Ebay woes

ShortWarning · 27 Feb 2012 at 16:53

Argh.

I recently sold a laptop on ebay.

It was 100% working when it was sent.

A few days a go the gentleman who bought it informed me the keyboard was faulty and that some of the keys did not work.

This didn't seem likely but for sake of bad feedback I said I would refund once the laptop arrives back safely.

It arrived back today so I unpackaged it and turned it on to verify there is a problem with the keyboard. I'm greeted with a strong green tint and lines running vertically down the screen. Half the keys on the keyboard also do not work.

Now to me it looks like he's probably spilt a bucket of water over the laptop which has in turn messed up the keyboard and inverter or something.

I stupidly didn't film the laptop working before sending it off.

Am I basically screwed? Will I be forced to refund his money in return for a faulty laptop?

DcD · 27 Feb 2012 at 16:55

Should've said no refunds. I think you've been conned.

Like you said, sounds like he's buggered it up and is trying it on. Is it definitely the laptop YOU sent? Check the serial on the bottom to make sure you've not been sent a dodgy one in return for your perfectly operational laptop.

Other than that, you've scuppered yourself really. You could send it back to him saying it wasn't like that when you sent it, but he'll probably take it up with eBay/Paypal and they may make you refund him. Depends how far you want to fight it.

NeverWinter · 27 Feb 2012 at 16:55

Is it exactly the same laptop? Do you know what the serial number was?

Tephnos · 27 Feb 2012 at 16:56

You screwed yourself hard.

Should have filmed it, pictures, everything.

Most likely he took your laptop, replaced it with his old one he broke, and sent you that one back.

Let that be a lesson to you. Trust no one.

lcg · 27 Feb 2012 at 16:56

Are you sure it's the same laptop as the one you sent? Did you record the laptop's serial numbers?

A2Z · 27 Feb 2012 at 16:59

I hope you have already transferred the money out of your paypal account.

Has he made any claim with Paypal? If not, cancel all your direct debit, bank details etc with them so they cant get the money, if he does make a claim.

Uther · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:07

A2Z said:
I hope you have already transferred the money out of your paypal account.

Has he made any claim with Paypal? If not, cancel all your direct debit, bank details etc with them so they cant get the money, if he does make a claim.

I don't think that will work...

ScoTTyBEEE · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:11

Uther said:
I don't think that will work...

Why not?

Slade2 · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:14

ScoTTyBEEE said:
Why not?

it does work although once they refund him Paypal will then chase you for the money..

lollyhayes · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:19

That really sucks. I think you could make a claim on the company you sent it with. As far as you know it was sent in working order, maybe it got damaged in transit?

lollyhayes · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:19

In my experiance ebay are good with this kind of stuff, if you have a good feedback rating and his is pretty naff or he is a new user they may rule in your favour...

ShortWarning · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:39

lollyhayes said:
In my experiance ebay are good with this kind of stuff, if you have a good feedback rating and his is pretty naff or he is a new user they may rule in your favour...

He has very good feedback, as do I.

His English is poor but he has (in a way) admitted he caused the fault with the keyboard:

"I have tol the truth and i do not lie,I am very upset that oyu are blaming me for any other fault other than the key board."

Has he incriminated himself there?

It's so frustrating. It's my fault in a way because I should have taken down all the details by video, etc now it's just my word against his.

It is definitely my laptop that was returned because there are a few marks on there which I recognise.

It also looks like the wireless card isn't working properly either. It definitely looks like water damage to me.

*Edit - In the listing it does actually say "No returns accepted" but I supposed I've voided that by allowing him to return it to me?

diverse180 · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:46

Just curious, but how long did the guy actually have the laptop for before claiming that it's ******?

Buchanan0204 · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:48

Post it back to him... give no refund! Stand by that. If you get told "john bloggs" is coming to your door on Wednesday to collect your sofa to pay for it... he wont and never does!

ShortWarning · 27 Feb 2012 at 17:52

diverse180 said:
Just curious, but how long did the guy actually have the laptop for before claiming that it's ******?

About a day.

Buchanan0204 said:
Post it back to him... give no refund! Stand by that. If you get told "john bloggs" is coming to your door on Wednesday to collect your sofa to pay for it... he wont and never does!

I would be tempted by this but I don't want to spend another £14 on postage just to have paypal take the money out of my account anyway.

Buchanan0204 · 27 Feb 2012 at 21:30

Ardmanz said:
About a day.

I would be tempted by this but I don't want to spend another £14 on postage just to have paypal take the money out of my account anyway.

Keep it then

Or suck it up and accept it was your mistake in the first place by accepting it back. Pay the cash, post it back and job done.

Morgoth · 27 Feb 2012 at 21:34

Open it up and stick a couple of red stickers inside and say that since he has triggered the internal water sensors the fault is his.

ShortWarning · 28 Feb 2012 at 09:50

I'm going to open it up tonight and look for water damage. I suspect even if I do find water damage and take photos that it won't be enough evidence for ebay?

Scrutinize · 28 Feb 2012 at 09:55

Ardmanz said:
Argh.

I recently sold a laptop on ebay.

It was 100% working when it was sent.

A few days a go the gentleman who bought it informed me the keyboard was faulty and that some of the keys did not work.

This didn't seem likely but for sake of bad feedback I said I would refund once the laptop arrives back safely.

It arrived back today so I unpackaged it and turned it on to verify there is a problem with the keyboard. I'm greeted with a strong green tint and lines running vertically down the screen. Half the keys on the keyboard also do not work.

Now to me it looks like he's probably spilt a bucket of water over the laptop which has in turn messed up the keyboard and inverter or something.

I stupidly didn't film the laptop working before sending it off.

Am I basically screwed? Will I be forced to refund his money in return for a faulty laptop?

Ardmanz said:
I'm going to open it up tonight and look for water damage. I suspect even if I do find water damage and take photos that it won't be enough evidence for ebay?

Hate to say it but you really didn't protect yourself on this one.

Firstly, photos, videos and serial numbers of it all working are a must. Why people don't do this or even consider doing this is a mystery to me.

Secondly, collection only on Laptops etc is the way to go. You still get a large potential market but none of the pitfalls. Buyer inspects the goods and signs receipt to verify recieved as working (esp. if you take paypal over cash) Also if you do post make sure it is packaged as per courier requirements and they insure laptops etc for damage in transit as a lot don't.

edscdk · 28 Feb 2012 at 10:09

you sold a working item,

you got a broken item back that was the same one you sent..

I say it was the transit that caused the issue.

I am sure if a lot of people here packaged up their old laptops and threw them down the stairs then kicked them around a bit, shook them, left then them to freeze - numerous poepl would find the machines no longer worked correctly...