eBay buyer issues

[TM golf guy]

Wants refund but already gave feedback

I sold a club to a guy on eBay that was described as "new in the plastic". I sell tons of stuff on eBay, and to my recollection it was new in the plastic. He gets the club and leaves me positive feedback, but said that the plastic had a few ball marks on it. He then sends me a message and says there is a sky mark under the plastic, and a scratch on the bottom. He is now saying he wants a full refund, including return shipping. So what do I do? He can't leave me negative feedback since I already have received positive feedback. If he files a claim with Paypal, then I have the positive feedback there to protect me. I don't want to screw the guy if I sent him a used club, but I would have seen something like he is describing.

MEANINGLESS EDIT: Why does it say I posted this topic at 4:19 AM? I posted it at around 9:00 AM CST. I have been having lots of issues with the posting time. It says the one below me was posted "A minute ago" and the one I made right after it was posted "22 minutes ago."

[TM golf guy]

Well thats the odd thing. He sent me a message saying that he received the club and that UPS did a number on the box. He said in the original message that there were ball marks on the face, but then he left me feedback right after that. I then received a message last night saying that the club had a sky mark and scratches on the bottom. I don't see how I would have missed all that. I think he hit the club after he got it, and didn't like it.

[TM golf guy]

Tough call, Will. You have to decide if dealing with the PayPal dispute is worth more than refunding and reselling.

 

Did he send you pics of the sky mark and scratches? I would start there first as it may be such a big mark there was no way you would have missed it.

 

I requested pictures of the marks before posting this topic. I don't want to deal with Paypal if I can avoid it, but I don't want to have a new driver be turned into a used one with sky marks.

[Greenie]

Leaves positive feedback and mentions ball marks on the plastic .If I am understanding this correctly he mentions the ball marks while leaving feedback or around the same time.After commenting he removes the plastic and now notices a sky mark ,scratch.Also sounds like you are not 100% sure yourself it wasn't hit.This is a tuff one.Being hit wouldn't bother me because unless I was going to display it on my mantle it will become a used club after my first hit anyway.Now the sky mark would bother me period.I didn't even know you could sky mark a club with plastic on it but the only way you are gonna know if he did it or not without the plastic is to inspect it.The way things have been going with PayPal he can dispute it and say he noticed it was not as described after the feedback once he closer inspected it and I am betting they will side with him.Feedback has become a joke now that you can't leave a buyer a neg and I doubt that just because he left a positive already that protects you.If you are sure you sent him a new club let him dispute it and see what happens.He is asking for shipping too. Atleast that way if the side with him I believe the shipping is on him to return it.

[Greenie]

I would tell him you will not make any decision until you receive high res pics of the whole clubhead, not just the crown. You may find some other indicator of play by looking at the sole, trailing edge, toe, etc.

 

Great idea and I agree I would request this before doing anything on your part as far as a refund.I told my friend that the way PayPal is now you can buy a club, demo it, don't like it and say it is not as described and get your money back now.Being a new club I hope if he is trying this he fails..Keep us posted on the results..I have sold clubs for years and have 100% feedback but since the change in feedback policy I have been getting some extortion comments from time to time .Seems like the old school Ebayer's are still great to deal with but these new Ebayer's are different.

[TM golf guy]

He just emailed me back and said he doesn't know how to send pictures and that he never hit the club. He is trying to make it sound like the only way he won't file a claim is if I also offer return shipping. My return policy clearly states that buyer is responsible for return shipping, and this is pretty standard on eBay. I don't mind refunding him the money, I just want to make sure he doesn't do something stupid like file a claim.

[Greenie]

He just emailed me back and said he doesn't know how to send pictures and that he never hit the club. He is trying to make it sound like the only way he won't file a claim is if I also offer return shipping. My return policy clearly states that buyer is responsible for return shipping, and this is pretty standard on eBay. I don't mind refunding him the money, I just want to make sure he doesn't do something stupid like file a claim.

 

 

I figured he would say that.Sounds like he is trying to extort you into taking the club back and pay for his shipping.You say you don't want him to file a claim.Well then to avoid that then you have to abid by his terms.He is exorting you.Let him file the claim.You may win.He may back down too.I would hope PayPal would want some proof more then his word the club is not new.Like pics?

[Greenie]

I would let it go thru the claim process.One thing you will gain is experience seeing how it works and it may help you to better protect yourself next time to avoid this from happening again..How about your pics from the auction.I hope you didn't use a stock photo.Can you tell anything fron your pics?There is alot of stuff I bet people don't know about Ebay..I don't know it all.

My friends sells this guy a putter.He emails him and says he made a mistake and didn't want a 36" putter.Oh well..So this guy breaks the shaft and says it was damaged in shipping.My friend says I give the option of insured and you did not pay for it.My friend loses because Ebay says it is the seller responsibility to insure it.So since then he insures everything.When I buy I always pass on the insured part and lol because even though people say they wont be responsible for damaged or lost items I know they are.I good seller will send a item insured with delivery confirmation and possibly a signature to protect himself..Sorry got of track here..Good Luck

[TM golf guy]

Well he sent me the most unclear pictures possible. I told him to just send it back, but said I would not refund his return shipping. Greenie, I used an actual photo, but only of the sole and the shaft.

[TM golf guy]

He is sending it back and has agreed to bite the bullet on return shipping.

[Greenie]

Well he sent me the most unclear pictures possible. I told him to just send it back, but said I would not refund his return shipping. Greenie, I used an actual photo, but only of the sole and the shaft.

 

 

Good luck.Probably that would have been the PayPay decision anyway.( Refund and he is out the shipping) So you avoided the claim.Atleast for now.I geuss he could still file a claim. Post a follow up and let me know how the club looks returned.I hope you are not refunding till you receive the club back.I would also say send it insured with delivery confirmation or some sort of tracking number.

What I do with my items is I take around a dozen photos of the item mainly because I want the best pic or pics to list then post a few, something like you did but I save all the extra pics in case something comes up later.

 

And yes I agree there is alot of buyer remorse going on now..

[SpartyOn1982]

Wow, that is a tough one TM.

I guess if I were in your shoes, the positive feedback to me is a sign that the deal went great. My only question is, how long did it take him (after he left feedback) to complain about the club and ask for a refund? If there was a decent time gap(1 to 2 days) then I think you don't owe him anything.

[SpartyOn1982]

I think he hit the club after he got it, and didn't like it.

 

That was my exact thinking when I read your post.

[BParis]

Tough call, Will. You have to decide if dealing with the PayPal dispute is worth more than refunding and reselling.

 

Did he send you pics of the sky mark and scratches? I would start there first as it may be such a big mark there was no way you would have missed it.

[Johnny]

I learned a long time ago to inspect things purchased from ebay and if the condition is not what you expected then dispute it ASAP. I've been that guy that opened things weeks or months after giving positive feedback to discover there was a problem and at that point I bite the bullet.

[BParis]

I would tell him you will not make any decision until you receive high res pics of the whole clubhead, not just the crown. You may find some other indicator of play by looking at the sole, trailing edge, toe, etc.

 

Off Topic: Will, I saw your EDIT about the time stamp and have been witnessing this same thing since about 6pm yesterday. Early this morning the whole site went "wacko" with times changing on old posts, etc.

[SpartyOn1982]

A lot of Ebay buyers as of lately are showing some kind of buyers remorse, and this situation fits the bill to a "T".

Let him file the claim, he will have some explaining to do for leaving positive feedback and then trying to get a refund afterwords.

I hope PayPal makes this right for you. They have been on the buyers side on almost every case and it is becoming a hassle for legit sellers like yourself.

 

Good luck!

[Bones01gt]

When I sell on ebay I take pictures of the club from ALL angles. There is no denying the condition the pictures show.

 

This is a raw deal you're getting. I mean yeah, you are gettin your club back, but this clown may have eaten a stupid burger and really skinned your club up. Hopefully it's still in good enough shape that you won't take a loss on it.

 

What kind of driver is it anyway?

[Diesel]

sounds pretty shady... you're a stand up guy for honoring this...

 

but how exactly would a plastic wrapped club have a skymark under the wrap...? c'mon...

[goinglow72]

Sounds like you just bought yourself a USED club now....no way I would have taken it back.

[IndyIN]

A lot of Ebay buyers as of lately are showing some kind of buyers remorse, and this situation fits the bill to a "T".

 

It's not just ebay, it's happening here. We've all bought a club then had buyers remorse, I just can't believe some of the stunts people pull to get out of the deal.

[puttronics]

No way I would have taken it back. He would have a hard time proving his case since he left positive feedback. What's the big deal if he files a claim anyway? So what? Worst case is you have ended up taking it back and refunding his money like you did anyway. That buyer is taking advantage of you. I refuse to let buyers extort me. I always tell them to go ahead and file a claim. They almost never do.

[Greenie]

No way I would have taken it back. He would have a hard time proving his case since he left positive feedback. What's the big deal if he files a claim anyway? So what? Worst case is you have ended up taking it back and refunding his money like you did anyway. That buyer is taking advantage of you. I refuse to let buyers extort me. I always tell them to go ahead and file a claim. They almost never do.

 

 

I agree with you but sounds like he worked it out.

[krutoi]

I think you did the right thing by taking the club back. However, If you were 100% sure it was new and the headcover was on the head when you sent the club it would be another story. I usually overprotect my stuff when I ship and take pics of it before I ship it. I also buy insurance for a few bucks more so that if USPS screws up they will pay for the damage.

[130R]

I learned a long time ago to inspect things purchased from ebay and if the condition is not what you expected then dispute it ASAP. I've been that guy that opened things weeks or months after giving positive feedback to discover there was a problem and at that point I bite the bullet.

 

Most people do, I know I would certainly inspect anything I brought on eBay before leaving any kind of feedback