posted on August 15, 2002 02:58:12 PM
On June 12th, I sent out a complete and cosmetically perfect camera to buyer. On July 11th I received an email from buyer stating that camera didn't work, and asking for full refund including postage. I agreed to do that, as I never tested the camera with film. Today, August 15th I got the camera back in the mail. It was missing the $8.00 photocell battery, and the case has a gouge in it. What would you do?
posted on August 15, 2002 03:10:40 PM
First: I am assuming that you have pics of the camera for the auction. If you do, Then I would email the buyer & ask for the battery, send him a picture showing the damge. Don't send any $$ until you get satisfaction. If this was paid by PayPal, I would draw out all of thew cash on hand immediately. I really get P'O'd by these people who try to screw an honest seller.
posted on August 16, 2002 11:45:54 AM
Hi.
If it is not the camera you sent the person and you think they pulled a switch I would send it back and not accept it if they send it back again. Some people are rotten.
posted on August 16, 2002 02:38:55 PM
I have no way of knowing if it is the same camera that I sent out, as I stupidly didn't copy down the serial number. What bugs me in addition to missing the battery and the gouge in the case is, he had the camera for almost 2 months. Held it a month after he emailed me to return it. I emailed him yesterday to ask about the battery and gouge and have not heard from him yet.
posted on August 16, 2002 04:38:03 PM
Yes, I agree, I would mail it back. You didn't send damaged merchandise and no Brick and Mortar shop would accept damaged merchandise in return, much less 2 months later.
posted on August 16, 2002 10:27:46 PM
I have purchased everything from a Hassalblad to a lens cap on ebay. I have only had two returns, one was a seller mistake and the other was a shipping error.
Anyone who buys a camera should run film through it within 48 hours and zip on over to their camera shop to look at it. Maybe visa versa...unless they know their stuff. I am a collector of Manual Minolta gear.
I am guessing that the guy used it, found it's "flaw" which may have been too much for him to add to the cost of his winning bid and is now trying to send it back.
That is uncool!
Hope it turns out, I would email him that the camera was not in the condition you sent it, "see photos" and send it back. I would also bombproof double box it and insure it.
And do signature of receipt (at that point would FEDEX ground be cheaper???)
What a bummer...people do suck...sometimes it drives away good sellers!
posted on August 16, 2002 11:11:36 PM
I tend to be too nice to buyers, but in your case I would NOT refund the money. You've got some good advice above. Two months is way too long for someone to hold an item that doesn't work. Sounds like either a scam or someone who lost the battery and whose baby dropped the case. Or whatever. Get your money out of PayPal, if that's where it was paid.
Sometimes I think it would help for a buyer like that to read all of our comments on AuctionWatch! (I'm serious.)
