[Closed] Expensive Ebay error

Yep I agree with you, should aldd as o refund the first postage. Did you pay by PayPal? I’m not sure what the normal protocol is.

I would be expecting a full refund (including original postage costs), and for the seller to pay/organise uplift for return.

if it was advertised as pick-up only and you figured out a courior I think its less clear. if postage was included they obviously foot the bill

I would be expecting a full refund (including original postage costs), and for the seller to pay/organise uplift for return.

This^^, and for the return collection to be at my convenience

If it's not as described and was not collection only they pay for everything. When doing the return they are promoted to buy the return shipping. When the item arrives back you get a full refund.

If it's was collection only then you've probably lost the shipping.

Yep agreed, if it was advertised as collection only and you bid/won and went the courier route then it's your problem. Otherwise it should be theirs.

Seller pays postage, get them to send you a label. Just done this myself as a seller. No drama, turned out there was a fault so technically not as described. I sent a postage label through eBay and refunded when it arrived back with me.

eBay terms are that if the item is not as described, you’re entitled to a full refund including ALL shipping costs.

Glad others see my point of view.
It was collection only. I sent a man and van to pick up. Does that mean I'm screwed?
If ebay won't rule on my courier costs, would it hold any water at the small claims court? The courier both ways will add up to nearly £350.

It was collection only. I sent a man and van to pick up. Does that mean I’m screwed?

Sorry, for me you are yes.

I don't know what the policy is, but in that case I'd expect them to arrange collection from you at their own expense for the wrong item, as well as delivery of the new item.

If it was collection only, as a seller I'd be pretty miffed if I had to cover any costs for the buyer if they didn't inspect properly before taking it away.

My view would be that you're entitled to a refund, and if they want the item back they'll need to pay for the transport. I doubt eBay will support you on the original collection cost, but small claims (or threat of it) might be worth a try; you have suffered a loss due to their incompetence - but IANAL.

What an absolute ball ache!

Has the seller offered to pay for return postage?

How much was the log burner?

Sorry, for me you are yes.

I think I would tend towards 50/50 but wouldnt be too upset as the buyer if I got told to sod off.

Full refund of the eBay costs, carriage is your issue though I regret to say. You arranged collection so it's "delivered to place" which means your return entitlement involves it being at that place, the seller is in no way responsible for your incedental costs. It wouldn't be their fault if you sent it to Saudi first it's not their fault you moved it first.

For what it's worth, where is it and where does in need to be back to? Stranger things have happened here...

I'd say you are pretty stuffed. Collection only is just that. If you do something else then that's at your cost.

Can you get a partial refund, then sell it. Might work out better than two lots of courier charges.

Ha ha that would be good. Northampton to Newcastle. I'm an idiot using a man and van in the first place as having checked there are couriers who would be much cheaper. I paid £750 for the fire and £250 for the man and van. A courier, I now realise, would be about £90.
It just irks me that I'm in a hole and the seller gets off with no loss. I see the point that he basically sold it from his door though, its my fault for buying at a distance.

In Northampton needs to be in Newcastle? Is your seller happy to wait a week or three given its his cockup? (I'm assuming this isn't fork loaded and significantly heavy so will go in a car)

The seller has effectively taken a hit. By selling collection only it will make less money. You do collection only to save hassle with things not as described and take a hit for that benefit.

Just to add, if you paid with PayPal they will pay up to £15 for postage. Not enough in this case but better than nothing, maybe.

Good point there Nick, that is true.

@dangeourbrain I dont see why not, we haven't fallen out (yet). Why, are you heading North? It's just a small stove, heavy but small.

Covid permitting.

This is the very definition of "grey area" isn't it?

I would tend to think you are at the mercy of the seller here to a degree.

Aye, convert and nickjb have it, you arranged delivery of an item listed for local pick up. This gave you a chance to check it as well, when you pick up, so it's on you I'm afraid.

I think if it was collection only and your got a courier then unfortunately you should pay to ship it back too.

Look at it from the sellers POV, why should they pay the return shipping when their "shipping" was as far as their front door. Down the road, other end of the country, or Timbuktu, where would their responsibility end.

The whole advantage of collection only as a seller is once its gone its the buyers problem. Caveat Emptor. The flip side is generally you get a lower price.

Agree with earlier comments that you essentially collected this and therefore are responsible for return shipping.

However, presuming your comms and sellers admission that it was advertised incorrectly is via ebay messages and therefore visible to ebay, I'd 'pretend' that returning the iteming is no problem as you've a relative/trip planned that way, and go through the motions of agreeing a return or a partial refund to keep (and resell) the stove.

If the seller ends up refusing either, ebay will step in as thats unreasonable. If the seller offers a partial refund to the value of the model you received, you can then resell it to recoup your losses.

If you reveal that its a major pain and cost to return the item for a refund then of course the seller will be less inclined to do a partial refund and just gamble that he can offer a full refund which you will never take up.

Your problem to get it back to them as you were happy to collect it. When I sell local collection I never allow couriers as I want the "local" person to pickup directly.
Saying that I sold something a few months back where the person drove 100 miles to pick it up and it was only a £40 item. If they needed to return it then they need to bring it back.

I’d ‘pretend’ that returning the iteming is no problem as you’ve a relative/trip planned that way, and go through the motions of agreeing a return or a partial refund to keep (and resell) the stove.

Don't do that, thats a dick move.

If it's too expensive to send, your best option is to bite the bullet and sell it yourself.

Ha ha that would be good. Northampton to Newcastle. I’m an idiot using a man and van in the first place as having checked there are couriers who would be much cheaper. I paid £750 for the fire and £250 for the man and van. A courier, I now realise, would be about £90.
It just irks me that I’m in a hole and the seller gets off with no loss. I see the point that he basically sold it from his door though, its my fault for buying at a distance.

How did you pay for it?

And, out of interest, how much would a new stove have been?

Careful on approach as the item was collected by the buyer (through there agent) so doesn’t need to refund on the item never mind the postage.

I’ve had a similar issue the other way round selling some roof bars collect only as a pain to ship due to the shape. Buyer arranged a courier and guess what the bars are damaged. They claimed on eBay and lost as collected by buyer and they had had an opportunity to examine the goods.

It crappy that it’s not as described but I’d suck up the postage and just put it down to the risk of couriering collect only.

Was collection only hence you or your representative had the chance to inspect goods before purchase.

This is why I don't offer collection by courier even if the buyer arranges it.

It just turns into a murky pain in the arse.

I’d ‘pretend’ that returning the iteming is no problem as you’ve a relative/trip planned that way, and go through the motions of agreeing a return o

And if I was the seller id say grand . When the stove is on my door step you get your refund. You don't have the aces in that negotiation.

OP whoever ends up paying for the return, maybe consider sticking the stove on a pallet.

https://www.p4d.co.uk/pallet-delivery

I’d either fit it as is. Most burners are very nominal in capacity and it’ll probably be fine.. or just accept it as an issue and list it on eBay with postage.

You’ll probably get a better sale price than the last vendor.

Why not stick it on ebay?

As potato says above I'd just fit it and see. You can buy good quality a rated burners for a grand in my local stove shop so I'm sorry to say it was never a bargain. They're all just metal boxes you build a fire in. If not sell it yourself for same price you paid and dont loose more money. Good luck.

I've got some sympathy for the OP. There's an element of trust here, and the error is solely in the hands of the seller. I would be nice about it and just ask if they're prepared to cover some/all of the return cost. Think that's what I would do if I was the seller.

I’d just fit it and use it.

Are the wood burners physically similar in appearance? Would you have noticed the difference if you were collecting and just checking condition?

Not helpful but for £250, I'd have driven up there myself. What 400 miles round trip? 10 gallons and zero grief?

He pays both postage

I've done same thing (ex display model Westfire 35 going cheap on ebay) and drove Skipton(Gargrave) to Matlock to collect, so not as far tho. They might be quite heavy but they're mostly not that big. On such a high value item, no way would I not have viewed it before collecting or in this case on collecting (same with bicycles).

Also agree with most others, "collection only" means buyer responsible for transporting to/from sellers front door and presumably inspecting it at point of collection. Worth asking for a contribution tho.

is there a massive difference between the stoves?

Yep just keep it and don't have the exact model that you wanted or sell it either local collection for same price or with postage for higher price.

Don't go accepting couriers though 🙂

Don’t do that, thats a dick move.

I'm not suggesting twisting the sellers arm or dirty tricks. The auction was incorrect, if the OP had driven halfway up the country to collect in person, he'd still be out of pocket when he realised the item wasnt as described. Let's not forget it was the sellers error/oversight regardless.

A bit of reasonable negotiation is hardly foul play to try and resolve it. The sellers already admitted fault.

spooky_b329
Full Member

I’m not suggesting twisting the sellers arm or dirty tricks. The auction was incorrect, if the OP had driven halfway up the country to collect in person, he’d still be out of pocket when he realised the item wasnt as described

Aye, exactly this. Whether you got a courier to do it or did it yourself makes no difference, you collected, they didn't post. So they're not liable for any costs, regardless of the error (you might say "but it cost me money all the same" and that's true but you chose that- if you decide to drive 500 miles to collect something that doesn't create an obligation on the seller, they aren't suddenly exposed to a big cost/risk that they wouldn't if it were local.

One of the other benefits/perks of "collection only" for the seller is that the buyer has a chance to check the item on collection, again you've taken an option that prevented that but that was your decision.

But- as a seller I'd be looking for a way to make it right. Part refund or meet half the costs probably. Bearing in mind that they've gone a bit above and beyond to allow for the courier collection in the first place so it's not all one way.

Why didn't you use a pallet company, about £60 for a quarter pallet which is what a small stove would be?

Update, this thread has been such a help, hearing all the opinions. I accept that by taking possession, or sending someone to do so on my behalf, I am basically accepting the goods as they are. Having said that, it isn't obvious at a glance that it is a different model, and takes a bit of digging to find the spec. As others have said, he couldn't be expected to cover transport to Timbuctoo as he's selling it from his door. So having had such useful opinions on the matter I was able to take a reasonable stance with him, and we've come to an arrangement. He's going to send me £250 which can be justified as either the difference in value between models, or the transport costs. I will sell the stove and see what I get. He's even offered to look at sharing any loss I make too, and I will do the same if I happen to sell at a profit, however unlikely that may be.
And I've also learned that there are much cheaper options around than I used, just hadn't properly looked into couriers or pallet services before, so thanks for those suggestions too.

As for those saying just fit it, I have thought about that, but it's 3.6kw output instead of 5.5kw and it's to heat a large old uninsulated room of 68 cu m so I don't think it gets close. Any advice on correct sizing would be good too! P.S. It's actually a gas stove, not a log burner, as we want to turn it on and off as it's an office rather than an all evening room.

That's a good outcome .

Good egg.

Yes, sorted.