mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
@abbylilyd wrote:After speaking with PayPal.. many times over this.. the answer from them is clear: the absolute ONLY way the buyer will see any money back is if they return the watch. I have already sent over all correspondence to them to get ahead of it. 4 different representatives said the same thing.. return the watch, and then I will refund her the price of the watch, I will not be responsible for repairs arbitrarily done. I was also advised not to send any money unless I am provided a itemized receipt, showing payment made, ask for it to be notarized and mailed to me. And a refund or partial refund for repairs would be my decision, I would not be obligated. There has still been no word since the 9th. But every time my eBay activity prompt goes off, my heart sinks a bit lol. “Is it a message from her??” 🤢
Ebay nor PP can force any seller to pay repair fees on an item, any item. If the buyer were able [which in this case they are not] to file a claim in Ebay, they have no such option to make you pay for repairs and they keep the item. They either return the item for full refund or the case will close in your favor. And it is similar for PP.
You really are on good solid ground here. She is just trying to bully you. She obviously wants to keep the watch and it is highly likely that the watch doesn't need any repairs unless it is damage she has caused after receiving the item.
If this were a transaction I was handling, I would report the buyer to Ebay formally through the report button and a phone call for all she is putting you through. And then I would be online reporting them to the bar association in both states that she holds a license for.
Honestly I don't think she is going to stop with the abusive emails anytime soon. If she is even a halfway decent lawyer, she very well knows she can't win this case in a court of law. You have repeatedly offered to take the return for full refund to her and she has declined. You did this even though she is well outside of your return policy.
I would do what I could to end this drama. To stop her from being able to contact you. You can ask Ebay to also step in and stop the harassing emails because that is exactly what they are.
But you at this point do not need to take a return. It is unlikely you will get back the watch you sold them or most certainly not the watch in the same condition you sold it to them.
FYI it is possible that she has gone silent because she actually knows she hasn't a leg to stand on.
@equid0x wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
@monster-deals wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
@wesk_36 wrote:Despite the fact that you agreed to pay a portion of repairs, the amount was never negotiated or given. You asked for an estimate, they said they repaired it.
I would tell her to return for a refund and leave it at that and then don't respond anymore.
The buyer said that they altered the item on their own, (if they actually did) which negates any protections.
They sound like a bully and attempting extortion, in my opinion.
It sounds like they are abusing their position to intimidate you.
I think your mistake was being nice to them by offering some resolution other than telling them to return for a refund. Generally, bullies think nice people are entertainment and easy targets.
Truth is, they could actually try to sue, you can also refuse certified letters.
Why? They are well outside of the seller's return policy. It was the buyer that was slow to respond to the seller. Why should the seller have to extend their return policy time frame?
Why? Because they fixed it.
You know full well paypal's return window is much longer than ebay's
They have altered the item. The seller has no way of know what the buyer did to the item. The seller did NOT give them permission to spend whatever they wanted to have some work done to the watch. Now I haven't read every post on this thread, so I'm unsure if the buyer actually provided a receipt that is detailed to what was done to what item. And the buyer was suppose to get back to the seller BEFORE actually having the item repaired.
Just because someone files a claim in PP doesn't mean they will automatically win. The seller has some pretty good proof here that they can supply PP if it come to this. I have no idea how they may rule.
The seller does not have to authorize repairs or any specific dollar value.
If I sell you a car... and tell you it works. Then, you find out after purchase that the transmission has problems, and I refuse to refund your money or take it back. You can absolutely have the vehicle repaired and you can absolutely take me to court to recover your costs in doing so. A judge will agree, BTW.
OMG NO!!! Not happening. Completely untrue.
@abbylilyd wrote:Here’s the convo leading up to the estimate B is buyer. S is me
B:Hi I love the watch but I can’t get it to work? I wound it clockwise with the crown in the 0 position - is there a trick to it? Thanks!
S:Oh no! Is there movement on the battery when wound? Underneath..
B:No unfortunately
S:I haven’t heard from you ... (hoping that’s a good sign 😀) have you replaced the battery!
B:Hi I took it to my jeweler it’s running but the arms are broken so they don’t move. I’m waiting on their estimate to fix it.
S:I don’t get it... it was working fine... then I stored it prior to listing. The only thing I can think of is one of my kids was playing in my office. So disappointing! Please let me know as soon as you find out what it will cost. I am SO sorry
B:It’s going to be 260 to fix 😞 I want to keep it but it’s going to be an insanely expensive watch by the end of this. Is there any way you can refund any of what I paid??
S:260? Wow....wow...i am shocked. I want to work with you...what are you thinking?
Could you refund 160?Then I’d only be paying $600 for it instead of $760.
S:Hey there I just saw this message I'm sorry I missed it yesterday! Is there any way you can provide me with a copy of the estimate and or outline of work that needs to be done? This in no way means that i do not believe what your telling me is true..not at all. I also have a watch guy here and he is curious about the work..not the price, he doesn't think the figure is out of bounds, if its a mechanical..i thought it was battery ( shows how much i know) but also just for piece of mind, i would like to see estimate if it isn't to much trouble for you?
B:No problem I gave it to my jeweler (Kruger’s diamond jewelers in Austin) and their watch guy is repairing it. I just emailed them to have them send me a copy of the estimate.
I received handwritten estimate many days later . To which I responded... I was uncomfortable with the amount she requested because I could have had it repaired myself for much less. Then it got.. testy
Now here is a good learning experience. Just from what you wrote above. You should have never sent that second email. That is what we call poking the bear. You should have just waited. Often times after a buyer complains they just go silent.
And never give a buyer something to latch onto like your kids may have damaged it. Don't give buyers something they can use against you. While it doesn't appear from what you have shared so far that this buyer hasn't used that against you, but they sure could have.
In the future I'd steer clear of doing this. It gives you less exposure as a seller.
