Been a member for 9 years. Used to sell a fair amount back in '16 and '17. Took a 6 year break and started selling again starting this past July and have had Im guessing around $6-7 in sales from then until todays date. No issues with any of the sales and all customers satisfied, all feedback positive.
I list a DJI drone lens and gimbal with a starting bid of $2,800 - a very fair price given the last two have sold on here for over $4k. I priced it like that in hopes of a quick sale so I could pay off an emergency loan I had to take out to pay for my dog's emergency surgery.
The buyer pays and the next day I ship it out to him UPS Overnight with insurance and adult signature. He gets it late the next morning, I wait a few hours and then follow up to make sure everything is good and it arrived safely. Yes, he says. Looks good. Is happy with it. So I ask if he can please confirm he is happy and please leave me positive feedback, so eBay will the release the hold.
It's at this point he decides to inform me that he does not have a DJI drone in which to attach it to, and thus test it to confirm it works. But that he is looking to buy one soon, probably. Will not confirm satisfied or leave feedback until he has a means of testing it.
I refrain from getting nasty or disrespectful as as much this is a massive inconvenience for me and also because as absolutely stupid I think it is to buy such an expensive thing and have no means of even testing to confirm that it works, I am aware that he technically has done nothing wrong and is well within his right to conduct himself this way. As far as I know he is under no official obligation to do anything on his end. If I have to wait an entire month because he likes to buy expensive things he cannot test, then it is what it is.
Issue is that this type of thing, as uncommon as it probably is, can create serious financial headaches for some. A lot can happen in a month. What if he decides in 3 weeks he just doesn't want it? Or what if he breaks it and tells me doesn't work and wants a refund? I guarantee eBay would side with this irresponsible guy and I'd be up poop creek.
The fact that my account is 9 years old, I have many recent sales of items selling for a few hundred dollars a piece, have had zero issues with any buyers and have received all positive feedback, that the item was delivered and signed for, and that he has not disputed anything and has said that he is happy with his purchase should count for something here. It's not my fault he can't test it out. Had I known this beforehand I would have never sold it to him for this exact reason. I understand he would technically be putting himself at risk by confirming satisfied and leaving positive feedback before being able to test it, but at the same time this doesn't feel right either. Isn't there some responsibility due the buyer? Or are they helpless children, coddled and free to behave however they want with almost zero accountability.
Am I wrong? Crazy? Is he wrong? Crazy? Do I have a leg to stand in if I try to ask eBay to release the funds because the buyer has confirmed delivery and has stated he is happy with the item, but refuses to leave feedback because he cannot test the item?
The default release date is March 6th. Which seems like an eternity from now.
