Another I am getting screwed on eBay thread UPDATED

[evil_genius]

I sold someone a brand new sealed GBA. I bought it from a local game store to sell it on eBay for a profit, and I did. I sold 2 of them and the other worked fine. The GBA was packaged with bubble wrap securely and was shipped Oct 6. They emailed me and later filed a PayPal dispute. They want a refund because the backlight doesn't work. I responded with this:
"I have considered how to approach this situation. With your cooperation I would like to try to get Nintendo to fix the Game Boy. I purchased this from a local game store and I no longer have the receipt. I am going to call Nintendo customer service but they are probably going to want a serial number. So I will need that from you. Since this item was sealed and brand new I do not feel I should be held responsible for it or anything that had happened to it between the time of shipment and yesterday."

I want to hear from you guys how you think I am handling the situation, any advice is appreciated. What do you think Nintendo will do about it if anything? Basically, what the hell should I do here not to get screwed.

[carlcarlson]

I see where you're coming from since it was brand new, but I'd say it's on you to take it back. Put yourself in the buyer's shoes. You just bought a new GBA and it doesn't work. Now the seller wants YOU to go through the hassle of trying to get it repaired. I know you are offering to do a lot of the legwork on this, but still, if I was the buyer I would just want a refund and I'll try again somewhere else. Let him pay to ship it back, but otherwise I think he's entitled to a refund.

[evil_genius]

^And that is what I will probably end up doing. I might try to offer them 40 bucks back and they keep it. Since 40 was the profit I made from the sale. I really don't know how bad the screen looks. If it's unplayable then they probably won't want that. She said the screen looks really dim. But does anyone know if this is an easy fix? Maybe I could offer to fix the screen and throw in a game or two. It's pretty unorthadox I realize but maybe worth a shot.

[ryborg]

Yeah, this is always a tricky situation. My basic philosophy is that whenever you decide to buy something on ebay (especially electronics), you are taking a minor risk. You are sacrificing the security of buying something from a retail store to save a few bucks by buying from a private seller.

Of course, this is the era of instant Paypal disputes, so that really doesn't matter anymore. It's unlikely that Nintendo themselves will help you out (at least for free), so in the end, you will likely end up losing some money and/or having the broken system returned to you. Sellers really have no chance of winning "Not as Described" Paypal disputes, so you might as well try working with him to avoid getting negged.

[carlcarlson]

I might try to offer them 40 bucks back and they keep it. Since 40 was the profit I made from the sale.

I like that. It saves you from a hassle and you don't lose any money. Chances are the buyer will like the sound of a large refund and getting to keep the system too.

[evil_genius]

I like that. It saves you from a hassle and you don't lose any money. Chances are the buyer will like the sound of a large refund and getting to keep the system too.

Wait a minute. If Paypal decides I have to refund the buyer, they get to keep the item as well? Where in the world does this make any sense?

[gum_drops]

Wait a minute. If Paypal decides I have to refund the buyer, they get to keep the item as well? Where in the world does this make any sense?

carl is saying that the buyer may like the idea of getting a $40 refund and getting to keep the system.

With the SNAD dispute the buyer has to provide a tracking # to show that the system was returned to you before pp will grant them the claim.

[jb143]

Wait a minute. If Paypal decides I have to refund the buyer, they get to keep the item as well? Where in the world does this make any sense?

If paypal decides that you have to send them a refund then they have to send it back to you first and they are responsible for that shipping as well. Unless they changed their policy in the last year...which is a possiblity.

It sounds as thugh you truely want to work this out with the buyer, which is good, but just in case the buyer doesn't want to co-operate with you trying to rectify the situation...Without seeing the auction or the item, you could also claim that the buyer got exactly what the auction stated, a brand new sealed GBA. The fact that the backlight doesn't work could be due to Nintendo, or maybe the post office dropped it even. Did you get insurance?

[carlcarlson]

Wait a minute. If Paypal decides I have to refund the buyer, they get to keep the item as well? Where in the world does this make any sense?

Wait, I thought you said you were going to offer $40 and let them keep it. That's what I said I liked, it seems like a win-win.

But no, if he actually files a dispute and Paypal refunds his money then he will have to return the item. They will probably actually require some tracking info from him proving that he has sent it back before giving him the money.

edit: ha, I forgot I had this reply going, others beat me to it.

[megasdkirby]

Since this item was sealed and brand new I do not feel I should be held responsible for it or anything that had happened to it between the time of shipment and yesterday.

Err...no.

You have to ask yourself: how do you know the problem was caused during shipping and not because of the manufacturing itself? You don't know if it was already defective because, as you state, "this item was sealed and brand new". And no, just because it is new and sealed does not imply that the item must be in working order, like many others incorrectly think.

It's a shame this happened and I really hope a positive resolution is achieved.

[furor]

I'm assuming you sold them an original GBA which didn't have much (if any) of a backlight to begin with. Tell them to stop confusing the GBA with an SP and have them install an afterburner.

[Starwander]

The question I would like to ask is why would you buy a sealed GBA just to open it? I can understand that there are some people that would do this, although if you are simply going to play the system then a used, unboxed one is alot cheaper.

[jb143]

I'm assuming you sold them an original GBA which didn't have much (if any) of a backlight to begin with. Tell them to stop confusing the GBA with an SP and have them install an afterburner.

That's true...Which version is it? I just assumed it was an SP. The original has no backlight. Only the pictures on the box make it look it does...which is Nintendo being misleading, not your auction. Even the 1'st generation of SP didn't have a backlight(they had a front light)

Did the box say "Now with a brighter backlit screen!"? That's the backlight version. That, and the model # is AGS-101.

[Igorr]

Well I will just toss my 2cents in, since I can. I sell a bit on ebay and buy a bit also. Nice feedback for both, over 750+ (which is not a ton, but not bad for a poor guy selling what he can). But I bought a Logitech remote control 890, like a 200+ dollar remote control for my theater room. It broke so they sent me another one MIB UNUSED. I sold that one, since I would have rather had the money at that time then the cash.

IF, this didnt happen, but IF the buyer said to me," Hey this remote is busted, or doesnt have a backlight, or the buttons dont work, I want a refund." I would say," Call Logitech, this item was Mint is an UNopened box, its not my fault." That would have also been stated in the auction, sold as is!

But I do understand working things out with buyers, I do that to, but enough is enough. The item was unused, if its busted, opps, too bad. My opinion.

If I was the buyer, I would get mad but then is it the sellers fault? NO, its nintendos fault.

[evil_genius]

I pretty much feel the same way as you Igorr. I am not a store or online retailer. I think customers on eBay forget that they are buying from normal people most of the time. But the buyer is being very reasonable and not rude in any way so I am going to call Nintendo and see what happens. They do have excellent customer service. I just don't want to be out any money because of this. And will offer them a $40 refund and they keep the item if it comes down to it.

And this is a GBA SP not the one with the bright screen but the original SP. Should I bring to attention this model does not have a backlight? Maybe they saw a GBA SP with the brighter screen and got confused. I do not know much about these at all.

[Igorr]

Thanks for agreeing with me. You didnt use the thing for a month and then stuff it back in the box and try to sell it. I would tell them about the backlight thing and maybe it is truly in working order and there is nothing wrong with it.



I pretty much feel the same way as you Igorr. I am not a store or online retailer. I think customers on eBay forget that they are buying from normal people most of the time. But the buyer is being very reasonable and not rude in any way so I am going to call Nintendo and see what happens. They do have excellent customer service. I just don't want to be out any money because of this. And will offer them a $40 refund and they keep the item if it comes down to it.

And this is a GBA SP not the one with the bright screen but the original SP. Should I bring to attention this model does not have a backlight? Maybe they saw a GBA SP with the brighter screen and got confused. I do not know much about these at all.

[Igorr]

EDIT: Hey, just wondering, how is this buyers feedback?? Just curious. You dont have to give there id, just feedback number.

[evil_genius]

EDIT: Hey, just wondering, how is this buyers feedback?? Just curious. You dont have to give there id, just feedback number.

Their score is 37

[evil_genius]

I talked to Nintendo today and they will be fixing it free of charge. Pretty nice. I hope everything goes well.

[evil_genius]

Alright so she sent it back to me and the plan was to send it to Nintendo and get it fixed. Well I check it over when it gets here and it works fine. She thought the backlight was broke well this model doesn't have a backlight. So I sent it back to her after talking to 2 different PayPal reps and they both told me that I will probably win the claim if the system does not even come with the feature she has been complaining about. So she files a claim and after providing proof and talking to a third rep I lost the claim. So whatever, I gave it my best and she sends it back to me, minus the paperwork and charger. Just a bare bones used GBA and a now beat up box. I asked her for the paperwork and charger and she claims she sent it to me. Whatever I said enjoy your full refund and your extra charger.

Also some other jackass bought something from me recently then complains there was no manual and files a dispute. Well, if there was no manual pictured, and I had not mentioned a manual or the words complete why would you assume there was one. So basically eBay has not been treating me good lately I will probably be giving it up for a while.

[GrandAmChandler]

The real problem is no one in the world is honest anymore. :-/

[zdan80]

So sadly true.


The real problem is no one in the world is honest anymore. :-/