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Seller deducted refund after defective auto part return — how should I handle this?
Summary: wlm138 is seeking advice on handling a situation where a seller on eBay deducted $7.00 from a refund after a defective vehicle speed sensor (VSS) return. They have experienced multiple issues with defective VSS units for their 1995 Toyota Corolla and are concerned about the seller's claim of the item not being returned in original condition. The participant has opened a case with eBay and is looking for guidance on whether to wait for eBay's review or pursue further action, as well as what documentation to maintain during the process.
Subject: Seller deducted refund after defective auto part return — how should I handle this?
Message:
I am a buyer trying to locate a functional vehicle speed sensor for my 1995 Toyota Corolla. This is an older OBD-I vehicle, and many aftermarket VSS units being sold online appear to be defective or incompatible. I have had to return several sensors because they physically fit but produce no usable vehicle-speed signal and trigger the vehicle’s OBD-I Code 42 / O/D light flashing condition.
For context, the same seller, all4trade, sold me a VSS in 2024 that worked and lasted roughly a year and a half. I kept that part because it worked. More recently, I bought two more VSS units from the same seller, and those units were defective/DOA. I returned the defective ones through eBay.
On the most recent return, the seller issued only a partial refund and deducted $7.00. My return reason was: “Product is DOA. Does not work.” The seller’s comment said, in substance, that I keep buying and returning the same item as defective and told me to stop buying from them. However, the refund notice says the deduction was because the item was supposedly not returned in original condition.
I returned the same sensor I received. I did not alter it, damage it, or substitute another part. It was briefly installed/tested only to determine whether it worked.
I opened a case with eBay for the remaining refund amount. eBay says they are stepping in to review it.
My questions are:
Should I wait for eBay to finish the case review, or is there a better way to contact customer service?
How should I respond if the seller is using “not returned in original condition” even though their own comment suggests the deduction was because they objected to repeated defective-item returns?
Is there anything else I should document while the case is pending?
I am trying to keep this within eBay’s return process and resolve it properly.
eastlaneave
Mentor1 month ago@wlm138
Wait to see what eBay's appeal does. That is the correct step.
Come back to let me know what they do.