Item sold AS IS with no refund requests accepted, but buyer now wants to return

[tech-x-world]

I recently sold the very rare old unused PC motherboard as Open Box and the description stated: "Selling AS IS with no requests for returns or refunds accepted. By purchasing this item, you agree to this condition." AS IS means that I did not guarantee it was working because it was NEVER turned on and I didn't know this.  The buyer had zero feedback.  The motherboard was delivered on March 3.

Yesterday I saw that I got a  negative feedback from the buyer and then the case was returned against me demanding return because it didn't work.  I asked the buyer for photos and the photo showed the CPU diagnostic LED was red. I suggested that the buyer's CPU could be faulty. He replied that he didn't know. I also asked him twice when exactly did he assemble the PC and he never responded to that question.  I advised him to take his PC to the computer shop to diagnose his CPU or PSU, but he responded within a few minutes that he already went to computer shop and my motherboard is not working. I became suspicious because it is impossible to go to the nearest computer shop and have every component fully diagnosed in just 12 minutes.

The buyer's photos clearly show the other parts which are really old and suggest that he had those parts beforehand and he had the capacity to have the PC assembled on the day of receipt, not 11 days later. What are my options considering the fact that the listing clearly stated AS IS and the possibility that the buyer could have used it for a while and damaged it?

[earlyant-77]

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@tech-x-world wrote:

My item cost high because it was unused and in addition to high monetary price, also had the value of being rare. Now the buyer returns it in used condition and my item has lost both high monetary price and the value of being rare. I am disappointed that things did not go as I had been hoping. Probably should have cancelled the order by the zero-feedback buyer and instead make explicit disclaimer that the item was intended for the collectors.

Some people sell sealed video game cartridges/discs for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. They costs so much because they are rare and even harder to find in unused condition. So anyone can just buy sealed Nintendo cartridge from a collector for $5000, use them and then return it as damaged. But the seller takes a huge hit. This is not fair.

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If it was 'open box', how do you know it wasn't used when you got it?

And if it's rare because of the board itself, it is still rare to someone who just wants to display it.

[rschissler]

Almost always, open box means a returned item.  The question is why was it returned before you tried to sell it?  Maybe, didn't work?

[terrycece62]

I understand you are angry , disappointed and feel this is unfair but bottom line what ALL other posters to your question are informing you is true
: ACCEPT REFUND REQUEST AND GET YOUR ITEM BACK OR DON'T ACCEPT EBAY WILL REFUND BUYER ANYWAY NOT REQUIRING THEM TO RETURN YOUR VALUED ITEM TO YOU.

FEEDBACK unless the feedback breaks a eBay policy --- NOT LIKELY-- Sorry

[mg152]

To your point about collectible video games, collectors do not open sealed games. They collect them so they won’t even know if they work.

[sherprincess]

Contact Ebay and have them open a Faulty Return against the buyer. I recently had to do this with a item that returned damaged because they did not return with the original hard cardboard box it came in, they just threw item in a bag and mailed..came to me smashed, took pics and customer service lady walked me through faulty return process..ended up getting my money returned back to my account. Good Luck!

[muttlymob]

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@tech-x-world wrote:

How did you see for how much it sold?

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click on your listings for sale.  then click on the "sold listings" option in the menu on the left (on desktop, anyway - don't know where the option shows up in other formats).

[mam98031]

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@eunster1313 wrote:

The return policies options are as follows.

1. No Returns
2. 14 day returns w/ buyer pays shipping
3. 30 day returns w/ buyer pays shipping
4. 60 day returns w/ buyer pays shipping
5. 14 day returns w/ seller pays shipping, AKA Free Returns
6. 30 day returns w/ seller pays shipping, AKA Free Returns
7. 60 day returns w/ seller pays shipping. AKA Free Returns

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Most categories don't allow 14 day.  But yes you are correct.  In some you can.

[mtgraves7984]

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@muttlymob wrote:

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@tech-x-world wrote:

How did you see for how much it sold?

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click on your listings for sale.  then click on the "sold listings" option in the menu on the left (on desktop, anyway - don't know where the option shows up in other formats).

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Off topic, but...

Thank you all, @muttlymob , @slippinjimmy and @tech-x-world , especially. I've often wondered, too (of the posters here...), "How did you see for how much it sold?"... but didn't dare type it out loud.

I've been here almost a decade-and-a-half, and have never  thought to use the menu on the left. Duh...

I feel a full inch taller just to be 'in the loop'.

Go and spread knowledge elsewhere!!!

[7606dennis]

No Returns does not apply if the item is not as described.  The MBG trumps any disclaimer to the contrary.  If it did not, the buyer would have grounds for a criminal complaint of false advertising, in my opinion.

[tech-x-world]

It was a display item. I know that it was never used because there were no usage signs. It  still had that fresh plastic smell that only unused electronics fresh out of factory box have.

Item Not as Described does not apply here because it was never used, therefore it was untested and I had no way of knowing that it could be defective. Even if it is actually defective, this is the manufacturer's fault, not mine, because I have never operated it and caused damage to it. If item was used and I claimed it was working while it was not, negative feedback would be deserved.

[tech-x-world]

Buyer messaged me 3 days ago and told me that his CPU was faulty and he was very sorry. I wrote to him 2 times and asked to close the return request since the issue was resolved. He won't respond and I think he will no longer log in to eBay in the near future. So, it turns out, I received the negative feedback for nothing and the money is still on hold.

[mam98031]

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@tech-x-world wrote:

Buyer messaged me 3 days ago and told me that his CPU was faulty and he was very sorry. I wrote to him 2 times and asked to close the return request since the issue was resolved. He won't respond and I think he will no longer log in to eBay in the near future. So, it turns out, I received the negative feedback for nothing and the money is still on hold.

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You should email Ebay customer service and describe your issue and your attempts to contact the buyer.  However before doing that, I would wait a few more days.  Your buyer may still return the item.  They have 10 working days to do that.  But if they have not done that on day 11, then email Ebay and try to get some help.

If you still want to email your buyer in the meantime in the hopes they will respond.  Make sure you don't over do it so that you tick them off from the amount of emails you have sent and make sure each and every email is polite and professional.

I know it is hard to wait.  But right now, at this point, Ebay isn't likely to do anything.  It is too soon.

[whiteparrot2003]

First he'll have to accept and pay for the return.  But your post is good to know in the case of a bad or fake return.  I wonder if seller's should take photos of return item boxes before opening as evidence?

[kensgiftshop]

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@tech-x-world wrote:

I recently sold the very rare old unused PC motherboard as Open Box and the description stated: "Selling AS IS with no requests for returns or refunds accepted. By purchasing this item, you agree to this condition." AS IS means that I did not guarantee it was working because it was NEVER turned on and I didn't know this.

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All that means nothing when the buyer files an INAD.

You listed it as open box, if you hadn't tested it or knew if it worked, it should have been listed for parts or repair.

[mam98031]

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@whiteparrot2003 wrote:

First he'll have to accept and pay for the return.  But your post is good to know in the case of a bad or fake return.  I wonder if seller's should take photos of return item boxes before opening as evidence?

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@whiteparrot2003 

They certainly can, but it won't matter to Ebay as they will not take that as any kind of evidence in this matter.