Seller is blaming me for damaged SSDs and refuses to provide test proof
I bought SSDs listed as 95–100% health, but received 89% and 61%. When I contacted the seller, he immediately became defensive and accused me of being “hostile†and making “threats.â€
Here’s how he talked to me:
"Well, that was fast. Already getting hostile and resorting to 'threats'...wow."
"Literally anything could have been done to the drives between now and then."
He also claimed that I could have faked the results:
"It is pretty easy to manufacture bad health ratings on SSDs by flashing the SMART data, re-configuring the firmware, etc. Not to mention that HD Sentinel and CrystalDiskInfo can be easily faked."
He refuses to share his own test screenshots, while accusing me of falsifying mine.
Yes, it’s been over 30 days, but there’s no way I could cause a drop to 61% health in a few weeks — that kind of wear takes years of use.
I have full screenshots from HD Sentinel and CrystalDiskInfo, or video proof from any software.
What should I do next to protect myself in this case?
31 comments
gone.c-33
·10 months agoSeller had perfect feedback before your neg, including for similar items and was often commended for his customer service when an issue arose. Sounds like a pretty solid seller.
Now the delay for testing the items and raising a complaint combined with the use of a freight forwarder (which may void your buyer protection since there’s no way to know if they reshipped the same item, or handled it, stored it and repacked it properly) would make many an experienced seller wary (especially if you displayed similar attitude as displayed here).
Hopefully the seller will respond to your feedback by filling out the details you conveniently left out, or have it removed altogether on the grounds that you lost your SNAD dispute.
r_lresale
·10 months agoThe seller has left a reply... @mad*alex If you threatened a negative feedback as the seller alleges and has the conversation to such, he can get the neg removed and report you.
mad*alex
OP10 months agomad*alex
OP10 months agoIt’s my fault that I didn’t check disks. But it’s his fault that he started addressing me like “So if you expect me to blindly trust some guy I do not know…†and didn’t provide a test of the disks, at least to clear his reputation. That’s why he received my review — for poor communication. I don’t think he had any right to refer to me as “some guy†in any case.
soh.maryl
·10 months agoSo you did not consider opening an NAD case within 30 days of receipt?
powell-collectibles
·10 months agoBuyer discovered the issue past the 30-day mark.
jonathanbrightlight
·10 months agoThe OP stated this in one of their comments:
â€I didn't rush with the check because the seller stated there is no return policyâ€
They clearly made a decision not to check it within 30 days, and thus never intended to open a MBG claim within the required timeframe.
gone.c-33
·10 months agoWould the delay in testing the items have anything to do with using a freight forwarder to receive your purchases since you’re located in the Ukraine?
mad*alex
OP10 months agoNo. Items arrive in 10–14 days by air.
mad*alex
OP10 months agoCase Status: Closed
We have closed this case in favor of the seller because you reported the issue more than 30 days after the item was delivered or the service was provided.
Leaving negative feedback seems to be my last option
rseuqinh
·10 months agoNot @mad*alex if you paid using something called a "credit card" over there in Selinski's UK.
Cents you've made a valiant attempt to resolve the dispute with the merchant, you can proceed with a credit card chargeback ... if your card issuer honors rules such as this by Visa, where no return is required unless the merchant pays for the return shipping cost from wherever you are in UK.
Do this, and your seller will be forced to refund without needing a return for the used batteries [sic].
kibble-net
·10 months agoYou can leave appropriate feedback.
You can report this seller to ebay if they broke TOS, but I'm unclear if that actually happened. Were they threatening you, or just behaving badly?
It's been over 30 days, so you're SOL at this point. I'd be more choosy about who I buy used computer parts from in the future and mark it up as a cheap lesson in due diligence.
albertabrightalberta
·10 months ago@mad*alex
After reading your post and responses, I have to wonder........
Was this an item you bought to resell? And did you resell it? If so, was it your buyer who made a similar complaint upon receipt and now you're trying to go back to your seller?
1. You're past 30 days so you're out of the MBG (money back guarantee) timeframe for a refund.
2. As a seller, I'd expect your statement of "I didn't rush with the check because the seller stated there is no return policy" implies that you haven't read ebay's policies.
As stated by one of YOUR buyers who wasn't happy with their item that YOU sold, "You win some, lose some." This is one you lose!
And although you didn't ask, the "win some, lose some" buyer who bought that Motorola phone would have had a legitimate NAD claim on your item. You sold it as "used," meaning it was supposed to work as designed, yet your description states that "memorabilia only not for every day usage - cellular connectivity not gauranteed."
It should have been sold as "not working-for parts only."
mad*alex
OP10 months agoYou're right, I changed the status of all the phones to 'for parts.' My question is about an item that was 'Significantly Not As Described.' If the seller is correct and I missed the option to get a refund, why do I still have the option to leave feedback after 30 days? It seems that leaving negative feedback could cause more harm, and I believe it's my right to do so.
gone.c-33
·10 months agoFeedback is not used by eBay to evaluate sellers so it can only do limited damage, especially if the seller’s other feedback is all good.
Also, as a prospective buyer, I would also wonder what could have happened during the month between receipt of the item and when the feedback was left.
Im order to protect yourself in the future, test all items as soon as you receive them.
mad*alex
OP10 months agoThis is no longer the case. Why give advice on something you don't understand? eBay has long introduced seller ratings based on buyer feedback, and the SNAD metric is one of the main ones. eBay automatically imposes restrictions on sellers who fall outside the standard customer satisfaction service metrics.
kathiec
·10 months agoSorry, but this isn't totally correct. Feedback hasn't factored into seller metrics for more than a decade. What does factor into metrics are not as described cases properly opened within the applicable deadline. Feedback can, of course, serve as a warning for future buyers, but the only way you could have impacted the seller's metrics would have been to open a case in a timely manner.
jonathanbrightlight
·10 months agoeBay has not used feedback to evaluate seller accounts in many years. SNAD metrics (that’s an old term, INAD is the current acronym, Item Not As Described) are not connected to buyer feedback at all.
gone.c-33
·10 months agoI understand ebay policy.
i also understand that you lost that SNAD dispute and that eBay will remove negative feedback left by a buyer when they file and lose a dispute.
mad*alex
OP10 months agoI left feedback about the buyer’s poor communication — he said to me, “So if you expect me to blindly trust some guy I do not know.†Frankly, can a buyer be disrespectful after 30 days? In my opinion, that’s poor communication, and the feedback is well deserved.
mad*alex
OP10 months agoThe buyer of the Motorola phone is not contacting me. It seems I want to resolve the issue before leaving feedback, as, as we know, reviews can significantly damage a seller's reputation. Do you have any advice?
mad*alex
OP10 months agoI didn't rush with the check because the seller stated there is no return policy. He should be 100% sure that the item matches the description when setting such a rule, shouldn't he?
krazzykats
·10 months agoUsed batteries are a hit/miss. He said/she said.
As @house*of*paws earlier stated, if you can't file a claim at PayPal, then your funding source would be next. (Credit Card).
I admit it, I haven't had a PayPal claim in years. And I think I only ever filed one or two in those 20-some-odd years.
😂
ᓚá˜á—¢
mad*alex
OP10 months agoSeems PayPal is a better solution. This type of protection covers a wide time range.
house*of*paws
·10 months agoHi @mad*alex (and @krazzykats )
NOT anymore!
PayPal dropped its deadline for filing a return to 30 days … the same as eBay … over a year ago! [It still allows 180 days to file an ‘Item not received’ claim.]
You will need to contact your credit card company if you want to pursue a claim.
roccotacodad54
·10 months agoI just went to PayPal's website and it says on Not As Described cases 30 days from delivery or 180 days from the date you sent the payment, whichever is sooner.
If you've had these over 30 ays from delivery....................?
krazzykats
·10 months agoNext step, file with PayPal or your funding source.
ᓚá˜á—¢
christworks
·10 months agoIt is not lost on me that you left out the full context of the message exchange you had with your seller. Namely, you left out what you said to him. Interesting. If you did get hostile or make threats, the seller can report you for abuse and thus can hurt your account. Don't do that.
You have used a product for more than 30 days. I assume the seller does not have 60 day returns and eBay's Money Back Guarantee ended at 30 days.
There is no case to protect yourself from. You move on. That's what you do.
You should have ran your tests when you opened the box, not after using them for weeks. Also, you could have asked the seller to provide those screen shots before you bought the drives.
mad*alex
OP10 months agoSeems I cant provide full chain here. But be sure nothing aggresive. Just informed seller that item SNAD. Seller describe item have 95-100% health. Impossible to make 61% after couple weeks of usage. And why seller ask me more proofs and dont show owm test?
mad*alex
OP10 months agoIt seems I can't provide the full chain here, but I assure you nothing aggressive was said. I simply informed the seller that the item was SNAD. The seller described the item as having 95-100% health, which makes it impossible for the health to drop to 61% after just a couple of weeks of usage. I also questioned why the seller is asking me for more proof instead of showing their own test results.
krazzykats
·10 months agoSimply open a return case with not as described. And return them.
How to return an item
ᓚá˜á—¢