Quick eBay question

[Simpo Two]

I just sold something which unfortunately wasn't up to standard when opened. I said to the buyer that if they returned it I would refund them. They have replied asking me to confirm if I will pay postage both ways (not unreasonable from their POV). What is the eBay 'rule' on this matter please?

[speedchick]

refund original postage only, its up to them to pay for the 'trackable' return postage and do not refund until you have the item back.

[Simpo Two]

speedchick said:

refund original postage only, its up to them to pay for the 'trackable' return postage and do not refund until you have the item back.

That's what I thought. It just seems unfair on the seller as they end up losing money. The goods are some balls of wool, so postage was only £1.85.

There's nothing else I can do with the wool except give it to a charity shop, so I'm thinking I might just let her keep them and refund the cost of the goods and the first lot of postage for a quick solution and a 'nice bloke' aura...

[Evangelion]

I had the same problem with a phone charger that the buyer said didn't work when they received it. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, said don't bother sending it back and refunded what they'd paid in full.

It's worth it to keep your 100% positive feedback.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Evangelion said:

I had the same problem with a phone charger that the buyer said didn't work when they received it. I gave them the benefit of the doubt, said don't bother sending it back and refunded what they'd paid in full.

It's worth it to keep your 100% positive feedback.

That's funny, I bought a phone charger on ebay recently. It was fine for a week and then although the light came on, no power was delivered. Returned it and they sent me a new one. I paid for the postage back to them. It's a stter but that seems to be the way it is.

More annoyingly, bought a wardrobe for an upstairs room (not ebay), paid extra for 2 man delivery, described stairs, they said no problem. Turned up and they couldn't get it up the stairs. Got a refund for the wardrobe, but not for the £40 plus quid 2-man delivery because they delivered us a mirror at the same time...

[st_files]

I sold a box set of dvd's this week which were in mint condition, until Royal Mail got involved and the box now looks like they've had a game of football with it on the picket lines. I've told the guy he needs to raise it with RM...am I being unfair? I packaged it in a padded bag with plenty of packing tape...dont know what else I could have done.

[Amused2death]

st_files said:

I sold a box set of dvd's this week which were in mint condition, until Royal Mail got involved and the box now looks like they've had a game of football with it on the picket lines. I've told the guy he needs to raise it with RM...am I being unfair? I packaged it in a padded bag with plenty of packing tape...dont know what else I could have done.

AFAIK it is you who has a contract with RM as you were the person engaging their services.

The person that bought the DVDs has a contract (of sorts) with you, they pay for item plus the amount YOU charged them for postage. If the recipient recieved goods that are not up to the standard you described (even if the RM nightshift got bored and played football with it all night)then they are entitled to a refund from you, it is then up to you to persue RM for your losses.

IANAL

[GTIR]

What could possibly be wrong with balls of wool?


Did you not describe them properly!

[st_files]

Amused2death said:

st_files said:

I sold a box set of dvd's this week which were in mint condition, until Royal Mail got involved and the box now looks like they've had a game of football with it on the picket lines. I've told the guy he needs to raise it with RM...am I being unfair? I packaged it in a padded bag with plenty of packing tape...dont know what else I could have done.

AFAIK it is you who has a contract with RM as you were the person engaging their services.

The person that bought the DVDs has a contract (of sorts) with you, they pay for item plus the amount YOU charged them for postage. If the recipient recieved goods that are not up to the standard you described (even if the RM nightshift got bored and played football with it all night)then they are entitled to a refund from you, it is then up to you to persue RM for your losses.

IANAL

I was not allowed to charge for postage EBay are currently insisting all dvds sold are with free postage. As far as I'm concerned the goods were as described when I handed them to RM. I have no idea just how bad the box is now - only going on what the buyers telling me.

[Amused2death]

st_files said:

Amused2death said:

st_files said:

I sold a box set of dvd's this week which were in mint condition, until Royal Mail got involved and the box now looks like they've had a game of football with it on the picket lines. I've told the guy he needs to raise it with RM...am I being unfair? I packaged it in a padded bag with plenty of packing tape...dont know what else I could have done.

AFAIK it is you who has a contract with RM as you were the person engaging their services.

The person that bought the DVDs has a contract (of sorts) with you, they pay for item plus the amount YOU charged them for postage. If the recipient recieved goods that are not up to the standard you described (even if the RM nightshift got bored and played football with it all night)then they are entitled to a refund from you, it is then up to you to persue RM for your losses.

IANAL

I was not allowed to charge for postage EBay are currently insisting all dvds sold are with free postage. As far as I'm concerned the goods were as described when I handed them to RM. I have no idea just how bad the box is now - only going on what the buyers telling me.

Forgive me on the issue of postage, I stopped using e-bay some time ago. However, the basic premise still stands, You (person A) agreed to sell your DVDs to person B, based upon the description you gave ( good condition etc) using company C (RM). There are two "contracts" here....one between A+B, and one between A+C. The contract between A+B has not been forfilled, this means that person B can expect to recieve a full refund of the price they paid to person A,although the contract has failed through no fault of person A. Person A has a right of redress as company C (RM) have failed in their contract to person A.
Putting it simply, someone paid you a price to recieve a DVD boxset in good condition, this has not happened, they are entitled to a refund from you. Royal Mail have failed to deliver the goods you contracted them to deliver. You have the contract with RM, not the purchaser of your DVD boxset, it is for you to persue RM for your losses.

Sounds a bit rough, but to put it another way, the person who paid for the DVD boxset paid you, not RM, therefore their contract is with you and no-one else.

And as always....IANAL