Sold a console online, worked for 20 mins then broke

FutureGuy

Hi all,

I really should have learned my lesson after selling my last 3dsxl on eBay, but I find myself in another situation.

Sold a perfectly good and barely used Nintendo 3DS XL and it arrived this morning to the buyer. He has already contacted me to say that the console was working perfectly for 20 minutes but then he heard a popping sound and now it only turns on for a few minutes before turning off again.

I really do not know what to think at this stage. He is going to be sending it to Nintendo support but is already intimating that while he is keeping it, he is unhappy anout paying that much for the console. I am expecting to be told I have to pay for the repair.

The console was perfect. I can't stress that enough. However, I did advertise the ad as in returns.

I have no idea whether the guy might have dropped it, broke it, tried to mod it or whether this is some terrible coincidence, but I am not sure why I should be in any way accountable for this.

Any guidance is very appreciated.

Regards,

Tony

Mick Murdock

I run Ebay and Amazon stores and I wouldn't be entertaining this guy whatsoever. Generally Ebay default returns policy states that the buyer pays to return the item. Tell him you want it back to inspect before you consider a refund or any compensation.

It may be genuine, may have been damaged in transit or he could be pulling a fast one which isn't uncommon. Make it clear that you will not be paying anything towards a repair without seeing the console first.

Tell him you'll have it assessed yourself and see what he says.

His response should tell you what you need to know, although the amount of semi literate people on there is difficult to quantify sometimes!

FutureGuy

Mick Murdock wrote: »

I run Ebay and Amazon stores and I wouldn't be entertaining this guy whatsoever. Generally Ebay default returns policy states that the buyer pays to return the item. Tell him you want it back to inspect before you consider a refund or any compensation.

It may be genuine, may have been damaged in transit or he could be pulling a fast one which isn't uncommon. Make it clear that you will not be paying anything towards a repair without seeing the console first.

Tell him you'll have it assessed yourself and see what he says.

His response should tell you what you need to know, although the amount of semi literate people on there is difficult to quantify sometimes!

Thanks for the advice but an ebay rep told me I would have to pay for return shipping?

Mick Murdock

Has he suggested that he return it to you? That would lead me to think that's it somewhat genuine but I'd be looking for it back before agreeing to that. What's his feedback like?

Also, have you transferred the money from PayPal to your bank account? if you're not a regular EBay seller that might be pretty important..

FutureGuy

Mick Murdock wrote: »

Has he suggested that he return it to you? That would lead me to think that's it somewhat genuine but I'd be looking for it back before agreeing to that. What's his feedback like?

Also, have you transferred the money from PayPal to your bank account? if you're not a regular EBay seller that might be pretty important..

That's the thing. He has 100+ feeback so I'm inclined to believe him but thisbwsact thing is apparently rampant on eBay. - buy electric item, ask seller to pay for "repair" I transferred the money to my account this morning about 10 mins before he mailed me.

He didn't offer to send back, in the few mins he had it this morning he has already found the condone to be broken, rang nintendo who agreed to take it for repair to see the cost but then informed me of the problem saying he was inhappy at paying the money and that he would see how much it costs to repair.

wmpdd3

If he sends it to nintendo then its out of your hands, how can you be sure it wont be wreacked in the post.

If he was 100% genuine, I would offer return, he pays postage and on inspection, I would refund.

At this stage I would offer a refund dependant on the console being sent to you by register post and dependant on your examination of the console.

Tell him you will compare it to the pictures you took of it before you sent it.

Are you saying you offered 'returns' on your listing? Did you describe it as new?



His reply to this will tell you al you need to know.

Mick Murdock

Check the archive and see exactly what the returns terms are. There is a generic EBay policy if you don't change it.

I wouldn't listen to anybody in that EBay community forum tbh.

Once he 'sends it to Nintendo' it's case closed!

L1m1tless

I had the same with a game I sold,

I told the buyer to return the game to me and I would sort him out for the postage costs too, It wouldnt be too much and I always try to leave the buyer happy,

He then told me he had already brought it to the local game shop to have it resurfaced and was looking for money to pay for it, It sounded pretty dodgy to me so I just let him leave me bad feedback.

Did you take note of the serial number before you sent it? I would insist on him sending it back to you first before you gave any refund.

FutureGuy

Hi all, thanks for advice.

Long story short, I told him I was not going to be paying for any repair and I would offer a refund pending inspection. Also made it very clear that I had plenty pictures.

Got a reply tonight saying the Machine is working fine all of a sudden, that he is very happy with it and he has cancelled the repair from Nintendo...he even says he has a letter from Nintendo regarding the repair request if I would like to see it...amazingly swift from Nintendo to send out to process a repair and send a letter out in 1-working day. Half of me wants to see this letter...

Now he could easily turn around in a few weeks and say it is having problems...any further advice on how to protect myself?

Here was his response tonight which I find to be highly suspicious...

"Hello, I am sorry for the delay in responding, following my conversation with Nintendo, I decided to charge the console for 24 hour and to try it again, after a few failed attempts, the console finally switched back on properly and I have had no further issues with it, I have contacted Nintendo about this and have cancelled the request for repair and I can provide a copy of the letter Nintendo sent me confirming my request for repair if I need to.

The console is now working ok and I am very happy with it

"

...so it continues to fail multiple times, but because it worked once, he cancels the repair requests and says everything is good?

My gut says this is not the end of it.

Suffice it to say, last time selling electronics on eBay.

wmpdd3

Tell him that's great, you expect great feedback.

Once the 45 day paypal window closes, he will have no recourse.

Looks like a scam to get extra money sent after the sale to cover 'repairs'

Kenjataimu

Sounds like a total chancer. You called his bluff. Well done.

stronglikebull

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Once the 45 day paypal window closes, he will have no recourse.

It's 180 days now.

Section 13 is amended to make several improvements to the PayPal Buyer Protection policy. The amendments will:

• improve the conditions of reimbursement under PayPal Buyer Protection by:
  • increasing the time allowed for buyers to raise a Dispute from 45 days to 180 days from the date on which payment was made (UK resident PayPal users already benefit from this improvement); and
  • extending the range of eligible purchases to cover custom made items that are claimed to be Not Received.

He could still file a dispute any time in the next 6 months, but it's not certain that he'd win any claim against you. This is a private sale so no requirement for you to warranty the goods. Keep the record of your conversation where he says the console is working perfectly. Any future damage will be on him.

Mick Murdock

I'd love to see the letter. In fact, getting it might not be a bad idea to cover yourself.

Keep record of your interaction with him and all will be well. Ebay will side with you because he sounds like an obvious con artist.

Melendez

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