Can I Request Compensation via eBay for Damages Incurred During an In-Person Transaction?
Hey everyone,
I recently encountered a situation the buyer has broken a cable rail during the process of moving a sofa that I gave almost for free (GBP 1), resulting in the need for repairs. As the responsible party for any damages incurred during the move, I'm exploring options for seeking compensation via Ebay. The buyer is pushing it for me to fix it but we don't have tools neither the time, plus this will require to invest money.
I'm curious if anyone has experience or insights into whether it's possible to request compensation through eBay for damages that happened during an in-person transaction?
I've read through eBay's policies regarding buyer protection, but I'm unsure how they apply to situations like this. It seems they can only block the buyers acct. Any advice or guidance on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance for your help.
jerseyboymusic
·2 years ago@andreinpele0 I think your building management should send the bill to the buyer. I don't think you need to be involved...
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years agoIt does NOT matter what country this happened in- if a 'person' damaged an item, the 'place you advertised' the item will NOT pay anything.
It's like you have a car for sale in the local newspaper and as the person drove off, ran over your fence, your tree, the neighbors mailbox etc.
YOU would have to sue the PERSON that did it- and you would have to PROVE they did it (as they could simply say 'I didn't do that', so you would need witnesses that saw it happen)
candd205
·2 years agoThe buyer damaged your building? Then the buyer should pay for her actions. Agree with the suggestion to take them to court if there is something similar to small claims court in England.
dhbookds
·2 years agoMy worthless 2c...........I think your handyman may be trying to rip you off.......presuming the buyer didn't do it deliberately. It should be his job to ensure than obstacles are not in the way "in a communal area" through which furniture is moved.......
Unavailable member
·2 years agoWhoever was moving the sofa is responsible for damage. eBay doesn't get involved with moving mishaps.
You will need to figure this out between you and the buyer.
andreinpele0
OP2 years agoThanks, everyone. I guess I didn't explain properly about the cable "rail". It's called "electrical trunking".
The buyer collected the sofa in LONDON, and on her way out of the building, she ripped out and broke the electrical trunking in the communal areas of the building. The cable and part of the plastic electrical trunking are hanging from the ceiling. The handyman is charging £60 to repair it. I only received £1 for the sale, and the buyer is refusing to come back and fix it. By the way, the sofa is in good condition, and even though my account is a German acct, the sofa and collection were made in London. My question will be..
Will eBay help me in reinforce the payment from the buyer to cover the handyman charges?
jameshen1
·2 years agoNo. eBay will not help you. They did not cause the damage and are not responsible for the damage.
golfingaddict
·2 years agoNo, eBay is not going to help with this.
You need to reach out to your insurance company or file a legal complaint with the buyer. (or both)
I'm not familiar with laws in London. We have small claims court here. You might have something similar.
We can take a person to small claims court without a lawyer. Collecting the damages if you win is a separate issue. *winning does not mean you get paid.
luckythewinner
·2 years agoWill eBay help me in reinforce the payment from the buyer to cover the handyman charges?
No.
There is nothing in eBay policy that even remotely suggests that eBay provides liability property insurance for sellers who freely choose to allow unsupervised buyers inside their building.
kalyoth
·2 years agoNo - contact a solicitor. The building costs right now are assigned to you. Until you can get them reassigned to the correct party, they are all yours alone. ebay has zero participation in the physical movement of your physical goods or the labor used in said movement.
luckythewinner
·2 years agoI've read through eBay's policies regarding buyer protection, but I'm unsure how they apply to situations like this.
There is nothing in eBay policy that suggests they will compensate anyone (the buyer or the seller) for an item that was damaged by anyone (buyer or seller or shipping carrier) during any transaction (whether online or in person)*
(* for the anoraks, the only exception might item items that were damaged by an eBay authenticator or the eBay Vault)
Any advice or guidance on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated
If the buyer opens a dispute through eBay, you respond to it promptly as you would for any other eBay dispute.
toysaver
·2 years agoSeller is in Germany so there is some room for interpretation. Does this sound right? If they 'gave' the sofa away 'almost for free' they were likely more interested in having the eyesore carted away by someone else than paying an extra fee to have it removed as bulk garbage.
EBay would go out of business as folks needing home repairs would sell items for pick up and then claim damage and send eBay the bill.
andreinpele0
OP2 years agoThe sofa is in London and is not garbage. I could sell it but I needed it to go quicky as I've a new one.
toysaver
·2 years agoIf it was in good condition the buyer is likely selling it for 200 on another venue.
dhbookds
·2 years agoOP is in Germany..............if he's serious about the question, should ask on the German site (assuming it happened there)....laws could be different..........
andreinpele0
OP2 years agoYes, I am serious. I rent out my property in London. The sofa was collected yesterday, but the buyer was at the property in LONDON, not Germany. When she removed the sofa from the building, she pulled out the cable, along with its protective casing (I called it rail, not sure of the name in English), from the ceiling of the communal areas inside the building. The cable is now hanging from the ceiling to the floor, with nothing holding it anymore.
golfingaddict
·2 years agoeBay is not the one that will take care of this issue.
If the buyer damaged the cable from the ceiling, then you need to contact your insurance to help pay for the repairs or make a legal claim with the buyer in London. (or both)
brightlightbookseller
·2 years agoThe buyer, not eBay, is responsible for that damage.
jerseyboymusic
·2 years ago@andreinpele0 you say the buyer broke this cable rail, so I assume the BUYER is responsible for repairing it? Why would Ebay be responsible? That is just an ecommerce platform used for the transaction.
ckimodog
·2 years ago@andreinpele0
No. eBay in no way will grant you compensation for the item that was damaged, as eBay didn't damage it. I would cancel the transaction and refund the buyers money. Sorry.
andreinpele0
OP2 years agoI just got £1 for the sofa. I wanted to give it away for free.. Thanks I will just report the lady.
candd205
·2 years agoEBay will not pay for this in any way.
If the cable rail is part of the couch, then simply cancel the sale and refund what the buyer paid. You don't have to fix the couch. It's the same as if a vase is broken in the mail. You don't have to fix the broken couch, just like you wouldn't have to fix the broken vase. You just have to refund the buyer.
If the cable rail is part of the truck the buyer used, then you are not responsible for repairing his truck.
toysaver
·2 years agoI guess I'm not sure what the heck a cable rail is? From Goggle looks to be part of a deck or porch? So seller has no need to refund. Just take responsibility and do their own repairs.
kalyoth
·2 years agoStill trying to understand - was the buyer or seller the party that damaged the item during an in person, local delivery? Those are the only two parties involved in the transaction. Which of the two did it, they are responsible. No one else.
toysaver
·2 years agoCan you refund and cancel the transaction?
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoNo, Ebay didn't damage it, they will not pay you because the sofa was damaged while trying to move it.