Contesting Ebay Sale

[ShawnBoy]

Quick question for those with a bit of Ebay experience. I've sold a laptop to someone on Ebay, who paid up faithfully, but has since suspended the payment through Paypal. His claim is that the laptop is dead, however I know that it was working just fine when I sent it to him. Whether it arrived DOA, or he dropped it and is looking for an out on the sale, I don't know.

Does anyone know whether Paypal/Ebay generally sides with the seller or purchaser in these cases? It's obviously a "he said" "she said" sort of thing, although he does have many more successful auctions than I in his favor.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[papasmerf]

Quick question for those with a bit of Ebay experience. I've sold a laptop to someone on Ebay, who paid up faithfully, but has since suspended the payment through Paypal. His claim is that the laptop is dead, however I know that it was working just fine when I sent it to him. Whether it arrived DOA, or he dropped it and is looking for an out on the sale, I don't know.

Does anyone know whether Paypal/Ebay generally sides with the seller or purchaser in these cases? It's obviously a "he said" "she said" sort of thing, although he does have many more successful auctions than I in his favor.

Any advice would be appreciated.

SUE THE CRAP OUT OF HIM

 

[stinkynuts]

That's the risk of buying from ebay. I bought a lapatop, seller said battery held a charge, it didn't. A few months later, the laptop died on me.

It could be that the buyer is telling the truth. If he is, do you really think he should be obligated to pay? Ask him to return it to you.

 

[ShawnBoy]

No, I certainly don't expect for him to keep a dead machine, but I know for a fact it was working fine when I sent it, as I installed XP on it just days before. For all I know, he's dropped it and is now trying to dump it on me as "DOA".

 

[stinkynuts]

You will never know. It could have been damaged during shipping.

 

[ShawnBoy]

You will never know. It could have been damaged during shipping.

I know, hence the reason why I'm wondering whether paypal generally sides with the buyer or seller in such disputes.

 

[tboy]

Well, from what I've heard, they don't get involved until the buyer and seller have exhausted all means of resolution.

A couple of ??'s for you:
How soon after receiving it did he suspend the payment?
Why didn't you cash the payment upon receipt? (in other words, move the money out of your paypal account?)
Did the buyer pay for shipping insurance and did you offer it?
Did you state anywhere in your ebay listing that it was guaranteed against DOA or did you state it is being sold 'as is' with no warranty implied?

 

[ShawnBoy]

Well, from what I've heard, they don't get involved until the buyer and seller have exhausted all means of resolution.

A couple of ??'s for you:
How soon after receiving it did he suspend the payment?
Why didn't you cash the payment upon receipt? (in other words, move the money out of your paypal account?)
Did the buyer pay for shipping insurance and did you offer it?
Did you state anywhere in your ebay listing that it was guaranteed against DOA or did you state it is being sold 'as is' with no warranty implied?

- He suspended payment a couple of weeks after receiving the machine, claiming he'd just gotten around to opening the box then.

- I did "move" the money, as I purchased something else with it. But, there's now a -$250 balance on my paypal account.

- No insurance.

- Didn't state anything with regard to the running condition, other than that it was in excellent condition, and works well.

I know it was working fine when I sent it, so from that perspective I know I'm not cheating him, but that being said, there is really no way I can prove it to Paypal. I'm just wondering whether it is ME that has to prove that I sent it working in good faith, or whether it's HE that has to prove that he didn't drop it in the tub.

 

[tboy]

You do have a couple of things going for you which is the fact that he waited so long to reverse payment. In fact, I'm wondering how he could do it so easily so late? You'd think paypal would make it a little harder to basically "steal" someone's money. I was sure he had to make a claim in writing BEFORE this could happen.

Anyhow, I'd write to paypal and explain the situation. At the very least he will have to send the unit back on his tab. Also before having him send it back, have him take digital pictures of the unit from every angle. This way you can compare it to the ones you took and see if there is any damage.