Buyer refund...

[Golden Boy]

I'm not sure if this should go in the eBay section since it's not anime-related, but anyways...

I'm sure this happens on eBay all the time, but this is a first time for me.

Buyer wins my auction for an old cable modem for $9.99. He pays quickly. I send it and leave positive feedback.

He receives it and states it's not compatible with his ISP. He wants a refund and he'll send the modem back.

I don't want it back and it's not my fault it is incompatible, but I risk ruining my rating.

Should I take it back? Should I offer a partial refund and let him keep it? Or just state I don't want it and won't offer a refund.?

I'd love some opinions before I respond.

Thanks!

[soda]

There's something fishy about 100% positive feedback buyers/bidders on ebay. Nobody can please everyone. Take the hit. It's not your fault nor worth the hassle.

[shellie]

There's something fishy about 100% positive feedback buyers/bidders on ebay. Nobody can please everyone.

I beg your pardon, mister. Perhaps you can't please everyone... you just must not be niiiiiice like me! *giggle* I've dealt with so many idiots, I'm surprised I've escaped unscathed so far actually.

I agree with soda, GB... the guy should have asked more questions before he bid, or he should have gone to WalMart if he wanted a return policy like that. If he didn't know what kind to buy that would be compatible with his machine, that isn't your fault. I'd explain that to him nicely and risk the neg rather than take it back when he received exactly what he bid on. Maybe you can suggest that he try to resell it to recoup some of his mistake. Good luck!!

[duotrouble]

Your buyer should have asked you questions before bidding on the modem. You're right! It's not your fault it's not compatible. Unless you stated in your auction you'd give refunds, it's not your problem IMO.

but I risk ruining my rating.

I think there's WAY too much stock taken into having "perfect" feedback. This of course is being said by someone who doesn't have 100%. (My negative was over $5.) I trust people who have been "around the block" so to speak more than 100%. Perfect feedback just means to me that if something goes wrong, it'll go terribly wrong.

Good luck to you whatever you choose to do!

[Cloud]

luck to you whatever you choose to do is good, isn't it! I have no idea what to say.

[Not Sir Phobos]

My opinion is that he bought what you were selling fair and square. Tough for him. Just like any store, you need to make sure of what you buy before you open the box and hook it up to your hardware.

If your auction didn't say you have an open return policy then you are in the right to say if you don't want it back or not.

Good luck

[mightymask]

I agree with pretty much everyone here. I have 100% feedback but in a case like this I'd definitely run the risk of putting it in jeopardy. One negative feedback is most definitely worth 'what is right'. And you are in the right to say 'Tough luck .. should have researched it more ... not my problem .... what am I? Walmart?' .. of course put it in a polite way but that's the bottom line - Good luck,

[Caroline]

It is my opinion (based on similar experience) that if you know you don't want a refund, to say so in the item description.

I like to please everyone to, ^_^ So if it makes me insane, oh well, I have the positive feedbacks to show for it.

xoxo

[Ronin]

I agree with pretty much everyone here. I have 100% feedback but in a case like this I'd definitely run the risk of putting it in jeopardy. One negative feedback is most definitely worth 'what is right'. And you are in the right to say 'Tough luck .. should have researched it more ... not my problem .... what am I? Walmart?' .. of course put it in a polite way but that's the bottom line - Good luck,

Totally...I agree with what everyone else has put. In the end you're not a store or a charity, the guy bought the item sold as seen. So it's his responsibility.

[klet]

I've dealt with so many idiots, I'm surprised I've escaped unscathed so far actually.

Ditto. Sometimes buyers are just sooo . . . Anyway, it seems like very few people actually read the auction description before bidding. Not even if it's in big, bold, red capital letters.

Though I did have a wonderful experience once with a seller who sold me a giant Slayers cel a while back . . .

As far as what to do, GB, I wouldn't give him a refund. Last year, I bought some RAM for my laptop (first "upgrade" I'd ever done) and it turned out to not be compatible. The seller had listed it as the wrong type, and it was too big. But I was able to get all of my money back on Ebay (shipping and all), so it is possible.

A good rule of thumb when selling computer parts (I've sold a couple here and there on Ebay) is to specifically state that you will not give refunds for incompatible parts--the buyer has to do his own research. They may not read it, but at least you have something to point to if you do run into crazy bidders.

Edit: Just thought I'd add that I got my money back by selling the memory again, not by getting a refund. It sounded a little funny when I reread what I had posted before.

[Golden Boy]

Hey guys,
Thanks for the feedback!

You all have confirmed my gut feeling. I told him no refund in the nicest way I could think of. Anyway, I'm not going to mind a neg, when I know I did nothing wrong.

And I'll just have to put more fine print for the next auction.

Thanks again!

[Cloud]

Where will you go instead?

[Golden Boy]

Cloud, I'm not going anywhere. Didn't you see Kymaera's "Still here" thread? I thought you read everything on the board....sheeesh.

[Cloud]

Sorry I can't see annything right now. My eye is off.

[Caroline]

*LOL* oh cloudy...

and btw, tezuka invented the rules of robot. which inspired the "i, robot" short stories, which inspired the "i robot" movie.

but being a robot, im sure you know this.