PayPal Money Back guarantee......worthless

[RogerS]

Bought an OBD reader from Hong Kong. It was faulty. After protracted emails, the supplier agreed to pay my return postage as well as refunding me the cost of the unit. In the end I had to escalate it to PayPal.

Just got off the phone to PayPal. They (PayPal) have refunded me just the cost of the unit and my original delivery charge to get it to me. As far as the return postage cost is concerned, PayPal wash their hands. Not interested. Nada. Two fingers.

So just sent an email to the supplier asking them to honour their agreement. I'm not holding my breath on this one.

So be warned. Last time I buy anything from abroad using PayPal/eBay.

 

[RogerP]

Yes, very annoying, but from the other side of the fence as a seller, in recent years I've had a couple of similar situations. One was the item broke and the other was clearly buyer remorse.

In the first the buyer wrote me a note explaining the problem and asking if I'd take it back for refund. He seemed surprised when I said of course and I'd refund all his money including return postage. He was only expecting the PayPal/eBay "you pay return postage". It all worked out fine and he gave me great feedback.

The second was entirely different! Although there was nothing at all wrong with the item he'd just decided he didn't want it and was adamant I should pay for its return. I refuse and he then said he give me terrible feedback if I didn't. Reported him to eBay for feedback abuse and I heard no more from him. That was a year or two ago - never did get the item back of get to know what happened but I see now he is no longer listed by eBay as a member.

My advice as you've already contacted the seller is to take him up on the offer of a full refund including your postage. Don't bother going through eBay/PayPal just do it direct with the seller.

 

[Mr_P]

Don't most businesses on ebay offer 14 day returns but with the caveat Buyer pays return postage.

 

[RogerS]

Return postage is paid by the buyer if the buyer changes his mind. But if the item is faulty then return postage is the responsibility of the seller.

 

[RogerP]

Return postage is paid by the buyer if the buyer changes his mind. But if the item is faulty then return postage is the responsibility of the seller.

... yes but the seller needs to state that in his T&C.

 

[rafezetter]

Bought an OBD reader from Hong Kong. It was faulty. After protracted emails, the supplier agreed to pay my return postage as well as refunding me the cost of the unit. In the end I had to escalate it to PayPal.

Just got off the phone to PayPal. They (PayPal) have refunded me just the cost of the unit and my original delivery charge to get it to me. As far as the return postage cost is concerned, PayPal wash their hands. Not interested. Nada. Two fingers.

So just sent an email to the supplier asking them to honour their agreement. I'm not holding my breath on this one.

So be warned. Last time I buy anything from abroad using PayPal/eBay.

contact the supplier and send them copies of the replies from paypal - they must use it too (and pay extra fees on top) so make THEM do the donkey work - tell them no refund of return postage cost - no item returned full stop.

thing is if the item is faulty on arrival (I've had it happen to me) it's perfectly acceptable to expect the supplier to pay the cost to return it (they can moan to the manufacturer about it after - not your problem). And UK sales law states any item sold in the UK regardless of where the business is located in the world has to be fit for purpose, and if not, you shouldn't be out of pocket for anything to do with the item.

Hopefully you haven't sent it back, but if you have - put bad feedback - they hate that, and often will cough up if you agree to amend it.

Don't let it put you off - long as you know the game, you can get satisfaction even from chinese sellers.

 

[RogerS]

It's dragged on so long it is now outside the eBay 60 day feedback window.

 

[RogerS]

Return postage is paid by the buyer if the buyer changes his mind. But if the item is faulty then return postage is the responsibility of the seller.

... yes but the seller needs to state that in his T&C.

No, that is incorrect.

Any terms and conditions that say you must cover the cost of returning an item wouldn’t apply where the goods being returned are faulty. Distance Selling Regulations.

 

[RogerP]

Return postage is paid by the buyer if the buyer changes his mind. But if the item is faulty then return postage is the responsibility of the seller.

... yes but the seller needs to state that in his T&C.

No, that is incorrect.

Any terms and conditions that say you must cover the cost of returning an item wouldn’t apply where the goods being returned are faulty. Distance Selling Regulations.

I'm sure you are right Roger but there seems to be grey areas in the business/private, auction/BIN areas on eBay .....
http://tinyurl.com/p3o8yon

 

[wizard]

If you buy a faulty item from Tesco they do not pay for your fuel costs. On eBay you win some and you lose some, not worth getting worked up over it.

 

[RogerS]

.....
I'm sure you are right Roger but there seems to be grey areas in the business/private, auction/BIN areas on eBay .....
http://tinyurl.com/p3o8yon

That linked webpage is pretty badly written. It refers mainly to bought items where you change your mind. On another part of their site, Which quite clearly state that if the item is faulty then DSR apply ...as I stated earlier.

 

[MMUK]

.....
I'm sure you are right Roger but there seems to be grey areas in the business/private, auction/BIN areas on eBay .....
http://tinyurl.com/p3o8yon

That linked webpage is pretty badly written. It refers mainly to bought items where you change your mind. On another part of their site, Which quite clearly state that if the item is faulty then DSR apply ...as I stated earlier.

DSR is worthless when buying outside the UK.

 

[DannyEssex]

I recently sold an item (a video game) it only fetched £3. It was in perfect condition, like new. I checked that it worked and there was not a single mark on the disc. I sent off the very same day it ended. Only for me to get a message a couple of days later from eBay, saying that the buyer had opened a case against me, stating that it did not work and was unfit for purpose. I thought that's strange as I knew it was fine. Wanting to keep my good feedback, I agreed to a full refund, once I had the item back. Two weeks later the next message came through from eBay stating they had refunded the buyer from my paypal account. I didn't even get the item back.
I contacted eBay, ( I wasn't bothered about the £3+ ) but thought I should anyway. They stated the buyer did not need to return the item as it was under a certain amount!! There was nothing I could do. The buyer had perfect feedback too.

Considering the charges you have to pay, you don't get 'looked after' very well.


From the other side of things SWMBO brought a china mixing bowl. As we was both at work, the delivery driver dropped the box over a 7ft gate. Considering it had FRAGILE all over it.
The seller agreed to send another one after we had sent photos as proof. As luck would have it, we was both out when the next one arrived. The driver left it with a neighbour and you guessed it. It was in about ten pieces again. Luckily the third time it arrived ok :lol:


Try to resit the urge to use eBay now :roll: