sold a item that was brass and the person who bought said it was tarnished
Summary: claubre66 sold a brass sleigh and deer, but the buyer complained about tarnishing not mentioned in the listing and requested a discount. janet9988 and adamcartwright suggested offering a partial refund or a return for a full refund. annadryl and christworks advised asking the buyer to return the item and highlighted eBay's policy against partial refunds. Discussion participants noted that some tarnishing should be expected with brass, but selling items without disclosing known issues is problematic. luckythewinner emphasized the importance of accurate listing details and suggested handling it as 'Not as described.' pickapaper raised concerns about potential corrosion, advising a return if it's true.
I sold a brass sleight and deer. The buyer contacted me today. Said that I didn't tell it was tarnished on one side. They want money off the price. I had it listed for 60.00 they got for 50.00
It was my fault that I didnt tell them it had been tarnished. I think they can clean it with lemon juice or something else. What do I do.
claubre66
OPJul 18, 2026 at 10:25 PMThank-you for the advise we came to the conclusion that I would refund some of the money she didnt ask for much more off. Plus some people like to get the tarnish off themselves
pickapaper
·Jul 18, 2026 at 4:25 PMIs it actually tarnish the buyer is referring to or is it corrosion? In the one picture you have of the deer's underside, there are several spots that look like corrosion and I don't believe these can be cleaned or reversed.
If, indeed, the deer had some corrosion and you did not point it out, you should have the buyer return the piece for a full refund.
luckythewinner
·1 month ago · EditedCorrect.
Buyers are not expected to put in time to repair, refinish or refurbish your item because you failed to disclose the condition accurately. If you divide my salary by the hours I woprk, my time is worth $60-$70 an hour.
You could either offer a partial refund, or ask the buyer to return it at your expense for "Not as described".
christworks
·1 month ago@claubre66 If you knew it was tarnished and failed to disclose that, then I think the buyer’s complaint is valid. That said, anyone who buys brass should understand that it may need some cleaning or polishing. When I list brass—or anything else that can tarnish while sitting in inventory—I mention possible tarnish in the listing to protect myself.
You have a no-returns policy, but that does not mean the buyer is ineligible for a refund under eBay’s Money Back Guarantee. However, asking for a partial refund while keeping the item can violate eBay policy, so I would report that request.
If the buyer has not opened a return, I would not hold their hand and explain the process. The 30-day Money Back Guarantee is displayed on every listing, and buyers are responsible for understanding it. I would simply respond:
“I’m sorry you’re unhappy with your purchase. You already received the item at a discount, and I believe that discount adequately addresses your complaint. Have a nice weekend.”
You certainly risk negative feedback by taking that position, but negative feedback matters less now that sellers receive so much automatic positive feedback. If the buyer leaves feedback that violates eBay policy, you can request its removal. For example, if they state that they left negative feedback because you refused to give them a partial refund, you would have a strong argument for having that feedback removed.
If the buyer opens an INAD return, then you'll need to refund. You can still require it be sent back before refunding. That doesn't mean you have to inform your buyer of eBay's MBG or direct them to open a return. If you aren't going to stand up for your no returns policy, why have it? Might as well change to accepting returns or, better yet, free returns and reap the benefits of it.
grann-4629
·Jul 18, 2026 at 2:33 AMBrass could tarnish during the time it takes to get from the seller to the buyer unless it has some type of coating that resists oxidation, but that may devalue the item. With brass you can almost watch it changing colour. If I purchased something in brass I would expect it might need some polishing. Damage or corrosion would not be acceptable.
adamcartwright
·Jul 18, 2026 at 5:10 AMRIght?!
Who buys a vintage, pre-owned brass item and expects it to arrive in new condition without tarnish or patina?
This is a shakedown. OP should get it back, refund, and relist.
This is a large decor item that I think she could jack up the price on and sell again, as Christmas nears.
thevintageimage
·Jul 18, 2026 at 2:59 PMAgree.
annadryl
·1 month agoI think since she already got ten bucks off she is just fishing for more. I would say sorry she's not happy with it, please return for a refund and provide her a return label. She didn't open a case, ask her to. That puts the ball back in her court.
adamcartwright
·1 month agoI would invite her to return it for a refund and then refund her only after receiving it back.
Also, asking for partial refund is against eBay's policy for buyer behavior, and you could report her for that if you feel she's not being honest.
janet9988
·1 month agoOffer 10 bucks off or have the buyer return for a full refund with you paying the return shipping.