@tangodingus wrote:
The model I had was a only a few months old - bought at $1300 back in February. 4K model significantly higher if I had sold that, so my price was my price.
I realize that a full refund is on me because I screwed up - however I don’t think I should be on the hook for this guys customs charge because he apparently forwarded it.
So, should I just wait until he tried to initiate a return?
Okay, @tangodingus. Here's the deal. Let's say the guy is in Croatia. It wouldn't have matter if you had shipped the computer to him all the way to Croatia, or just to Miami, and he handled getting it shipped over to his home country from there via a freight-forwarder. Either way, he would have had to pay Customs Duty/VAT on the purchase. The duty is due when an overseas shipment enters the country -- doesn't matter how it got there -- and according to eBay policies, the buyer is the one who is responsible for paying it.
So let's look at this from your buyer's perspective. I don't know what your buyer paid for the computer, nor what you paid to ship it to Miami, etc. but for sake of discussion, let's just say...
Computer Purchased for $850
Shipping to Miami $ 25
Shipping from Miami to Croatia via re-shipper $ 50
Customs/Duty/VAT Charges Due Upon Arrival $ 100
TOTAL Paid Out-of-pocket by Buyer $1,025
He's shelled out $1,025 for a computer, which, as it turns out, isn't the one he purchased. And while, you have offered him a full refund, here's all he will get back from you if you refund him in full:
Computer Purchased for $850
Shipping to Miami $ 25
TOTAL Refunded by Seller $875
So he's out $150 through no fault of his own since you (even if was inadvertently) shipped him an entirely different item than he purchased and paid for -- and that's BEFORE he will need to spend way more than the $35 he originally spent for Miami->Croatia shipping, as coming back the other way, it is unlikely he will be able to use a re-shipper to do so back to the US. It could cost him another $75 or more to ship it back to Miami. Now, his out-of-pocket expense is more than $200 and will have no computer to show for it when none of this was his fault at all.
On the other side of the equation, if you insist on having him return the computer and give him a full refund, there is no guarantee that the item will make it back to you without damage. It's not uncommon that a buyer won't package or have the knowledge of how to package any item as well as a seller does due to inexperience. Or, it's entirely possible what you may get back is a box of rocks because you've angered him further by not being reasonable. Is it really worth taking that chance and the negative feedback that will likely come along with?
While it's technically true, when a buyer uses a re-shipper, they have no coverage under eBay's Money Back Guarantee, it all comes down this this. Should this guy be expected to be out of pocket $1,000+ because of your mistake?
The reason why I was asking where this guy was located was so that you might be able to research how much your buyer had to pay in customs duty/VAT as that would give you a better idea of what money he is out on that front which could be a negotiation point between you two.
Personally, I would have never offered him a full refund, until I had ascertained whether he would be willing to just keep the computer and agree to a mutually-agreeable price adjustment since the error was yours. In fact, in your original post, you mentioned that he had asked for a *partial* refund. Maybe the door is still open on that -- especially if you could determine what he paid in VAT/customs/duty fees which seems to be the sticking point for him.
That's what I would do if I were you. But of course, how you proceed is entirely your choice. Hope some of the above will be helpful as some food for thought, anyway. Good luck!
