posted on September 5, 2010 09:57:53 AM new
Sold a vintage pen & pencil set that was still in the box with the label across the set.
I was told they were never used. They looked perfect (but needed cleaning as they were sterling). The only thing I did was take them from the box to see if they would write which they did.
Just got an email from the buyer who said they did look new but were not - the pencil eraser had been used.
I apologized and offered a full refund plus return shipping. He said he didn't want to return them but paid too much.
Well that's not really true as a used pen alone normally bring $130 with no box and he paid $145 for the pen, pencil and box. No wonder he doesn't want to return them.
The last email from him stated "sorry i will report red feed back"
I've looked at FB he has left and he tends to leaves a lot of negatives and even if the seller works with him, it appears that he leaves neutrals.
I guess my 11 year no negative record is gone and there is nothing I can do about it.
What a shame for a honest mistake.
posted on September 5, 2010 10:05:28 AM new
Try reporting him for feedback extortion. Might save you from getting feedback from him.
Your offer of refund was more than enough to show you went out of your way to please him.
[ edited by max40 on Sep 5, 2010 10:06 AM ]
posted on September 5, 2010 10:28:07 AM new
eraser can be replaced.
what brand is it,I have seen sterling silver Parker set in box going for 35 dollars .
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 5, 2010 01:25:40 PM new
In this case I think you win.
You made the best offer possible. Buyer wants the pens and their money back. The negs show he/she may have run this scam before. Contact eBay and tell them your side of the story.
posted on September 6, 2010 05:08:36 AM new
You sold him a set with a used eraser,you should have examined the eraser before you list the item.
I sold a grooming set of 3 ,it turned out they are not a set,same maker same style but the serial numbers show they are not a set.
My fault for not knowing ,so I asked her to return it,she refused and ask for a partial refund of 25,I gave her 10 and she dinged my rating!
There are so many bidders who want to resell your goods,she took them to the store and showed them the set,the set is 80 years old !
They thought they spotted a good deal and expect to make good money,and it turned out not so .
We all buy and sell to each other,round and round we go,and someone is left holding the bag!
Just because you offer full refund plus return shipping,it does not 'erase' the fact you sold an item which is 'not as described',he could stil give you a bad rating after returning the item because you wasted his time .
Dont bother to contact Ebay,next time be more diligent in examining the item before you list it on Ebay!
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 6, 2010 07:05:36 AM new
Yes Hwa - I made a mistake - I admit that. My husband's mother had just past away and I had a few other things on my mind but I KNOW I should have checked.
I guess only perfect people should try to be sellers on ebay.
posted on September 6, 2010 07:17:08 AM new
I would never offer or agree to a partial refund.You made an honest error. Tell the cry baby you will send him a new eraser. Stand by your offer to the bitter end. This scammer knows if he can't get you to pay all or part of the money and he gets to keep the set and he crys loud enough and long enough, eBay will pay him off out their own pocket.
Of course he risks being tossed out of eBay.
posted on September 8, 2010 01:02:13 AM new
I called ebay and they said they couldn't do anything unless/until he leaves a negative. Then I should call them back to see if I can get it removed.
The buyer wrote back that he will be happy if I refund 1/3 of the money to him. Wow that's a pretty expensive eraser!!
I think I may just stand my ground - return for full refund only.
posted on September 8, 2010 06:54:43 AM new
If the eraser is used,then the pen is used!
It is now a used set,replacing the used eraser does not make the set new.
If I sell a 'new' pocket watch but then the buyer found out there are scratches on the cover of the watch,replacing the cover does not make it a new watch.
If he tries to resell that watch,he would have to sell it as a used watch in very good condition,and state the cover has been replaced,he would not get the same price as a new watch.
Yes,you should ask him to return the set and resell it as a used set in very good condition.
Would he still neg you,he can and nothing Ebay can do.
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 8, 2010 02:08:16 PM new
2 of the most valuable lessons / mantra I have learned on this forum and they were both posted by Fluff are: SEND IT BACK and YOU MAKE YOUR MONEY WHEN YOU BUY.
posted on September 9, 2010 09:35:09 PM new
Hwa- Just b/c an eraser was used doesn't mean the pencil was used. I have grabbed plenty of pencils just to use the eraser. I have a pencil that has never been sharpened but has no eraser left...
You should give him two solutions and stick to those.
1) He return it for a full refund including shipping.
2) You send him a replacement eraser. In fact, you'll likely have to buy more than one eraser, so offer to send him a pack of erasers. Just check online for replacements to see how many he'd get.
He isn't going to like either solution, so he is likely going to be a jerk and leave bad feedback, whether neutral or negative. One neg isn't the end of the world. In fact, if you are patient and carefully word your response to his feedback you will land just fine.
Cite his negs for other sellers and state you offered full refund upon return which he declined. Remember, there are a few tricks to leaving feedback to squeeze a few extra words in. You can abbreviate things like "you" with "u" "too" with "2", and instead of placing spaces between each word, you can do this: UseCapitalLettersToDistinguishWords. I have done this to get the most from my feedback when necessary. It is rare, but it works.
Then call eBay and let them know he claimed damage to the item and threatened bad feedback unless you refund part of his money. You offered a full refund once he returns it... include the return shipping to 1) make yourself look good 2) do the right thing since you supposedly make an error.
posted on September 10, 2010 05:17:53 AM new
Shag,
you are wrong,the eraser is part of the total package,if one part or parts have been used,then the whole set is used.
If I buy a new car from the factory and it said never used or driven ,then I found one tire is slightly used,does it make it a new car ?
Of course,the dealer can argue,tires are made by Goodyear,we can give you a new tire,but you wonder what else is ' used' in the car?
If the pencils are missing eraser and never used,then it is factory rejects and should be sold as such.
In her case,it is an old set and if eraser has been used,then chances are someone has used the pen/pencil.
Of course we can argue all day long,we can also take fingerprint and see whose fingerprints are on the set and study how much ink is left .
I dont know what brand she sold,I have seen used set selling for 35 dollars .
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 10, 2010 05:29:36 AM new
I recall years ago before all thes paypal only and buyer and seller protection,I received phone calls from buyers who claim the piece is broken but she is an expert in repairing and no one can now tell the difference and she is too good to go to the post office to file claim,so how about a partial refund?
And a guy who bought a bronze figurine said if you look upside down,there is a seam which is just not right,if you want me to return,I will only ship UPS and COD and it would cost you 34 dollars just for shipping,so you are better off giving me a partial refund and let me keep the piece?
I ignored both and they went away,but thats before Ebay and Paypal step in.
Then last year a guy who buy and sell on Ebay called and said you sent me a slightly different piece and I dont trust you anymore,so you will have to refund first and then I return your item,bottom line is they think they overpay and want to reduce the cost of the goods,so they can resell at a higher profit!
And the lady who bought the set which is not a set kept emailing me saying she found more scratches,the set is 80 years old,if she is 80 years old,she will have scratches too!
Walmart and its gang did the right thing,say No to Ebay and start their own marketplace. awa
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
[ edited by hwahwa on Sep 10, 2010 05:33 AM ]
posted on September 10, 2010 07:47:32 AM new
hwa - I wasn't arguing that the set was used or not, just that if the eraser was used doesn't mean the pencil portion was used.
I just got this email today, which in all honesty, I am a bit surprised. The clock he purchased is a very nice vintage wall clock.
We've had the clock for awhile in our store and I recently posted it on eBay.
It sounds like nitpicking to me to try to get a partial refund. The clock was fixed price, the listing had ended. A few days after it ended he offered me $100 for it, and I countered with $150. He said he would do $125. So I relisted it and accepted his offer. Ironically, now he is "disappointed" in it. I question his claim that it is "brass paint", but if it is brass paint it most definitely was not done poorly. I did exactly the same thing. Return it within 3 days in the same condition for a refund. Here is his email.
-----------
Item # 160475786468
"just to let you know the "brass accents" are not actually brass (except for the hour and minute hand the nut to hold them on) ...all the number accents are brass colored paint over plastic and not well done either...i'm very disappointed as i feel i have been misled...though i did not ask you directly if the numbers were brass or not...i guess i feel the statement in your discription "brass accents" meant solid brass and not painted plastic...i'm not really happy with this...do you have any suggestions?
thank you for your time."
sincerely, xxxxxx
posted on September 10, 2010 08:19:48 AM new
I've been doing this for quite some time. I'm not perfect by any means, and it is possible that it is plastic, however if it is plastic with brass paint over it, it wasn't done poorly because it fooled me. I am not convinced it is plastic though.
I think it is either buyers remorse or he wants me to knock off some of the price. I wouldn't be surprised if he wants $25 taken off (brings it down to his original offer). His choice is to keep it or return it for a refund. Whether I offer a discount or have it returned I am losing out... so I would rather take it back and sell it again.
This is the biggest issue with selling vintage items- describing things to the satisfaction of everyone. No matter what you do, someone out there is going to expect more or find something to complain about.
A few years back I actually had a buyer one time complain that I didn't mention it didn't have a feature that they wanted. Huh??? I didn't realize I had to tell someone that a vintage telephone doesn't microwave their food. LOL.
Seriously, if you shop for a DVD player, each item will tell you the features it has... NOT the features it doesn't have. A $59 DVD player isn't going to say, "This DVD player does not have Blue Ray". Absurd.
posted on September 10, 2010 08:23:04 AM new
well,it is possible the numbers are plastic and then brass painted,they make the face of the clock from a mold and then paint over the plastic numbers,the arms they have to add on ,so they are true brass accent/
Thats Ebay mentality,they have testing kits for 10k,14k,18k,22k gold testing,it is crude way of testing gold content,they use magnet,they use lights,they throw 'amber; teapot in water,they test for pewter,diamond,bronze ,jade all home grown testing and they think this is the Bible.
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 10, 2010 08:25:14 AM new
Maybe I should start listing everything with broad generalities.
This clock may be vintage, but it could be a reproduction that looks vintage. It may be solid walnut, but it may be a very good plastic composite that looks, feels, and smells like real wood. The pieces that are plastic may actually be metal that is flexible. The clock appears to work, but it may just be an optical illusion of hands rotating around the dial. It appears to have a motor, but it may just be a decorative piece on the back that a D size battery may fit into.
I may be on to something here. I should give it a test run.
posted on September 10, 2010 10:18:35 AM new
They want 'things' which will not lose value or better appreciate in value,thats why GOLD is where it is and silver is catching up.
They dont have faith in their govt and the IOUs they keep dishing out.
You see diamond is not much sought after,what did we learn in school about diamond?
You can run to Mexico and pay for your meals with gold,not sure what they will do if they see diamond or resin figurines or bronze finish sculpture?
During the Gulf War,Kuwaiti citizens in neigbor country found their credit cards cancelled and the Kuwaiti currency a joke,but they can buy their meals and pay for their lodging in gold !
Vietnamese boat people carry gold chains with them,24k gold not 14k or 10k or 9k or goldplated.
You get the picture !
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
posted on September 10, 2010 05:53:10 PM new
I agree with Max40, sounds like the buyer is trying to extort a refund in exchange for not posting bad feedback. Report them to ebay. Eat the neg if you must - it will be gone in a year.
posted on September 12, 2010 08:12:36 AM new
what always kills me about gold is the "value" of it. what exactly makes gold so valuable? it isn't necessary to live. if gold didn't exist, life would continue. Yet, for centuries upon centuries cultures have placed great value in gold.
i just find it amusing that a little piece of gold can be worth a giant plot of land where you can grow your own food, build your own house, live, etc. yet, the gold just sits there. it does very little. it is virtually a purposeless commodity with some minor exceptions because it does not corrode. people make coins, jewelry, and art from it. But beyond those traditional methods of using gold, I just could never figure out why it is worth so much. Then again, Pet Rocks have some value to people. lol.
posted on September 12, 2010 11:43:28 AM new
It is universally accepted as a store of value,repeat-universally accepted as store of value-
say a farmer works all day and the landlord gives him his wages -a bag of rice.
Then he has to stand at a corner of the street bartering for chicken,lettuce,midwife.
The chicken farmer has to stand at another corner looking to exchange his chicken for beef or pork or fish as his family is tied of eating chicken.
Camel traders/horse traders,ladies of the street all have to barter .
How about if they all agree gold is a medium where you store your days hard work and you can use it to buy chicken,eggs,frog legs or a night of pleasure,then you dont have to carry your bag of rice,chicken etc to barter,gold is light and easy to store and does not rot or shrink.
Now why gold,why not sea shells or coconut,well seashells can be crushed and coconuts can go spoiled .
Also it takes know how to extract and refine gold,anyone can pick seashells or coconuts but not anyone can refine gold'
Then Gold becomes the standard and our dollar used to be back by gold,not by the print press.
I have been reading about the origin of man and there are people who research into the ancient past either from the Book of Genesis or Sumerican texts who claimed we were visited by a race from another solar system and they lack gold which shields them from raidation and they need gold so they sent some workers to this planet to mine gold in Africa.
Work was hard and these men rebelled.
So they come up with genetic engineering and impregnate the ape like women in Africa and modern man is born to work mining gold.
They even claimed reading the fine prints,eve was made from a rib of Adam,thats stem cell making?
Another one studied the ancient texts and said 200 angels whose abode is high up in the hills came down and mate with daughter of men,teach them how to use makeup,abort and bewitched the opposite sex.
Men were taught the use of steel,broze and welding and farming techniques.
For all these these 200 men were punished for revealing the secrets.
Further readings said sons of God found daughters of men attractive,the daughters of men who mated with sons of God gave birth to giants thru casearean operation.
You know back in old days any visitor from another place with advance technology were referred to as God.
When the Incas saw the Spaniards,they thuought their God has returned.
Makes good bed time reading,file them in the same shelf as Atlantis,Lemuria,Edgar Caycee and publications of the Theology Society.
Oh,the Europeans found the Indians in South America have gold,lot of gold,it is not that there are more gold mines,but they have learned from someone how to extract and refine gold more efficently,remember back in old days mining gold and refining gold is a tedious job
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There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
[ edited by hwahwa on Sep 12, 2010 03:41 PM ]
posted on September 12, 2010 03:46:56 PM new
as for a piece of gold worth same or more than a piece of land,it is like when you sell your land,someone brings you a cashier check.
Does that mean that piece of paper is worth just as much as your land or what is stored in that piece of paper is worth just as much as the land and you could use it to buy 100 chickens,200 ducks and a horse and a pig.
OR you can demand the buyer brings you 100 chicken,200 ducks and a horse and pig at closing.
*
There is no 'Global savings glut',only wild horses and loose bankers.
