advice please - 2nd hand wheels sold on ebay?

[mattman]

Hi Guys, quick call to the masses for some advice.

Recently sold a set of 2nd hand wheels on ebay that were fitted to my car. The buyer came to the house, collected and took away, paid by paypal.

He's now come back and said 2x wheels are buckled and can't use them.

He seemed genuine but i guess my initial thought is caution - buyer isn't local and i honestly listed them as requiring refurb for kerbing and scratches, with worn tyres, etc but wasn't aware of any other damage. Would have thought i would have felt any buckling when driving, it was recently serviced and not mentioned - but assume they wouldn't look too closely at the wheels

What would you recommend as the best course of action?

[Codswallop]

Sold as seen, caveat emptor etc.

As long as your advert did not specifically state the wheels were perfect and unbuckled, I would be vary that the buyer was trying it on.

[Risotto]

Hidden damage is the risk the buyer takes when they buy used goods. If they wanted something with zero risk they should have paid more and bought new.

[Snowboy]

Not your problem.

You sold them in good faith.
You don't know whether he's driven on them and knackered them in the interim.

You don't know if he's got two different buckled wheels and he's trying to return them to you in place of your decent ones.
Would you recognise your exact wheels.

I would be angry if I was the customer.
But, I would also accept that's the risk you take when you buy second hand.
You'd get negative feedback from me, I might even start an ebay complaint – but, chanced are I'd lose.

I think a key point is that he had every chance to inspect them when he collected them.
It's not like you sent them through the post after he paid.

[Decky_Q]

exact reason I wouldnt buy wheels off e bay, even with a scrapyard at least you have some recourse if they are unsafe to use for the purpose you bought them (wheels). Following the letter of the law its his problem.

[jagnet]

Paid by Paypal even though he collected them in person? I'd have been demanding he pays cash in that situation.

Caveat emptor is all when and good if he paid cash, but one email from him to Paypal and it's return and/or refund and you've got no option but to agree.

Hell, he could even claim he didn't receive them and you'll find yourself being chased by Paypal for the money back.

It sucks, but that's the way it is. At least Paypal fees are cheap for the seller....oh no, wait, they're not are they.

[mattman]

Thanks guys - i know i should say "Tough, sold as seen" but i don't want to appear like a complete t*sser!
I've texted back as i'm in the office and can't call out offering a refund if he wants to return the wheels in the same condition as he took them - i guess thats the best I can do!

[catman]

It's easy to say tough, but as he paid by Paypal, he'll probably raise a dispute.

Unless you can prove that he buckled them, my guess is that he'll get his money back.

Tim

[Rawhide]

I sold some kerbed wheels on ebay listed as 'Collection only' and 'in need of refurbishment'
I then had a garage in France snipe them at last minute and ask me to arrange postage

Not only that but they didn't have the courtesy to write to me in English. Fortunately I can understand French and shopped around to get a good deal to courier them to France on his behalf.

A week or so passed before he asked for his money back via Paypal (in French of course) This was for non receipt of the delivery.

I then got proof of delivery from the courier and the story changed. The goods were not as described He called me a swindler etc (all in French) and escalated the dispute.

I clearly explained the situation to Paypal and they were actually very fair and professional. You can TALK to someone which I wasn't expecting and they did rule in my favour.

I think you need to be very clear and polite with your communications with paypal and hopefully they will rule in your favour.

[aka_kerrly]

You are buggered.

The tit will claim that the goods aren't fit for purpose pay pal will refund him his money and he will be driving around on some free wheels.

I had a muppet try the same on me, he claimed the bolt holes had been redrilled and the wheels were dangerous - they were 4x100/4x108 multi fit.