I sold this laptop (https://www.ebay.com/itm/152940044663) and within hours of the buyer receiving it, a case was filed on PayPal because it "didn't work". The buyer gave no details about "what" wasn't working and I find it strange that the buyer went straight to PayPal before contacting me. I used the laptop as my own for months and it worked fine. I described it accurately in the listing description. I tested the hard drive. I loaded a fresh operating system. I find it very unlikely that the laptop suddenly doesn't work upon arrival. I'm also perplexed that the buyer filed such an extreme case so quickly without any evidence or previous correspondence. In my response to the PayPal case, I asked specifically for what wasn't working, a photo of the item, and stated that I had used it for months without a problem. How likely is it that I'll be required to refund this buyer? I suspect the buyer is fraudulently asking for a refund. I sent the buyer a message on eBay requesting for more details but made it clear that I will provide a full refund if the item is truly defective. Prior to that, I tried calling the buyer directly but the phone number isn't active.
Fortunately, even if the buyer wins this, likely fraudulent, case, I will only lose $45. I'm concerned about someone pulling this with a high value item. I also sell $300+ laptops and I can't take that kind of loss. Profit margins are already really tight and I repair these machines myself. I would have to sell ~6 laptops to make up the cost. Repair time for each laptop averages to two hours. I'm thinking about starting my own website to minimize selling fees, fraudulent buyers, and the entire mess.
What does the eBay community advise in this situation?
