Ebay help!

[JuneRose]

Can anyone give me some eBay advice? I'm not sure what to do and who is in the wrong...

Over a month ago I sold a (brand new) wedding veil on eBay, the buyer left me feedback saying:
"Item as described,beautiful! Very quick delivery. Thanks!"

She has just contacted me to say that she has tried it on with her wedding dress and it doesn't match. She says her wedding dress is ivory and the veil is white -but I sold the veil under the description "Ivory White Wedding Veil"...

I'm pretty certain she has just found another veil she likes better... but she is threatening to report me to eBay! I have sent her a polite email back pointing out the fact my listing included the word "white" (I thought it looked white in some lights, ivory in others) and pointing out what she said in her feedback, but she isn't giving up.

What should I do?

 

[MsP]

Ebay rarely protects the seller... in disputes and such, the buyer almost always wins IMO.

She's going to say the item was misrepresented and will win. I would just have her ship it back. Refund.

 

[Loves Vintage]

I agree with Ms. P. I would just accept the item as a return and refund her the purchase price, but not shipping (unless it was a great deal more than actual shipping costs, then I would return part of shipping as well), and she should pay return shipping to get it back to you as well. Then, I'd just list it again. Sorry you have to deal with this!

ETA: I just re-read your initial question. I think it's not so much a matter of who is right vs. wrong, as it is a matter of -- Ebay will side with your buyer anyway, so I'd just handle as a refund.

 

[JuneRose]

Thanks for your reply -I've also heard that eBay usually sides with the buyer which is why I am worried. I really don't think I've done anything wrong and the was sold as described (as she herself pointed out in her feedback).

I've looked at eBay's policies and I'm almost tempted to report her for miss-using the Buyer Protection Policy. It states that you can report a buyer who claims an item is significantly not as described when the listing was accurate.

It has also been over 45 days since she purchased the item.

 

[Lula]

Thanks for your reply -I've also heard that eBay usually sides with the buyer which is why I am worried. I really don't think I've done anything wrong and the was sold as described (as she herself pointed out in her feedback).

I've looked at eBay's policies and I'm almost tempted to report her for miss-using the Buyer Protection Policy. It states that you can report a buyer who claims an item is significantly not as described when the listing was accurate.

It has also been over 45 days since she purchased the item.

Over 45 days. Hmm. My guess is that she wore the veil on her wedding day and wants to return it to recoup some of her wedding costs. I'd be very concerned about the veil being returned to you damaged or soiled. I know that ebay usually sides with the buyer, but 45-plus days is a long time after the original sale, and ebay may take that into consideration.

 

[JuneRose]

Thanks for your reply -I've also heard that eBay usually sides with the buyer which is why I am worried. I really don't think I've done anything wrong and the was sold as described (as she herself pointed out in her feedback).

I've looked at eBay's policies and I'm almost tempted to report her for miss-using the Buyer Protection Policy. It states that you can report a buyer who claims an item is significantly not as described when the listing was accurate.

It has also been over 45 days since she purchased the item.

Over 45 days. Hmm. My guess is that she wore the veil on her wedding day and wants to return it to recoup some of her wedding costs. I'd be very concerned about the veil being returned to you damaged or soiled. I know that ebay usually sides with the buyer, but 45-plus days is a long time after the original sale, and ebay may take that into consideration.

That's kind of what I'm thinking... Do you think it's worth my reporting her before she reports me? I don't want to be a horrible seller but I don't think I have done anything wrong -I listed the item as white/ivory.

 

[ruby59]

It has been over 45 days since she made the purchase? Then she is out of luck because under paypal, a buyer has 45 days after purchase in which to return an item. She has already left you positive feedback? She is ... stick a fork in her....done as she cannot harm your ebay rating. Ignore her. If she reports you to ebay or paypal, they will tell her she waited too long.

You did nothing wrong. Most women would haveheld that veil up to their dress the day they received it. It is most likely buyers remorse, and that is not a valid reason under ebay's rules.

And to add, if you are a regular seller on ebay, block her, so that she does not try to retaliate against you in the future.

 

[Rhea]

I wouldn't entertain her return fantasies any longer. Most stores don't even allow returns after that length of time. I think she either wore it to the wedding and is trying to recoup some of her money after wards, or she bought another veil and now has buyer's remorse.

 

[minousbijoux]

I can't believe someone acting in good faith, who really found the item incompatible, would wait 45+ days to contact you. I say, their loss.

 

[justginger]

I wouldn't entertain her return fantasies any longer. Most stores don't even allow returns after that length of time. I think she either wore it to the wedding and is trying to recoup some of her money after wards, or she bought another veil and now has buyer's remorse.

Exactly. I hate seeing people trying to take advantage of nice people like you. This woman would have compared the veil IMMEDIATELY - that's what you do when you get an exciting new wedding purchase. Only now, perhaps after wear, or after another purchase, or after a gifting from a well-intentioned relative, is she trying to get her money back. It's not fair and you should say so.

 

[Sakuracherry]

Just ignore her. PayPal and eBay will be on your side. The only thing she can do is contacting her credit card company. However, they won't issue a refund unless there's a proof that she sent it back to you.

 

[JuneRose]

Ok great thanks guys!! I thought I was in the right but I have heard so many horror stories about eBay, and I know the usual advice is to do whatever the buyer wants because eBay will protect them... Having recently gotten married myself, I did think it was slightly strange for her to only just get round to checking her veil and her wedding dress matched...