eBay advice - product went fault with seller

[Calza]

Hi all,

I'd appreciate a bit of advice from those more knowledgeable about eBay please.

I sold a graphics card on eBay a few weeks ago, and the buyer has just contacted me today saying he can't get it working (it's about 11 days since he received it). When I sold it it was fully working, and had been for 11 months prior in my system. It was repackaged well (original box + extra) and he says the packaging seemed intact.

Naturally I'm not keen to refund or accept the item because I know it was working when sold, so if it's not now - he broke it. Either that or he's cocked up his new system. His PSU should be sufficient so it's not that.

How is this likely to go? He's sent me two detailed messages, I gave a shortish reply (I'm not a tech after all), and he followed it up then initiated the returns request. The card is in warranty but if I accept it back, send it for repair and they say he's damaged it I'm shafted right?

Edited by Calza on Sunday 17th July 19:59

[DuraAce]

Did your ad state your returns policy?

The cynic in me says you are about to have your pants pulled down. If he sends it back you'll either get a piece of wood or his original card that was broken to start with!

[Calza]

Just the usual "The seller does not accept returns for this item".

I've got photo's of the box and card with serial number, so I'm confident he can't switch it (although I don't know how easy it is to change the label with SN on the card). My worry is the first option ... and what I can actually do.

[anonymous-user]

If you stated you do not accept returns then I don't see why you should accept it.
You can check a cards s/n via software i believe gpu-z offers that feature.

Ask him if he's plugged the monitor in the right slot and has he plugged power into the card..

[Calza]

He's returning it as a faulty item, so I don't think I can just reject it?

" because something is wrong with the item. The buyer requested a full refund."

[Impasse]

You're stuffed. Even if you actually get your original item back (which isn't guaranteed) and he has plugged it into the toaster you're still going to lose out to eBay's returns process.

[anonymous-user]

In that case maybe a phone call to ebay might be in order.. Sure they have some sound advice.

[rfisher]

Depends exactly on what the buyer has stated.

Did he say that it worked when he initially plugged it in and then stopped working?

Or was it DOA?

If he says it was DOA you're probably screwed.

Check his feedback and see if he's returned a lot of stuff.

Does he sell?

Occasionally I buy an equivalent item from a joker buyer I'm in dispute with without saying a word.

They usually get the message.

[Sump]

What if it was damaged in transit?

[Calza]

He said it was DOA. Fans spin but it won't POST.

Not a seller, long term member with around 60 or so positive feedback.

[Calza]

Sump said:

What if it was damaged in transit?

It's possible, and it was insured. But it was packaged pretty well and he said it looked fine when it arrived.

[anonymous-user]

Calza said:

He said it was DOA. Fans spin but it won't POST.

Not a seller, long term member with around 60 or so positive feedback.

have him send you a video of trying to turn it on, show the back of the computer and the inside etc.

[Calza]

Do you think he'd actually do all that though?

He says his old card still works fine.

[Evolved]

The joys of eBay nowadays. Write it off as he will be refunded regardless.

[Sump]

At the moment in time your best hope is that he purchased the wrong card and there is nothing wrong with it. You get your card back, it works fine and you just refund him. This is the best case scenario. Worst case is you refund and the card is damaged.

[Calza]

So if I appeal to eBay explaining my concerns, they basically won't care?

I thought as much but wanted to check how it was likely to pan out..

[cjs racing.]

You the seller are wrong.

The buyer is right.

This is how ebay works.

Just refund, ebay will only refund anyway, and probably tell them to keep the item.

Sorry but there is no way you can avoid having your pants pulled down on this sale.

Edited by cjs racing. on Monday 18th July 11:11

Edited by cjs racing. on Monday 18th July 11:11

[Calza]

cjs racing. said:

You the seller are wrong.

The buyer is right.

This is how ebay works.

Just refund, ebay will only refund anyway, and probably them them keep the item.

Sorry but there is no way you can avoid having your pants pulled down on this sale.

Disapointed but what I suspected

Oh well, he lives the other side of London so if it is duff ...

[RobinOakapple]

Thing with eBay is that they have recognised that what they need is buyers. There will always be sellers, it's buyers that they are chasing. That's why they will always side with the buyer, and that's why I don't hesitate to buy stuff through eBay. The only way I sell through them is cash on collection, when the buyer has a chance to try it.

[Calza]

Phoned eBay and basically got robbed of 20 minutes of my life, but everything above was absolutely confirmed.

Sad times