Argh! eBay help! Buyer wants refund.

agw_01

agw_01

agw_01

Soldato
Joined
11 Apr 2004
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19,924
I promised myself I'd never make one of these threads, but what the hell. I need some advice.

Sold a Dell laptop for spares and repairs on eBay a few weeks ago. It belonged to my uncle who dropped the machine and smashed the screen and keyboard. I stripped most of the bits leaving the motherboard, casing and broken screen/keyboard in place.

Prior to me removing the components, it would POST and boot-up when connected to an external monitor. All of this was documented on the auction.

Anyway, it made good money and I sent it to the buyer. I've just had a message from him saying that it shows no signs of life when connected to an AC adapter. Even with everything removed, the battery indicator should light for a second when power is applied. He says that it doesn't do this.

Here's our conversation so far...

Hi I have received that item ,I have fitted my CPU and other stuff to your motherboard and connected external screen but nothings happened.Nothings coming even that small led which shows battery charging.It's look like that motherboard is completely death.I thought that could be different motherboard but computer specialist checked both motherboards and they are the same.
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Hi,

Thanks for the message but sorry to hear you're having problems. So, nothing is happening at all when you connect power to the laptop?

I can assure you it worked absolutely fine before I sent it. Even with no components, the battery light should come on briefly when power is applied. You are using the correct power supply?

I don't understand how the motherboard could have died completely.

Ok, If you want to send the laptop back, I'll have a look and we'll go from there.

Really sorry about this.

Cheers,
Andrew.
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I was used two power supply which are definitely working correct.My is working fine because my laptop have problem's witch charging ,that was the reason of buying yours .I though also that could be problem with yours power socket and that guy which repairs computers have replaced yours motherboard to my laptop and was the same effect nothings happened he told me that is definitely something wrong with motherboard.
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Where to go from here? I'm worried that he's swapped motherboards and is trying to scam me.

I know the issue that he's having as my 17" Studio has just come back from being repaired, but I know for a fact that the laptop was working absolutely fine prior to me selling it.

Where to go from here?
 
Good point. I think I still have the pictures somewhere.

I'll have a look when I get home.

emetic, good thinking.

Sorry guys, useless thread. I just panicked when I got his reply :o
 
Get his to send it back but make it known that you have the serial number/service tag, could be trying it on but i'd be inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt he hasn't asked for a refund straight out yet?
 
LizardKing, nope, he's not asked for a refund yet. It was just the bit where he'd got his 'computer guy' to swap motherboards because he thought there was a dodgy power connector? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't power connectors usually soldered to the motherboard?

Gerard, he can if he wants :D I've got nothing to hide.
 
There's usually a different daughter board which deals with the power. I'd tell him to get lost as he should have told you immediately rather than messing about with it.
 
Janesy B said:
There's usually a different daughter board which deals with the power. I'd tell him to get lost as he should have told you immediately rather than messing about with it.
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Tbh, that was my initial thinking. My responsibility stopped as soon as he took it upon himself to remove the motherboard.

Whether that's the right or wrong way of doing things, I wasn't sure, hence the thread.
 
My thinking is,

Sold as spares or repair, you pay your money, you make your choice.

So if he bought it as above I don't think you have any liability towards him, sure try and help but who's to say he didn't BORK your motherboard while trying to repiar his other laptop.

You were upfront in the listing and he knew what he was buynig.

End of
 
There's also a sticker on the motherboard showing the serial number/service tag.

I've got the service tag from the Dell website and am sure I'll have a full size picture of the motherboard somewhere.

I did state in the auction title that the motherboard was working, so it's not just an open and shut case of spares and repair.

I'm just undecided on whether to accept it back to check it or tell him it stopped being my problem when he removed the motherboard. I'm not out to scam anybody. My trust on here and eBay feedback will back that up. I know 100% without a doubt that it powered up before I sent it.
 
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yea but at least if he has swapped the board and sends a different one back it maybe more obvious if it has a different service tag
 
If he's not happy with it then I would take it back, especially if the motherboard was advertised as working and he claims it isn't.

Just hint to him that you have the serial numbers to scare him off in case he's trying to pull a fast one.. and also let him know that you'll only refund it if you find it to be not working in case he's just pretending it doesn't work due to buyers remorse.
 
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Keep us posted on the outcome of this please, i find them interesting reads :D

My 2p is, When he swapped the motherboard, thats when it stopped being your problem. Should have sent is straight back.

Also if you have pictures of it lighting up, great.

:)
 
I've found a lovely high resolution picture of the underside of the laptop showing the motherboard and serial numbers for all manner of things... I even have the MAC address of the wireless card.

No visible service tag though, but I know that's on a sticker on the bottom cover.

I'll be nice, get him to send it back and see what happens.

Cheers guys.
 
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