaged the battery and still no luck

Reported it to ebay seller who after suggesting I change the battery washed his hands of it and said ttake it back to the coder who programmed it.

My mind is that it should not just fair and feel like I should be refunded or replaced (is this reasonanble?)

Started a return case seperately and seller basically replied saying no....

"Seller Message
you need to prove the remote was working. Also, as the chip of the key is already assigned to your car, there is no way to refund as the key is used already"


I'm obviouslly a bit miffed but wanted to see if my claim and stance is reasonable?

Or do I just have to suck it up?

[Spitfire2]

Difficult one.

I guess if it's not transmitting a signal when remote buttons are pressed then the key is faulty. Hard to prove though unless you have a radio scanner.

£150 is a bit rich for an unprogrammed key though. Uncoded Blanks are usually available a lot cheaper than that from likes of Ali Express etc.

[GasEngineer]

From the seller's point of view it could be that your non official way of trying to code the key has fked it up and now you are trying to return it.

He has no way of knowing what you and your mate did to it.

Edited to add.

Might be worth trying another battery or two. Some new batteries are dodgy even thought they are still sealed.

Edited by GasEngineer on Friday 24th October 08:22

[E-bmw]

In answer to your actual question, only ebay have any bearing on whether you or the seller is being acceptable, and they will tell you when they have looked at it.

Personally my thoughts would be:-

You took a risk by buying a cheaper product in the hope that the risk went in your favour. Sadly it seems that it didn't, and you now have buyers remorse over the risk that you took. As such it is yours to bear if ebay don't find in your favour.

Please don't think I am "having a go" at you, I am not, I have taken EXACTLY this calculated risk before & the times it worked out-weigh the times it has failed.

[paul_c123]

Did you get a receipt from your mate for the coding?

Why not take it back to him, to see if it is a coding issue or it can be tested out, you kinda need to definitively know if its faulty due to the coding or the hardware.

[GasEngineer]

Did you try some different batteries OP?

[irc]

As a matter of interest how much is a Volvo key at mates rates if an Ebay blank costs £150?

[over_the_hill]

GasEngineer said:

Did you try some different batteries OP?

That was my thought. Although OP said he tried batteries they may have been duff so worth trying a second set.

[Dog Biscuit]

Sorry for the late replies!

I did try a new battery, along with the one from my other working keyfob - nothing

As said, it was properly coded by my friend who is a volvo tech, it was done on a satuday after his moring work with the permission of his manager. The cost for the license access was about 30 quid. It working perfectly for two weeks and stopped abruptly. It wasn't dropped or misused.

Before buying the key I asked many questions to the seller about the codes suppllied, its authenticity (said it wasn't gen volvo but made by continental - same as the OEM)

I don't think I'm trying it on as its just like buying a set of non gen brake discs or whatever - if from a business seller, who sells new remote fobs and keys claiming correct functionality then I have a right for it to work correctly. It wasn't some ali baba knock off for £20.

Anyway...

I inputted my story (copy and paste from this thread) into chat gpt - it basically explained the legal situation and asked me if i'd like it to draft the following letter...

"The key blank I purchased from you was professionally coded by a Volvo technician and worked correctly at first. However, the remote locking function stopped working completely within two weeks, despite fitting a new battery.

As you are a business seller, this item is covered under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which states that goods must be of satisfactory quality and fit for purpose.

A key remote failing after two weeks is not reasonable quality, and I am therefore entitled to a refund or replacement. The fact that it has been coded to the vehicle does not remove these rights, since the failure is due to the product itself, not misuse or incorrect installation.

Please confirm whether you will provide a replacement or refund. If not, I will escalate the case to eBay for resolution under the Consumer Rights Act 2015."

I then sent this to the seller

Had a few back and forths asking to see the receipt for the software, asked if they could call my mate! And asking what software was used
I just stuck to my guns, presented the facts ie it was coded correctly at volvo, with volvo softwars (VIDA if i recall), bought in good faith with an expectation to work properly etc

They have accepted the return as I just told them to leave it and let ebay decide

I'm not one of those aholes wanting something for nothing...I did my reserach, checked out the seller and his feedback, asked questions etc and paid a chunky price

If it was a 'take your chance for £20 types I'd just accept it was a gamble....but the guy is a business seller making his living from selling keys.

Whilst the return is a result, I still have to pay for gen volvo key at around £300, pay for the license again and ask my mate again.

The kicker is its just an old smoker we use every now and then and worth a few grand only. It's been very well looked after and maintained.

In all honesty I could manage with the partially working key from ebay as it still starts the car, and I have a metal skeleton key to open it...but I just lijke things right.

Edited by Dog Biscuit on Tuesday 28th October 06:36

[dundarach]

I think you've done what you can. I think you're in for a long fight. It's worth considering the seller might do this as an aside, which whilst not your problem, might motivate them harder to fight.

You say they're a registered business, has eBay confirmed this?

Keep us posted, best of luck.

[Dog Biscuit]

dundarach said:

I think you've done what you can. I think you're in for a long fight. It's worth considering the seller might do this as an aside, which whilst not your problem, might motivate them harder to fight.

You say they're a registered business, has eBay confirmed this?

Keep us posted, best of luck.

They are displaying as a registered business seller on their listings and seller information so yes, it does look like a genuine business seller

[GasEngineer]

How have you checked that the issue is not the hooky coding that your mate did that it the problem?

[mcpoot]

Hooky coding?

You mean the coding carried out by a Volvo tech at a Volvo dealership using Volvo software?

[Dog Biscuit]

GasEngineer said:

How have you checked that the issue is not the hooky coding that your mate did that it the problem?

Have you inhaled too much gas?