Gumtree rant

Psycho Sonny

Psycho Sonny

Psycho Sonny

Caporegime
Joined
21 Jun 2006
Posts
38,367
Sold a fully working indesit washing machine on gumtree. Reason I was selling it was I bought a new top of the line samsung with 10kg capacity. Indesit had a 5 or 7kg capacity.

The indesit i owned for about 2 and a half years and was £300-£320 new. It's worked flawlessly in that time. However I no longer have the receipt but I believe had a 5 year warranty not sure what it covers or was registered tbh.

It was fully working when i used the machine just 2-3 days ago. My new machine is still in the wrapping. I thought why not keep using the old one until someone buys it and takes it away then I'll plumb the new one in. He saw my new machine still in its packaging. Had the old one been broken surely i would have plumbed the new one in and be using that instead?

So due to snow buyer couldnt collect on original day. I kept it for him. He picked it up yesterday and there was still 2 foot deep snow in places (I'm in Scotland). Whilst he and his mate were transporting it from my home to their car they placed it down in the snow at least 3 times. He even pushed it at one point in the snow for a foot or two. They struggled badly.

When they finally lifted it into the car and exposed the bottom by laying it on its side. The whole internal part of the machine. Motor and electronics the lot was covered in snow.

I pointed this out to them but they seemed oblivious. I then poked my head in and hand and pointed to exactly what I was talking about.

He took it home and it's now showing a motor fault. He now wants to bring it back for a refund. He seems to think he shouldn't bear responsibility for breaking it. He's citing the im poor card and can't afford to get it fixed. he says he layed it on it's back and dried it all out before switching it on, so he does admit it was covered in snow but not directly. His message was sent an hour or two after collecting it.

Its obvious he was desperate for a machine. I told him to wait until conditions improved but he insisted saying his clothes couldn't wait. I then said it was going to be difficult for me to help carry it due to snow and he said no problem he would be bringing a mate and no need for me to help. So I took zero part in the covering the motor, wiring and electronics in snow.

I've tried to indirectly tell him now 2-3 times that its his fault by saying it's clearly the snow which has damaged it. He doesn't seem to comprehend that he should take responsibility for it. Why would anyone invite someone to their home to sell them a broken machine?

I was thinking about refunding him as it's only £80 but it doesn't feel right. He knows where I live and he's seen my car's, etc. Which is why I was considering it as it wouldn't be worth the hassle should it escalate. However I do believe he needs to take responsibility for his own stupidity.

I even have a tumble dryer for sale I asked if he was interested in taking and he told me he had no more money. Oh and we agreed on £100 then when he turned up he asked best price and then when I didn't respond he offered £80 which I said okay then as I wanted it gone and couldn't bare going through the whole hassle of relisting for £20.

So it's not just eBay that you need to be careful on.
 
He paid for it then he broke his own goods through his own incompetence, so the solution is a simple one. You tell him to do one and to jog on. If he starts giving you any grief then you either deal with it yourself or you phone the police. It ain't rocket surgery.
 
Malevolence said:
He paid for it then he broke his own goods through his own incompetence, so the solution is a simple one. You tell him to do one and to jog on. If he starts giving you any grief then you either deal with it yourself or you phone the police. It ain't rocket surgery.
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The police won't be much help if he decides to rock up one night and put a brick through my window or my car's, etc. They would want evidence of which there would be none.

So it's a lot more complicated than just call the police. As for handling it myself there is a good chance that would end up with me in jail, jobless then homeless. So again not exactly something I would like to do. But I imagine all the keyboard warrior's on here always take that stance on the internet, in real life not so much.
 
Did you show it to him working/spinning before he handed over any cash? If so, sold as seen and he can jog on.
 
Exactly this isn't brain science. He broke it. You shouldn't be out of pocket because of his own stupidity.
I understand how you feel but stick to your guns. He might talk a bit but it's unlikely to end in faeces through the letterbox.
 
iGiDK said:
Did you show it to him working/spinning before he handed over any cash? If so, sold as seen and he can jog on.
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The waste pipe was still connected to drain pipe. Plug was next to socket. I had removed the water pipe.

He never asked to see it working however he looked it over and said it looked in great nick. Which it was whilst in my home.

If he wanted to see it working I would have connected it all up but he never asked. However I'll make a note of this for the future.

As far as im concerned it worked when I used it 2-3 days ago and has worked every week for the past 2 and a half years. Never had any faults.

Then he fills all the electronics and motor with snow and boom it doesn't work. It's not rocket science to figure out why it's no longer working.
 
So it is either lose £80 or deal with potential repercussions of an unhappy poor bloke.

I think only you can determine the risk factor as you are the only one to have met the fella. From what you've written the muppet sounds incompetent and kind of clueless so I wouldn't be too worried, but again only you can be the judge of that.
 
Tricky one really... Like you say he knows where you live but equally he could be trying it on. Is it worth the hassle for £80? That is the question.

If it has a build date on it then it might still be covered under warranty? You could tell him to return it to you.

It might just need drying out properly.
 
As well as the filling it with snow, if he put it on it's side he could have moved the drum out of line causing the motor fault/lack of spinning. If you are moving washing machines they normally come with transport bolts that go through the back of the casing into the drum to stop things getting damaged when the machine is moved. Were they fitted? Also if they were fitted has he removed them as they will prevent the machine from spinning.

Dave
 
Perhaps ask him to return it and refund it, perhaps there's a small chance in those few days you didn't use it it did develop a fault? Or it could off been his mistreatment you'll never know, but it would be hassle for him to return it so he'd only do it if he had to, then try to get it repaired under warranty at your place as you were original buyer, then either sell if you get it fixed or just put it outside for the scrap man and put it down to experience
 
The fact you agreed £100 then he turns up bartering would have annoyed me already, I don't think I'd be in the mood for a return and/or corresponding with him further after I told him he broke it. The goods were his the instant you accepted the money and he took it off your premises.
 
I would guess if he was in such a rush to wash his clothes he tried to use it asap before it had dried out, if he lets it dry fully or uses a hairdryer then it might still work if turning it on while wet hasn't done any damage

Bottom full of snow could have got the motor, heater, wiring, and power board wet, but washers leak all the time and normally ok when dried out
 
Tell him to FO,

I’d of told him to once he turned up and offered a lower price after agreeing.

I’ve told people to do one for trying the same before. I’ve sold quite a bit on Gumtree, it’s no where near as bad as eBay but you still get chancers and idiots.
 
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