posted on October 3, 2000 12:11:13 PM new
Here's the situation: I won the bid on a sweater for $8.01, received it promptly, gave it a cursory once-over, left positive feedback, and later discovered flaws that were not disclosed in the item description. I e-mailed the seller the following:
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I received the sweater (thank you) and left feedback for you. I did not examine the sweater thoroughly before doing so, because I trust that any faults with the garment will be disclosed in the description.
On closer inspection, I found a quarter-sized hole about 5" up from the hem, and found that the attachment of an arm to the body of the
sweater is visibly loose, both front and back.
Naturally, I had no expectations that this sweater would be in new, or even like-new condition; however, these faults would have influenced my bidding, and I believe others' bidding, on the sweater. I have no desire to make a return, but do ask that you consider a partial refund in light of the flaws not being disclosed.
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Here's the e-mail I received from the seller:
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Just back from vacation - as i recall, the price you paid was pretty low, so any refund would be $1 or so -- that first hole was in the sweater from the start, as were the
arm attachments. This was bought on trek in Nepal, so I didnt quibble too much at the time.
***************
Um - Am I missing something? Does it matter at all *when* the flaws appeared in the sweater? I responded (e-mailed from work, so text is not available to me here), thanking the seller for their reply, and very professionally pointing out that, as a seller, I find it's my responsibility to describe items accurately; and if a buyer were to have e-mailed me about such flaws in a garment, I'd refund their entire purchase price. I asked the seller to refund whatever amount he felt appropriate under the circumstances.
This morning, I received a paypal notice of a $2 refund, with the following message: Partial refund for sweater. If this is not acceptable, return the sweater for a full refund.
It's not worth my time to deal with this situation any further...but in the midst of my irritation, it occurred to me that perhaps he did make an appropriate refund. What do all of you think? Thanks for your thoughts
Carmen
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Practice random acts of intelligence & senseless acts of self-control.
posted on October 3, 2000 12:16:31 PM new
I'd think that a refund of 25% sounds pretty good, but you're the one to make the call. If that isn't enough for you though, I'd suggest that you do as the seller said and return for a full refund rather than asking for even more of a price reduction.
posted on October 3, 2000 12:17:41 PM new
(I'm probably in the minority here, but...)
Honestly, I would have been aghast if I made an error & sold an item that wasn't wearable. I would have given a complete refund (without a return) if the customer said there were flaws like this. Out of about 1,000 transactions it happened twice that the quality wasn't up to par (one was an 8 track with some gunk on it that I didn't realize, the other was a lower quality kitchen magnet), and I refunded the entire amount, in fact, in the second scenario sent another similar item from a higher quality supplier free of charge.
posted on October 3, 2000 12:23:06 PM new
I personally would not pay a dollar for a sweater with such flaws. Are you able to repair it to a wearable condition? If so, you might consider this deal completed. (I think the seller threw you a bone here.) If I were in your situation, I would return it for a full refund, and press for shipping both ways, as the garment was not as described.
posted on October 3, 2000 12:42:43 PM newI have no desire to make a return, but do ask that you consider a partial refund in light of the flaws not being disclosed.
Not to appear a "biddy" here, looks like the seller did exactly as you requested.
Perhaps you should have stated the amount you would have considered acceptable in your original email.
The seller has given you an option of returning for a refund (which is only right in view of the facts). IF that option includes refunding your postage both ways, you would be better off doing that especially if the sweater isn't repairable!
edited because I can't spell today!!!
[ edited by sulyn1950 on Oct 3, 2000 12:46 PM ]
posted on October 3, 2000 01:46:48 PM new
It amazes me that people put something like that up for sale. I see stuff like that which should have been tossed out given to thrift shops who put it up for sale.
Are people so clueless or do they even bother to look. If a seller wouldn't buy it and/or wear/use it, then he has no business offering it for sale.
posted on October 3, 2000 03:06:08 PM new
I think that getting 25% was great. Unless you want to return it for a full refund I would leave it alone, seems that the seller is more then willing to refund your money. Because I sew I will often buy things from department stores need repair, the store will only give 10% off, but if I have the time it is worth it to me to take the 10%.
posted on October 3, 2000 03:15:27 PM new
All flaws should be listed in the description so there are no surprises after you receive the merchandise. It doesn't matter what it is listed at or what it sells for. A flaw is a flaw!
posted on October 3, 2000 03:33:13 PM new
I hold my sweaters up to the light and go over them with a fine tooth comb...and those are just for my own use!
I have a couple of moth eaten cashmeres and woolens I wear riding or mucking out stalls, but that's about it.
I think the seller stinks...on ice.
Should demand a refund though, how can the seller know he/she did wrong if they can't see for sure if there is a hole?
They will learn to describe the item correctly and accurately.
posted on October 3, 2000 04:10:39 PM new
I once sold a pair of kids jeans shorts. I didn't notice that one leg was shorter than the other (so says the buyer when received). I assumed they were factory hemmed. She claimed they were cut offs. To make it worse, she emailed me the first day of my vacation, so I couldn't respond for a week. I ended up giving her back the original sale price plus postage.(It would have cost her more than the price of the shorts to have mailed them back.)
I have since sold two items and only after the sale was complete, realized the flaw and mentioned it to the buyer before shipping. Each thanked me for my honesty and left positive feedback for me, as I did for them.
