Sold bike trailer, seller not happy.
Sold bike trailer, seller not happy.
Author
Discussion

Pebbles167

Original Poster:

4,586 posts

182 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
EDIT: Damn. Title should be "buyer not happy" banghead

Hi all.

A friend recently sold our motorcycle trailer, that we've had for a year, and is no longer needed as he's bought a van. He drove it over to Oxford for the buyer, had a chat with him, and came home. The buyer seemed happy at first, but now a few days have passed, and the seller has politely asked for a refund, and has asked to have us pick the trailer back up before he raises an eBay dispute.

In honesty, my mate bought it without me present, but we needed something cheap, quickly. It's fairly crap, and has been made from some sort of general purpose load trailer. I'd not have bought it had I been there. That said, he didn't do badly for £200. Its sturdy, completely rust free and clean, with nice welding. The advert contained pictures, and said that it was a home build, but did not explain the minor short falls, ie: bike overhangs tail slightly (has locking ramps to hold bike in though) and that wide tyres don't fit in the wheel well properly. This was explained to the buyer on delivery, who said it was fine. Seems after a chat with his son though, he's not happy.

My friend asked me for advice. Ultimately i think the buyer felt a bit too shy to show his disappointment with the trailer at the time, and is now having buyers remorse. I suggested my friend give him a refund to save hassle, but he's not keen. Is he under any obligation to give one? I'm pretty sure PayPal sides with the buyer most times. Having only ever sold the occasional thing through eBay, I've never had a refund request.

Cheers for any help biggrin

Edited by Pebbles167 on Friday 8th December 09:06

kiethton

14,651 posts

210 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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How did you receive payment?

If it was done in person and the paypal was paid against the transaction, not as a gift, you may be left without the trailer and the cash...

Barchettaman

7,279 posts

162 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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He drove it from Wiltshire to Oxford for the buyer, having accepted payment via PayPal?

If so, that seems a little odd.

familyguy1

785 posts

162 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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I would guess the buyer has used it for the one/two transportation he needed and is now trying to get shot, thus getting a free bike transport.

paypal and ebay always side with the buyer so I fear your seller is going to lose.

mgv8

1,657 posts

301 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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You need to know why he is rejecting it.
Having seen it and taken it away its hard for him to say he did not know what he is getting.
If you can find out, he then need to show why its now what you said it was.

Also think that you sold it pick-up only, so dropping it back is his job not yours.

hotchy

4,829 posts

156 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
If paid cash, nothing he can do. Just tell eBay youve not recieved any money. If PayPal, go collect the trailer, and Only refund via PayPal, or he'll do you twice.

Limpet

6,624 posts

191 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
familyguy1 said:
paypal and ebay always side with the buyer so I fear your seller is going to lose.
This. I had a dispute over a mobile phone that I sold (well, ended up giving away). I had proof of despatch, a copy of the signed delivery note from Parcel Force, and even positive feedback from the buyer. A week later, he lodged a dispute with PayPal claiming the payment was a "fraudulent transaction", and they sided with him. The payment was reversed, and I lost the item and the money with no recourse. His word over my evidence. Even when I reported it to the police as theft, and provided the crime reference number, it made no difference.

Last thing I ever sold on eBay that wasn't cash on collection. Shyster's paradise.

Alucidnation

16,810 posts

200 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
I still don’t get why people use eBay anymore as its full of fking morons.

There are plenty of places to flog stuff locally, and for free.

Gunk

3,302 posts

189 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
Something like a bike trailer you're better selling on Gumtree. They pick it up, pay you cash and that's it. Caveat Emptor. The feedback system on eBay is now being completely abused, this is prime example.

paintman

7,860 posts

220 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
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What have ebay said to your 'friend'?

Andehh

7,602 posts

236 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
Gunk said:
Something like a bike trailer you're better selling on Gumtree. They pick it up, pay you cash and that's it. Caveat Emptor. The feedback system on eBay is now being completely abused, this is prime example.
Alucidnation said:
I still don’t get why people use eBay anymore as its full of fking morons.

There are plenty of places to flog stuff locally, and for free.
Fully Agree!

chockymonster

658 posts

240 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
Sounds more like buyer remorse.
Unfortunately the buyer will win a dispute, but they will have to return the item to you at their cost.
Was it sold through ebay motors or just as an auction listing?

14-7

6,233 posts

221 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
The more and more I read about ebay the more I dislike using it.

Sold a camera a year ago that was in perfect shape (sold for £750). Low and behold the buyer suddenly decides the lens is a bit stiff and a local refurb place says it's £80 to refurb the lens.

After the buyer claiming a full fund and postage paid for the item back I do a bit of digging and find that the are also selling camera items as a business (despite the user name for the buyer being a private buyer). eBay don't care about the claim despite I'm a private seller and they will side with the buyer as the item sold was, "not as described".

When I raised it as a the fact the buyer is buying things privately but trying to apply business rules and double dipping eBay didn't care and insisted I would have to pay sellers fees of £75, postage and also return fees.

I seriously considered the fact of just doing the 4 hours return journey in my car and pissing the buyer off by ringing the door bell continuously till they answered it but figured that it would cost me more by doing so.

eBay want to act as a the seller but don't want any responsibility for transactions (well at least the easiest way out with their money!)

anonymous-user

84 months

Thursday 7th December 2017
quotequote all
14-7 said:
I would have to pay sellers fees of £75, postage and also return fees.
you don't pay seller fees on returned items.

mjb1

2,585 posts

189 months

Friday 8th December 2017
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The Spruce goose said:
14-7 said:
I would have to pay sellers fees of £75, postage and also return fees.
you don't pay seller fees on returned items.
No, you have to beg ebay and then they'll usually refund you. Actually, they won't refund you, just put a credit on your account. Not much use if they've pissed you off to the extent that you vow never to their services again...

4rephill

5,168 posts

208 months

Friday 8th December 2017
quotequote all
chockymonster said:
Sounds more like buyer remorse......
Sounds more like this to Me:

familyguy1 said:
I would guess the buyer has used it for the one/two transportation he needed and is now trying to get shot, thus getting a free bike transport.......
No remorse at all - Just the free use of a trailer!

eatcustard

1,003 posts

157 months

Friday 8th December 2017
quotequote all
If the seller sold it via the motors section, they buy cant do a charge back ( I think)

Wait Here Until Green Light Shows

16,952 posts

230 months

Friday 8th December 2017
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Paypal terms and conditions state quite clearly that all goods must be sent using an on-line trackable service.
If you sell an item, and you deliver it or they pick it up or you don't use a trackable parcel service - you can wave goodbye to your money if they open a dispute.

It's that simple.

a.lex

165 posts

107 months

Friday 8th December 2017
quotequote all
Rather pointless to continue wildly speculating if the OP doesn't come back and provide the necessary information.

Pebbles167

Original Poster:

4,586 posts

182 months

Friday 8th December 2017
quotequote all
Thanks for all the replies everyone. I'm still here, but there's been nothing from the buyer other than the initial message.

Hoping there will be more correspondence tomorrow, since I'm not directly communicating with the seller I'm not in control. I'll give my mate a kick up the arse to make sure stuff happens, and post the results.

Looks like we'll probably collect the trailer, and give a PayPal refund. We'll be able to sell it elsewhere. At least that was my advice to my friend.