Advice on Dispute from eBay Buyer (iPhone 5)...

[brent1977]

Searched the forum for similar threads in the past year or so, but didn't see anything relevant. Am hoping for some advice.

I've sold my used electronics and photographic equipment on eBay for a while with no problems. No business or anything - just to recoup some money on items I no longer use. My feedback is 92/100%.

On 10/30, I sold an iPhone 5 that was, IMO, in excellent shape. I bought it used and had been using it for a little bit with no problems. Prior to selling, I thought I tested everything (including audio recording). Like I always do, I specified "no returns" since I was confident in the condition and photos of the item.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321563270239

The buyer received the item on 11/3 and I assumed all was well. Today, though, the buyer has initiated a return saying "This phone has a bad speaker, I had it checked, all calls are garbled. You advertised it as excellent condition, I don t want it am sending it back".

He has 100% positive feedback, so I have a hard time imagining that he's just trying to run some scam. I'm not sure how far my responsibility goes, though. Even if the phone is damaged/defective, how can I be sure that it was that way when he received it? He's had it over a week.

 

[noekozz]

It'll be kind of difficult since you specified "no returns".

I can't access the ebay link because I'm blocked from work, but did you specify any problems the phone may be having? Was the speaker phone working prior to you selling it? the "I thought I tested everything" part in your comment kind of throws me off, you either did or didn't. Paypal, for the most part, is always on the side of the buyer.

 

[Givmeabrek]

Not much you can do. eBay will side with the buyer anyway. Take it back, check it out and resell in whatever condition it is in. It may be fine. That's the risk you take.

 

[YungMoola94]

He's returning because he doesnt want it anymore. I would tell the buyer to prove the issue by taking a video otherwise tell him if he returns it you will deduct 20% restocking fee from the refund since you specified no returns. This is why it sucks to sell on eBay because buyer has 100% protection regardless of sellers return policy.

 

[thmshale]

If you're positive the speaker worked when you mailed it and you specified that no returns are accepted, then you aren't obligated to accept the return. Although the buyer might leave you a scathing review which could hinder future sales. It's up to you to determine which one is worth more.

 

[Givmeabrek]

You have to take it back. The buyer will claim it's not as described. eBay will refund the money. You really have no choice.

 

[brent1977]

It'll be kind of difficult since you specified "no returns".

I can't access the ebay link because I'm blocked from work, but did you specify any problems the phone may be having? Was the speaker phone working prior to you selling it? the "I thought I tested everything" part in your comment kind of throws me off, you either did or didn't. Paypal, for the most part, is always on the side of the buyer.

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

I said in the listing that the phone was fully-functioning with no problems. My "thought I tested" statement is like an "I'm positive I locked the door" deal. I'm 99% sure that everything was working when I was using it, but there's always that nagging 1% of uncertainty that "maybe I hadn't used the speakerphone as recently as I thought" or "maybe I forgot to test that part".

Let me put it this way - I was using it and wasn't having any problems with anything. Then for good measure, I went through and tested a bunch of stuff, too.

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You have to take it back. The buyer will claim it's not as described. eBay will refund the money. You really have no choice.

Again, appreciate the replies. Sounds like the "accept the return" votes outweigh the "he's out of luck" votes.

Doesn't look like I have much choice, I guess. I've got photos of the serial number on both the box and phone screen so he can't pull a switch on me or anything. Would actually prefer that he's lying so I can at least resell it rather than having to repair it or sell as "for parts".

 

[iMrNiceGuy0023]

Way less hassle on Craiglist. You got $287? Thats good.

Once I get my iPhone 6, hopefully I can get $400+ for my 64GB iPhone 5S unlocked from ATT

 

[baller1308]

I would use Swappa in the future.

 

[Pjrufus]

Sorry this has happened for you. As others have said, nothing you can do. Ebay will end up refunding, if you don't, then they debit your Paypal account. I don't believe you are responsible for paying for return shipping, but some pay it for goodwiil and feedback. Unless that has changed recently. Buyers now have 6 months to file a claim now. It doesn't pay for the small sellers to list on eBay anymore.

 

[YungMoola94]

Way less hassle on Craiglist. You got $287? Thats good.

Once I get my iPhone 6, hopefully I can get $400+ for my 64GB iPhone 5S unlocked from ATT

I would actually buy that 5S lol interested?

 

[Delmar]

Next time give Swappa a try. I have sold a few iPhones there recently & won't touch fleabay.com with a 10' stick.

 

[noekozz]

Thanks for the responses, everyone.

I said in the listing that the phone was fully-functioning with no problems. My "thought I tested" statement is like an "I'm positive I locked the door" deal. I'm 99% sure that everything was working when I was using it, but there's always that nagging 1% of uncertainty that "maybe I hadn't used the speakerphone as recently as I thought" or "maybe I forgot to test that part".

Let me put it this way - I was using it and wasn't having any problems with anything. Then for good measure, I went through and tested a bunch of stuff, too.

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Again, appreciate the replies. Sounds like the "accept the return" votes outweigh the "he's out of luck" votes.

Doesn't look like I have much choice, I guess. I've got photos of the serial number on both the box and phone screen so he can't pull a switch on me or anything. Would actually prefer that he's lying so I can at least resell it rather than having to repair it or sell as "for parts".

Yeah that's what I thought too. Good thing you stated "no returns" on your listing, though I doubt that'll help you much. This is why I try to avoid ebay at all costs, and now with the new paypal policies (180 day return window, seriously?) it sucks even more.

Like others have said, hopefully he returns the phone so you can sell it for some sort of profit through other venues.

 

[brent1977]

Next time give Swappa a try. I have sold a few iPhones there recently & won't touch fleabay.com with a 10' stick.

Had it listed on Swappa for a while first with the only activity being people telling me I need to sell it for $215 or less.

Got burned by a seller on Swappa whol sold me an older Android device and never shipped.

 

[bushido]

is that a US law thing? if i sell something on ebay as a private person and add the NO RETURN disclaimar on my offer there is nothing the buyer can do about it once he paid for and received it. its different if u r an actual professional reseller

 

[MacManTexas56]

Searched the forum for similar threads in the past year or so, but didn't see anything relevant. Am hoping for some advice.

I've sold my used electronics and photographic equipment on eBay for a while with no problems. No business or anything - just to recoup some money on items I no longer use. My feedback is 92/100%.

On 10/30, I sold an iPhone 5 that was, IMO, in excellent shape. I bought it used and had been using it for a little bit with no problems. Prior to selling, I thought I tested everything (including audio recording). Like I always do, I specified "no returns" since I was confident in the condition and photos of the item.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321563270239

The buyer received the item on 11/3 and I assumed all was well. Today, though, the buyer has initiated a return saying "This phone has a bad speaker, I had it checked, all calls are garbled. You advertised it as excellent condition, I don t want it am sending it back".

He has 100% positive feedback, so I have a hard time imagining that he's just trying to run some scam. I'm not sure how far my responsibility goes, though. Even if the phone is damaged/defective, how can I be sure that it was that way when he received it? He's had it over a week.

well ebay doesn't allow seller's to leave negative feedback so 100% being a buyer doesn't mean anything. Sadly, that is the risk of doing business with paypal/ebay.....all about buyer satisfaction

 

[617aircav]

Did you test the part the buyer is complaining about? I mean really check and not assumptions. Take it back.

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is that a US law thing? if i sell something on ebay as a private person and add the NO RETURN disclaimar on my offer there is nothing the buyer can do about it once he paid for and received it. its different if u r an actual professional reseller

No ebay allows a buyer up to 45 days to dispute an item. In this case it's best for OP to take it back. Hopefully the buyer was not lying. I won my ebay case against a buyer who bought a bad imei iphone 5 from me and then complained it didn't work in Canada.

 

[NayborAxi]

Swappa or ebay is the same thing. They both accept paypal and with paypal they can open a SNAD case 45 after receiving the item. I used to be a power seller on ebay and i can tell you i had to take back everything even phones sold as FOR PARTS OR REPAIR. Ebay will side with buyer ALWAYS 100% so my advice is to hope he pays return shipping and send you same phone you sent him (a lot of thieves will send you something else to steal your phones).

 

[ezekiel97]

I sold a MacBook that was dropped and damaged and sold for parts only...person was able to return it because the MacBook appeared to be dropped when they received it. I stopped selling on eBay after that I buy from them though

 

[brent1977]

How charming. Sent the buyer back a friendly reply asking if he tried a hard reset or restoring. Also asked who he had test it and what they specifically said. His response:

"I took it to a Apple store they said the ear piece speaker was bad, all incoming and outgoing calls are garbled. The only time it s clear is if I use the speaker phone. Its not as u described I want to return it.."

 

[Applejuiced]

Something is not right.
It shouldn't take him over 9 days to figure out the speaker is not working.
He might send you back an empty box or a completely different phone.
And even though you put no returns ebay and paypal will refund him his money.
What you can do is video record the whole thing. The package with the tracking number and shipping info before you open it and continue through the opening process. If he's trying to scam you at least you have some evidence to back your story up and show to ebay.
Sucks but many people do that on ebay. Im never selling anything there again.
One person tried that with me saying the phone was full of scratches and dents and he's sending it back to me. Where the phone was mint condition and was just replaced by applecare. So I told him if you send it back and its an empty box or anything else inside that box I will be recording and show proof to ebay and paypal. He changed his tune and didnt bother going through with his plan.

 

[brent1977]

And to add insult to injury, eBay requires that I pay $10 for him to ship it back! So I'm out the money from the sale, out shipping both ways, and he probably broke the phone.

 

[ezekiel97]

Weird They used to have to pay shipping back that really really sucks

 

[brent1977]

Anybody know whether I'll have any recourse with eBay or PayPal, if I get it back and there's nothing wrong with it? It'd be nice to at least get the shipping back.

Also, anybody know if PayPal will give me their fees back? Or am I out that, too?

 

[IpadSC400]

Searched the forum for similar threads in the past year or so, but didn't see anything relevant. Am hoping for some advice.

I've sold my used electronics and photographic equipment on eBay for a while with no problems. No business or anything - just to recoup some money on items I no longer use. My feedback is 92/100%.

On 10/30, I sold an iPhone 5 that was, IMO, in excellent shape. I bought it used and had been using it for a little bit with no problems. Prior to selling, I thought I tested everything (including audio recording). Like I always do, I specified "no returns" since I was confident in the condition and photos of the item.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/321563270239

The buyer received the item on 11/3 and I assumed all was well. Today, though, the buyer has initiated a return saying "This phone has a bad speaker, I had it checked, all calls are garbled. You advertised it as excellent condition, I don t want it am sending it back".

He has 100% positive feedback, so I have a hard time imagining that he's just trying to run some scam. I'm not sure how far my responsibility goes, though. Even if the phone is damaged/defective, how can I be sure that it was that way when he received it? He's had it over a week.

Your listing is very detailed, excellent picture(s), there is one aspect you should change in the future though. Never have "no return policy". I was kicked from ebay partly because my policy was "AS IS NO RETURNS." My gig was reselling salvage iPhones and iPods. My mistake was my policy. Always have some sort of return policy. You can have restrictions with your returns of course.

You should take the phone back, keep the buyer happy.

I am still vacant from eBay. ebay was 85% of my income. I was making thousands, but an ignorant buyer + no return policy = indefinite restriction. All 5 of my accounts as well as my family members were kicked from selling just like that...I was a top rated seller. Granted, 1 negative wont do much, but 3...

Good luck