eBay

ahmas19 · ‎05-13-2018

Hi everyone, I am not usually the one for selling expensive items; usually selling my textbooks. I decided to help a friend sell his iPhone 8 (not unlocked) on a “US Cellular” network. 14 days after the buyer has the phone delivered he contacts me saying that it’s not a US Cellular phone and that I wrote the wrong description. I immediately apologized and contacted my friend. My friend said that he was very sure it is US Cellular network, he even had it checked before I posted it. In my description I wrote that this phone is NOT an unlocked phone. It’s been almost a month, and although I dont accept returns I told the buyer that he can return it for a refund. It’s heen a few days and he still hasn’t contacted me. I contacted eBay and they told me that they can’t force me to refund anything. I don’t know what to do. I don’t feel comfortable taking a return now since it’s been so long.

papermoneyforme · ‎05-13-2018

@ahmas19 wrote:
Hi everyone, I am not usually the one for selling expensive items; usually selling my textbooks. I decided to help a friend sell his iPhone 8 (not unlocked) on a “US Cellular” network. 14 days after the buyer has the phone delivered he contacts me saying that it’s not a US Cellular phone and that I wrote the wrong description. I immediately apologized and contacted my friend. My friend said that he was very sure it is US Cellular network, he even had it checked before I posted it. In my description I wrote that this phone is NOT an unlocked phone. It’s been almost a month, and although I dont accept returns I told the buyer that he can return it for a refund. It’s heen a few days and he still hasn’t contacted me. I contacted eBay and they told me that they can’t force me to refund anything. I don’t know what to do. I don’t feel comfortable taking a return now since it’s been so long.

Preparwe to be scammed!

a_c_green · ‎05-13-2018

It sounds weird that your friend would have to "have it checked" to be sure that it was for the U.S. Cellular network before you posted it. Wouldn't he know that already, since it was, you know, his phone?

If you've offered to take it back for a refund, wait to see what the buyer does next. If he files for a refund, then select Return for Refund. You do not have to refund before you get the phone back, and you do not have to haggle a partial refund either, but digging in your heels and not cooperating may let him escalate the case (once he opens one) and eBay could force a refund without any return at all.

He may be fishing for a partial, but right now the ball is in his court. Get back to us with an update here if he makes any further moves.

ahmas19 · ‎05-13-2018

He hasn’t contacted me in a few days, but he was asking for a partial refund before.
And my friend got it checked to make sure there were no problems on the phone before posting and to get a rough value on how much it could be sold for.

jonathankirkland · ‎05-13-2018

@ahmas19 wrote:
He hasn’t contacted me in a few days, but he was asking for a partial refund before.
And my friend got it checked to make sure there were no problems on the phone before posting and to get a rough value on how much it could be sold for.

If he hasn't opened a case yet I'd say it's just your typical scum bag trying to get an additional discount after the fact thinking they have leverage over a seller.

I would just wait and see what happens. Of course remain courteous and don't act suspicious but I would be willing to bet this guy will eventually just go away and give up. If he does become rude and insistent just keep replying with "I'm sorry you are not satisfied. Please return the phone and once I receive it back I will provide you with a full refund."

Until a case is opened though I wouldn't worry about it. But feel free to come back for more advice should that happen.

a_c_green · ‎05-13-2018

@ahmas19 wrote:
He hasn’t contacted me in a few days, but he was asking for a partial refund before.
And my friend got it checked to make sure there were no problems on the phone before posting and to get a rough value on how much it could be sold for.

Okay, thanks for clarifying. If you've already responded to him, the ball's back in his court, so wait to see if he makes any further moves. If so, update us here before you respond, so that we can make recommendations.

Generally, though, your best bet will be to just take it back for a refund, if things go that far. If he was planning to simply switch your good phone and return a junk item, he wouldn't need to bother with a lot of dialogue back and forth; he could just do it. The fact that he hasn't suggests that he's more interesting in haggling a lower price for what he wants to keep, in terms of getting a partial refund without having to return anything.