Is there a way to report messages in a return case?

[loose_goose_garage]

Buyer opens an "Item doesn't match description" return for an item that was listed as "For Parts or Not Working", claiming it is missing a piece that was never shown in pictures or described in listing.
Per eBay's definition, "

For parts or not working

"An item that does not function as intended and is not fully operational. This includes items that are defective in ways that render them difficult to use, items that require service or repair, or items missing essential components."

I sent a message to buyer in the return case stating this information above, and received these 2 messages in response back:

May 27

The buyer sent you a message

"every chain come with a **bleep** master link. you're something else. now I have 2 broken chains. you should be banned from selling on here!!!"

May 27

The buyer sent you a message

"your scantless little **bleep**. you shouldn't be able to sell on ebay with these types of practices."

Conveniently, I do not see anywhere on the return page to report these messages as you would see in the normal eBay messaging page. Clicking Report Buyer also does not give you the option to report based on messages.

Am I missing something or is there no way to do so?

[powell-collectibles]

The buyer is right to be annoyed with you. I assume that he didn’t buy the item for decoration – he wanted to salvage parts from the item to repair something else. Fine to sell things that aren’t working and that are just for parts – but if they are missing components, you should disclose that in the listing. 

Regardless, the messages don’t harm you. Just refund and move on. If I were in your situation, I would apologize to the buyer, send a refund, and offer a steep discount on something else in my store.

[ebooksdiva]

 If the messages are also coming through your eBay messages you can click the three dots upper right hand corner of the message and click report message. 
Otherwise, just ignore it refund the buyer and move on. 

[loose_goose_garage]

They come through as an eBay message, which does not give you the option to report

[ebooksdiva]

If that’s the case. Those messages aren’t seen by eBay, if you could report nothing may come of it. You should just refund the buyer to close the return. Then move on. 

[loose_goose_garage]

If you are unfamiliar with how a chain works, it has a removeable master link that is used to hold it together when installed. It is easily removeable, the chain is not "Broken" as the buyer claims.
This is why it was listed as For Parts or Not Working, as I never stated it included one and you can buy chains that do not include a master link, not all of them include one.

[ebooksdiva]

Listing as “for parts or not working “ nine times out of ten, will result in Not as described cases.

I see this all the time in this forum. 

[chevymontecarlo88]

---

@loose_goose_garage wrote:

If you are unfamiliar with how a chain works, it has a removeable master link that is used to hold it together when installed. It is easily removeable, the chain is not "Broken" as the buyer claims.
This is why it was listed as For Parts or Not Working, as I never stated it included one and you can buy chains that do not include a master link, not all of them include one.

---

Hopefully you get it back in the same condition so you can resell it again. Check all of the parts to make sure nothing was changed out. 

[house*of*paws]

Hi @loose_goose_garage 

Listing an item ‘For parts or not working’ doesn’t exempt the item from being returned for a refund any more per eBay.

Your expected response to the buyer’s opening a return request really should have been to issue either a prepaid shipping label OR a full refund according to eBay policy … instead of a giving buyer a lecture on Item Condition definitions.

While the buyer may have been rude in their anger … eBay still expects you to complete the return request.  I also recommend that you do that before eBay steps in to refund the buyer with your money and put a defect on your account.  You’ll also forfeit your fees.

It’s really not in your best interests to spend time trying to report a buyer for having an angry response to a message you shouldn’t have sent them in the first place.

[powell-collectibles]

---

@loose_goose_garage wrote:

If you are unfamiliar with how a chain works, it has a removeable master link that is used to hold it together when installed. It is easily removeable, the chain is not "Broken" as the buyer claims.
This is why it was listed as For Parts or Not Working, as I never stated it included one and you can buy chains that do not include a master link, not all of them include one.

---

Okay - I had to look it up.  Info I receive is that, yes, these chains usually come with a master link.  Sure, you can buy one without, but looks like that is not as common as with a link.  Regardless, chalk this up to a simple

Misunderstanding.  Same advice - apologize, refund, offer a discount.

[mooncat_watches]

Selling not working parts on eBay is basically the equivalent of giving them away. Up to you to determine if that's a risk worth taking along with your appetite for being charitable.

[frankenhobbit]

Eh, I can see both sides of the argument, and the seller appears to be a good seller. Hard to get 100% feedback in the used parts field, but they apparently have done so other than three mlld neutrals. So, I am going to take that into consideration. 

Sure, it may have been better to spell out that it was missing the master link, but the definition of 'For parts or not working' implies that it may be missing some parts. 

But perhaps the buyer should have asked also?

I know I have purchased items for the parts and I always check to see if the parts I need are in that item. If I could not see them, I'd ask. 

All that said, I'd probably be the better guy and refund. Life's too short. And obviously BBL them.