Ebay - claiming partial refund for a damaged item?
Discussion
Hi all,
Just a quick question on what approach I should take here.
I bought a large, fragile model on ebay last week. In the listing photos it is in good condition. It was sent in its original box, where it sits in a polystyrene clamshell, which was inside a larger box full of foam peanuts. However, it was sent by Evri.....
It was delivered midweek but I didnt open it till friday due to being busy - when I opened it, 2 large pieces had snapped/sheared off and were loose inside. Both pieces are attached by reasonably small contact patches.
Neither box was damaged, so I can only guess that the box had been slammed/dropped from a great enough height that the shock/g-force has caused them to snap off.
Now, here's the tricky bit - it's a very rare model. I've waited years to find one at a reasonable price, so I don't want to send it back for a refund. The damage is all repairable by a modelmaker I know, who will charge to fix it. Can I request a partial refund to cover this? I'm aware that this goes against the ebay standard procedure, and I'm also aware that to the seller it is going to scream "scammer" especially with the slight delay in responding to them, hence why I want to be very careful about how I word this.
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this please?
TIA!
Just a quick question on what approach I should take here.
I bought a large, fragile model on ebay last week. In the listing photos it is in good condition. It was sent in its original box, where it sits in a polystyrene clamshell, which was inside a larger box full of foam peanuts. However, it was sent by Evri.....
It was delivered midweek but I didnt open it till friday due to being busy - when I opened it, 2 large pieces had snapped/sheared off and were loose inside. Both pieces are attached by reasonably small contact patches.
Neither box was damaged, so I can only guess that the box had been slammed/dropped from a great enough height that the shock/g-force has caused them to snap off.
Now, here's the tricky bit - it's a very rare model. I've waited years to find one at a reasonable price, so I don't want to send it back for a refund. The damage is all repairable by a modelmaker I know, who will charge to fix it. Can I request a partial refund to cover this? I'm aware that this goes against the ebay standard procedure, and I'm also aware that to the seller it is going to scream "scammer" especially with the slight delay in responding to them, hence why I want to be very careful about how I word this.
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this please?
TIA!
ChemicalChaos said:
Hi all,
Just a quick question on what approach I should take here.
I bought a large, fragile model on ebay last week. In the listing photos it is in good condition. It was sent in its original box, where it sits in a polystyrene clamshell, which was inside a larger box full of foam peanuts. However, it was sent by Evri.....
It was delivered midweek but I didnt open it till friday due to being busy - when I opened it, 2 large pieces had snapped/sheared off and were loose inside. Both pieces are attached by reasonably small contact patches.
Neither box was damaged, so I can only guess that the box had been slammed/dropped from a great enough height that the shock/g-force has caused them to snap off.
Now, here's the tricky bit - it's a very rare model. I've waited years to find one at a reasonable price, so I don't want to send it back for a refund. The damage is all repairable by a modelmaker I know, who will charge to fix it. Can I request a partial refund to cover this? I'm aware that this goes against the ebay standard procedure, and I'm also aware that to the seller it is going to scream "scammer" especially with the slight delay in responding to them, hence why I want to be very careful about how I word this.
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this please?
TIA!
The only way you can get a partial refund is to get the seller to offer you one, start the return procedure stating it is not as described due to the damaged condition you've received it in, add a picture and text saying you want to return it or receive a discount to pay for getting it fixed.Just a quick question on what approach I should take here.
I bought a large, fragile model on ebay last week. In the listing photos it is in good condition. It was sent in its original box, where it sits in a polystyrene clamshell, which was inside a larger box full of foam peanuts. However, it was sent by Evri.....
It was delivered midweek but I didnt open it till friday due to being busy - when I opened it, 2 large pieces had snapped/sheared off and were loose inside. Both pieces are attached by reasonably small contact patches.
Neither box was damaged, so I can only guess that the box had been slammed/dropped from a great enough height that the shock/g-force has caused them to snap off.
Now, here's the tricky bit - it's a very rare model. I've waited years to find one at a reasonable price, so I don't want to send it back for a refund. The damage is all repairable by a modelmaker I know, who will charge to fix it. Can I request a partial refund to cover this? I'm aware that this goes against the ebay standard procedure, and I'm also aware that to the seller it is going to scream "scammer" especially with the slight delay in responding to them, hence why I want to be very careful about how I word this.
Does anyone have any advice on how to deal with this please?
TIA!
You don't have to return it, you can cancel the return at any stage before you actually send it back.
I purchased an ex display, cooker hood, which had a part damaged in transit.
I reported it to the seller straight away. Rather than return it, he agreed to reimburse me for the part. Tracked the part down for £50 & sorted it out.
Better for the seller, as they would be getting the damaged item back.
I reported it to the seller straight away. Rather than return it, he agreed to reimburse me for the part. Tracked the part down for £50 & sorted it out.
Better for the seller, as they would be getting the damaged item back.
Ask the seller, if they have some kind of insurance on the delivery they may be able to claim on it to fund the partial refund. Help them out with whatever photos etc they need for this.
I've been the seller in a similar situation, it was a really minor issue and I offered to send them a spare part fix for it (30 second job to clip back together), but it became clear that they were trying it on and wanted a large discount for a very small problem, so they were told to return it for a refund instead.
You say you got it at a reasonable price, was it cheap enough to cover the cost of repair and still come out ok on how much you've spent if the seller doesn't want to entertain a partial refund?
I've been the seller in a similar situation, it was a really minor issue and I offered to send them a spare part fix for it (30 second job to clip back together), but it became clear that they were trying it on and wanted a large discount for a very small problem, so they were told to return it for a refund instead.
You say you got it at a reasonable price, was it cheap enough to cover the cost of repair and still come out ok on how much you've spent if the seller doesn't want to entertain a partial refund?
Thanks all,
Yes, I was going to privately message the selelr before launching into a formal claim, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't gonig to sound like a scammer!
So this is the model in question, as it appears on the listing:
And this is how it arrived - the diecast mounting lug for the front axle has sheared off, and as it was rattling around it's also damaged the paint on the front of the firebox. The big dynamo perched on the front has also come adrift although that is probably easier to fix. As I said, I'd had an offer to get it repaired by someone who won't make a total hash of it, but with time and hassle and travel cost its going to be about £100 to me, on top of a £250 model.
£250 was a reasonable prices so yes, I may have slightly won. but also somewhat lost out at the same time and for something that expensive I'm rather irked.
Yes, I was going to privately message the selelr before launching into a formal claim, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't gonig to sound like a scammer!
So this is the model in question, as it appears on the listing:
And this is how it arrived - the diecast mounting lug for the front axle has sheared off, and as it was rattling around it's also damaged the paint on the front of the firebox. The big dynamo perched on the front has also come adrift although that is probably easier to fix. As I said, I'd had an offer to get it repaired by someone who won't make a total hash of it, but with time and hassle and travel cost its going to be about £100 to me, on top of a £250 model.
£250 was a reasonable prices so yes, I may have slightly won. but also somewhat lost out at the same time and for something that expensive I'm rather irked.
The buyer is likely to have to contact Evri and get them to agree to cover the damage and repair. Evri may or may not agree to a partial refund, and its not reasonable to expect the seller to cover the cost of the repair unless they can get reimbursed, given that they sent the model in the original packaging with additional protection around that and hopefully sufficient insurance to cover the value of the model.
If Evri want the parcel back in order to give any reimbursment, you will have to decide whether you want the model 'as is' or your money.
Not a pleasant situation for either you or the seller, yet Evri will call the shots.
If Evri want the parcel back in order to give any reimbursment, you will have to decide whether you want the model 'as is' or your money.
Not a pleasant situation for either you or the seller, yet Evri will call the shots.
This appears to be the original listing: Midsummer Models 1/24 Scale Burrell Scenic Showman’s Engine “William V” - On Ebay in Preston
I was suspicious of the photo in which the bottom half of the wheels were covered by the polystyrene box, however looking at the other photos I can't see anything that would ring alarm bells even with hindsight.
The generator looks aligned correctly and with its belts on too.
I was suspicious of the photo in which the bottom half of the wheels were covered by the polystyrene box, however looking at the other photos I can't see anything that would ring alarm bells even with hindsight.
The generator looks aligned correctly and with its belts on too.
It's a niche enough item that you are most likely dealing with someone as interested and knowledgeable as you are about it. Contact them, explain everything as it happened with no demands and work it out In a friendly manor. As with other posters , things go wrong sometimes, and the best policy is yo be honest and friendly. Of course there are unscrupulous sellers, but ebay will tend to side with the buyer if you have been reasonable.
Couple of years ago I received a guitar that was not the model advertised, I contacted he seller and told him He admitted he had made a mistake and offered me a partial refund (it was too nice to send back) which I accepted, as it was enough to cover the cost of the parts I needed to buy.
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