So, you've bought something via the forum classifieds and it's not as described.....

Status
Not open for further replies.
Chris_911

Chris_911

Suspended / Banned
Messages
1,485
Name
Chris Tarling
Edit My Images
No
I'm throwing this out there to sense check my stance.

Bought an item off a forum member described as 'like new' and bought on the basis of the validity of that description.
Said item turns out to be damaged - had full disclosure been made I would not have purchased.

I give the seller the benefit of the doubt - he may just have missed it - and contact him via pm to explain the situation and ask for a refund and offering to return the lens at my cost. Bot only after I have the refund.

Seller first claims poverty, doesn't have the money. Doesn't initially refute that the lens has damage. Accuses me of a change of heart. States he's struggling to get the money together.

Question - what would you do?
I'm now in a position of mistrusting the seller - and he's clearly mistrusting me.
He states 'until I receive the lens I can't offer a refund.'

Discuss!
 
I must balance this by saying I have had excellent trades and even where there has been a slight discrepancy in description on one occasion, I received a partial refund that we were both happy with.

In this case it sounds bit dodgy. Clearly he did have your money at one stage. I would return it and ask for the refund, make the mods aware, and hope he is honest and pulls the money together. It is not your problem he has spent it on something else. Is there any way that you could get a service that collects cash on delivery?
 
If the item's been misdescribed (innocently or not), this is the seller's problem, not yours. In offering to pay your own return costs, you've already done more than is required of you.
It's a dangerous business spending the money before determining that the buyer is happy with the item - was the damage obvious on inspection, or did it only come to light later, after you'd confirmed it was OK?
Has the OP confirmed that you will get a refund, or is he only saying that you might? Has he agreed that the damage is present and was not caused by you?

I'd definitely be RTMing this and opening a disputed trade.
 
Damage obvious on inspection. PM'd details within minutes of discovery
I feel he's disputing the damage, has stated that he is struggling to the money together.
I've lost the trust that he'll refund on receipt of the lens. I feel I'll be left without the cash or the lens.
 
To be honest Chris, the best course of action here is to report to the mods and open a disputed trade.
 
Did you get his telephone number and address as required by the rules. If so give him a call, failing that you could go down the small claims route.
 
Nikon_Nick said:
To be honest Chris, the best course of action here is to report to the mods and open a disputed trade.
Click to expand...

That's all you can do and keep a record of the "audit trail' and keep the seller informed

I had one "bad one" - but if only the seller had been honest with me about not having the money for 4 weeks I would have understood, (it was Xmas and maybe he had spent the money).
In the end I got the money back but only have intervention by the Mods, who were very helpful, and a lot of PM's etc., between us.

Good luck ……. it really is a pity that out of the many transactions you get the odd one which is a hassle
 
Chris_911 said:
Damage obvious on inspection. PM'd details within minutes of discovery
I feel he's disputing the damage, has stated that he is struggling to the money together.
I've lost the trust that he'll refund on receipt of the lens. I feel I'll be left without the cash or the lens.
Click to expand...

It's normally accepted that the seller refunds before the buyer returns. You took the risk paying a complete stranger, he knows exactly where you are as he posted the item to you so the risk of return should fall on him.

If he refuses to refund, have a look at MCOL.
 
It's best that you start with a "disputed trade" thru the Mods … to bring the transaction out in the open
 
if you paid by paypal open the dispute there, paypal will pay out regardless of if the seller has the funds and the seller will be in negative balance to pp.
there have been times that ive sold something and wanted too use the money paid to me to make another immediate purchase but always hold back and wait until the buyer has the item and is happy with everything. this case does sound like a grab the money and run kind of thing and the excuse is rather feeble that they dont have the funds to pay you back,
 
Nikon_Nick said:
To be honest Chris, the best course of action here is to report to the mods and open a disputed trade.
Click to expand...

Which is what has happened.

And, with that, I think that this thread would be best closed, before the pitchforks and fire-brands emerge...

mind the doors folks.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top