posted on September 6, 2001 05:39:55 AM new
I'm trying to figure out how to post this without being in violation here.....ok. I had a widget that I had in an auction that I described to the best of my abilities BUT stating that I don't know anything about such widgets so to please feel free to ask questions. I feel like I took good photos (large and close up) and showed the item as it is was. I said it was missing something. Bidder received the item and is unhappy, stating that more than something was missing and that I should ante up an undisclosed amount of $$ to him to order more parts. Now if he'd emailed me immediately upon receiving the widget and said I can't use it as it is, I would of cheerfully refunded all his money and put it back up for auction. But he rigged it up to use it and then said he's unhappy. It, to the best of my knowledge, was unused when he received it, meaning there were still a label on it and cardboard protector on it and parts in plastic bags. Now he clearly states in his emails that he had one of these and took parts off of his old one to make the new one work, so I feel like he must know more about these than I do, therefore he should of been able to look at it in the auction and know what he was buying. He asked NO questions prior to the EOA, while others did. His complaint is that while I said "something" was missing that I did not disclose enough, and that I led him to believe that it was more complete than it was. I am just so uncomfortable about this all, his emails have been demanding and now he's "going to turn me into Ebay" if I don't come up with whatever amount of money he thinks he needs, and THAT he's never disclosed. I don't even want to go there with him on that one, I feel like I'm leaving myself open to negotiation. I don't want an unhappy bidder/buyer, but I didn't force him to bid, or to use it before he contacted me. I'm trying to remain unemotional in it and professional, but I know I can't buy his happiness either. I feel like he received exactly what he bid on as pictured. Something about the tone of his emails just set my teeth on edge. First he said the widget had been used. And then made comments about my auction copy that while I wrote it tounge-in-cheek, he obviously took it personally. Bottom line, I feel like it's Bidder's remorse that he overbid or overpaid on something and that I should reimburse him, and for that I don't feel responsible or that I should cough up $$ so he can feel better.
posted on September 6, 2001 05:42:42 AM new
don't refund, if you took a lot of pics and had that discription he should've asked for more info at least.
posted on September 6, 2001 05:59:55 AM new
i hope he enjoys the item he won.
you did your part
he could have asked questions
what if he took parts off of your widget and wants to send you back the incomplete or used one.
and how long after auction did he complain?
don't worry about a negative from a jerk
just forget it and move on
posted on September 6, 2001 06:29:41 AM new
Yep I have to agree, you did what you could to list the auction honestly.
It sounds like he has already fiddled with it so asking him to return it for a complete refund would be out of the question.
I would just calmly write him a letter that if you would have wriiten right away upon receiving the widget, I would have gladly offerred a full refund upon receiving the item back in orginal condition. Since the item has since been used and altered with by you I can no longer be of any assistance.
This is why I stated in my auction I have no knowledge of this widget, if you would have emailed before bidding with the info you needed I would have gladly provided it.
Thanks again for bidding and have a nice day,
glassgrl
Something on those lines- then you have something to forward to safe harbor if he does have a fit.
I would then be done with it and no longer respond to emails. You can probably bet on a negative, just respond to that as well as professionaly as possible. I would also put a repy to the feedback you may have left him already that he tried to get a refund after using the widgett.
I once had a similiar situation, and I told her to send it back for a full refund and she never did- I think sometimes people overbid then try to bully money out of you knowing they can get you with feedback if you do not comply.
Jen
posted on September 6, 2001 07:53:57 AM new
I totally agree with the others. I once had a winner that refused insurance on a breakable item. I packaged very well like I always do, foam, bubble wrap and double boxed and she said it arrived broken. She was snotty with me from the git-go, and demanded a refund. I complied telling her I would refund the purchase price. She wanted shipping to ship the item back to me. I offered shipping one way. She demanded both ways shipping. I wrote to her and said..."ya know what? You have been rotten about this from the beginning. It was your fault in the first place for not getting insurance when it was offered not once, but twice to you. All bets are off! You will receive nothing. Keep the item. The subject is closed." with a c/c to Ebay. Never heard from her again, did not leave her feedback and she left me none. Fine with me. Sometimes ya just gotta yank back on that chain when they pull yours! He altered the product. No refund. End of story.
posted on September 6, 2001 08:08:44 AM new
What does your TOS state w/regard to returns? (HINT: if you don't have something in your TOS, you should..just for cases like this).
I would send him something like this:
"We will gladly offer refunds on purchases, provided the items are returned to us in the original condition sent. Unfortunately, because you have made changes to this item, I am no longer able to accept it for return or offer a refund at this time."
Ignore the missing part issue. If he has these & you stated something was missing, he could have emailed you to ask further details. He "assumed" he was getting something & got something else instead. His bad for making the wrong assumption then wanting to blame you instead of himself.
If he continues to get nasty in his emails, advise him once, quietly & professionally, that you have done all you can & that you not be subjected to further harassing emails. Then put him on email block & forward what you have to SafeHarbor (who won't do anything but it'll make YOU feel better).
