Ebay advice please :)

AMDPower

AMDPower

AMDPower

Soldato
Joined
24 Feb 2004
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Hi all

Just wanted to get some advice regarding a item I bought of ebay and not sure what to do right now.

I recently purchased a used laptop, nothing fancy, but unfortunately the item was described AS NEW and it arrived nothing like as new. The repairs will cost a lot so I cant do that. There were several cosmetic faults that he did not described even though I asked about them. The seller has a 7 day return policy but with a cath and that is he is adamant that

please note item need to be returned in same condition as received with no change made to the Operating System or any other software installed.
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I unfortunately UN-installed mc affe anti virus and window started to install the updates. I am assuming he will use this as an excuse to NOT accept a refund even though the machine is not as described and no way near to be honest and here is my dilemma

1) I can reinstall windows from the factory recovery partition on the laptop but I am assuming he will find out somehow even if windows reverts to normal with all reinstalled factory software.

2) shall I dispute this case on ebay first as payapl will side with me, because the item was not as described?


any advice on what to do in this regards?

thanks all

********-UPDATE1 -*********

Hi guys,

Firstly a very big thank you to everyone who took the time to read and respond, much appreciated

just to update everyone since you all took the time to help me,

I contacted the seller again before taking out paypal dispute, if we can arrange a new price to take into account the condition of the machine, as frankly I did not want the hassle of sending and payapl dispute. He disagreed and I opened a paypal dispute, as mentioned many times here, paypal sided with me. They asked if I could send the machine back and then give them tracking information. I did this and sent the item insured Next day delivery and signed for. Unfortunately It would seem the seller has not taken delivery, strange as I let him know that I was sending it.

In the event he wont take delivery, ie refuses to, what would happen?

I assume no refund and only leave negative feedback?

what happens if he does take delivery and says that these damages were not present and holds me liable?

I am never buying second had item from ebay again

**********UPDATE 2**********


Hi all

Thank guys, I really appreciate everyone taking the time to reply to me and for all the help.

The seller has finally taken delivery of the laptop and I got a message from paypal stating that they have decided in my favor and will get a refund in few days time, but when I checked the resolution centre it says case closed is fine but then it also says that the seller has disputed the claim and they are receiving further information sent by seller and reviewing it.

where do i go from here?

I assume he might be saying that i have caused damages to the item? I took many pictures from the item but he also had another laptop that is the same model as the one i purchased externally but differnt specs inside, is it possible that he might submit pictures of a laptop where the case is not broken in the same place and blame me for the damages?

thanks all
 
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Contact the seller first and request a full refund if he declines due to them reasons hold onto the laptop and raise a dispute were ebay will probably refund you providing you return the item and don't use it anymore than you already have. eBay usually sides with the buyer so you may be okay
 
Being as your a buyer, you will most likely win the dispute as eBay and PayPal side with buyers all the time. Item not as described will net you a full refund with maybe delivery paid for.
 
GrimsbyLAD said:
Contact the seller first and request a full refund if he declines due to them reasons hold onto the laptop and raise a dispute were ebay will probably refund you providing you return the item and don't use it anymore than you already have. eBay usually sides with the buyer so you may be okay
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Pretty much this. Have you given the seller any chance to make right?
 
I think your over thinking it.

Just tell the seller its not as described and you want a refund.
If he didn't pay any attention to the outside before listing I'd be surprised if he knew whats on the inside
 
Contact the seller first and request a full refund if he declines due to them reasons hold onto the laptop and raise a dispute were ebay will probably refund you providing you return the item and don't use it anymore than you already have. eBay usually sides with the buyer so you may be okay
Click to expand...

I contacted the seller and asked for a refund or adjust the price to take into accound the bad condition it is(he did not want to adjust price but said return it), he gave the excuse that I put into quotes ie "he would only issue a refund if i made no changes to the operating system or its programs" which is a bit weird considering the laptop has a recovery partition.

He is not refusing a refund but has a strange condition that i am worried he will refuse to refund me with.

I am worried to send it back and he says I made changes and not issue me a refund. Then it might be too late to dispute the case in ebay?

would it be best to just raise a dispute now?

Why did you even turn it on if you were expecting new and got something with "cosmetic faults"?
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to check if the wifi, hdd and other stuff was working as I did not trust him
 
Tell seller its not as described.

If seller refuses to help then open paypal dispute.

Paypal will ask you to post it back and give paypal tracking number

post it via RMSD and update paypal claim details

wait for refund when royal mail shows it as delivered.

OPEN A CLAIM BEFORE SENDING IT BACK, Register on claim what you are doing
 
What's to stop him saying you changed something with it even if you didn't? The whole idea is silly and it's very unlikely eBay will give two ****s about it. Raise a dispute, it will get his attention if nothing else as his money will be taken back by eBay until the dispute is sorted. What's his feedback like, had anything like that in the past?
 
Raise issue with ebay, if he is being funny and make sure you send it back recorded/special delivery so you get a signature to show paypal.

You have 45 days with ebay/paypal to issue dispute.
So do it now. :)
 
I had the reverse happen to me recently. Some illiterate sub human purchased an old laptop from me, I think he was an old guy who had never used a computer before. A week after he received it he asked me for a manual for the laptop because "it says webpage not available" :/

A few hours later he leaves me negative feedback and opens a case dispite stating "I don't like your methods but I don't have the time to take this further" and then leaves the case open for a month without replying to any of my messages offering him a refund. I finally emailed ebay customer service to tell them this guy has vanished but guess what? Yep, they found in his favour because the item I sent him was "non-functional" and have given him 10 days to return it, even though he's had over 4 weeks already.

In summary, do what the **** you like because ebay will still give you a refund even if you took a dump on the keyboard and sent it back in a Tesco bag.
 
AMDPower said:
simoncHere said:
Why did you even turn it on if you were expecting new and got something with "cosmetic faults"?
Click to expand...

to check if the wifi, hdd and other stuff was working as I did not trust him
Click to expand...


I still don't get why you uninstalled Mcafee?
I can see the checking wifi and it connecting and hitting Microsoft update, although one assumes you had to type in a wifi password by which point you would know the wifi was working. But why on earth if you didn't trust him, didn't like the external condition and had bought it "NEW" did you go messing with the software on it?

Anyway, as the others have said Paypal will probably side with you as long as you follow the procedures.
 
gambitt said:
I had the reverse happen to me recently. Some illiterate sub human purchased an old laptop from me, I think he was an old guy who had never used a computer before. A week after he received it he asked me for a manual for the laptop because "it says webpage not available" :/
.
.
In summary, do what the **** you like because ebay will still give you a refund even if you took a dump on the keyboard and sent it back in a Tesco bag.
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sorry to hear that happened to you, I honestly not trying to con this guy, I have even given him the choice of readjusting the price in accordance to its condition but he does not. This thing is not as described, he said to me few scratches on the lid, but there are many more than a few but that's fine no problem, he did not tell me that when you open the lid the case comes apart from the bottom of the laptop, and actually bends the magnesium chassis, when you type on it it excessively wobbles the screen on the side the case has come apart and its hard to concentrate with screen wobble, its hard to explain the fault :)

I have been quoted about £350 for the repair of the lid and open case which is too much when you add the price of the machine in the first place.


one last question guys, I don't have much experience with ebay but when you say open dispute do you mean do this via ebay or paypal or both?

thank all for your help, much appreciated
 
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I still don't get why you uninstalled Mcafee?
I can see the checking wifi and it connecting and hitting Microsoft update, although one assumes you had to type in a wifi password by which point you would know the wifi was working. But why on earth if you didn't trust him, didn't like the external condition and had bought it "NEW" did you go messing with the software on it?

Anyway, as the others have said Paypal will probably side with you as long as you follow the procedures.
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You are right, I should have not unintalled it and accept that but its was only a trial edition that expires in 30 days. But its silly since He reset it to factory defaults using the f10 option at start-up, does not not think I cant do that aslo?
 
does he know you have changed software? is it obvious?
just don't metion it!

ask for your refund, get your proof of postage when sending back
if he then starts to say you've changed software and refuses to refund you open a dispute.

he can easily reinstall the software, he would have to be a right ahole to refuse a refund, plus he probably knows ebay will refund you because it was sold not as described
 
I think either, reinstall McAfee if you think you can. Or tell him beforehand and say "I should mention I uninstalled free piece of trial software, McAfee, and windows updated when I plugged it in. Please let me know if you consider this to be "messing with programs blah blah". If you will not accept a refund based on those MINOR changes then let me know now so I can open paypal dispute before returning the item. if you are happy then I will post back tomorrow.

Something like that, you did pay by Paypal, didn't you?

If he refuses then you can still open dispute and keep the item in the meantime, which will serve him right. If he argues by email then you have the emails as well to back it up. Make it very clear they are minor changes. If you want to save yourself the effort of dispute, then you could offer to knock a couple of quid off for the inconvenience of putting stuff back to how it was, but as everyone has says, you will win dispute anyway so there's very little risk for you, it's just hassle, and delay in you getting money for better laptop.

What is his feedback like? If it's good then he should be sufficiently worried to give you full refund, if it's bad, then, try to avoid buying expensive electrical equipment from people who have dodgy feedback.

Lastly, as mentioned above, take photos before sending back, and ensure you send back securely. You'll win dispute anyway, but doesn't hurt to take precautions.

Dispute is opened through Paypal, but give the seller a fair chance first.
 
Hi guys,

Firstly a very big thank you to everyone who took the time to read and respond, much appreciated :)

just to update everyone since you all took the time to help me,

I contacted the seller again before taking out paypal dispute, if we can arrange a new price to take into account the condition of the machine, as frankly I did not want the hassle of sending and payapl dispute. He disagreed and I opened a paypal dispute, as mentioned many times here, paypal sided with me. They asked if I could send the machine back and then give them tracking information. I did this and sent the item insured Next day delivery and signed for. Unfortunately It would seem the seller has not taken delivery, strange as I let him know that I was sending it.

In the event he wont take delivery, ie refuses to, what would happen?

I assume no refund and only leave negative feedback?

what happens if he does take delivery and says that these damages were not present and holds me liable?

I am never buying second had item from ebay again :(
 
eBay will side with you as the buyer, you have posted the item insured so if he doesnt collect as the item is 'missing' the claim will then go against Royal Mail.

he sounds a bit dodgy so if he was expecting the item there is a good chance he will just refuse to sign for the package.

can you contact the seller again and if no response contact ebay and chase them up as you have done your part surely they can now refund you.
 
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