Seller responsibility question.

[guitar0633]

I have a question about seller ethics.

If I post a photo of my item, and an important accessory is missing from this item, should I mention the missing accessory?  If I don't mention it, is it considered proper selling courtesy to mention in the listing that only what is in the pictures will be in the package?

Is a buyer being reasonable if they return an item if I didn't do the (Only what is in the photos is what is included in the sale.  If it isn't in the pics then it won't be in the package)?

Let's say I sold a camera lens.  Every lens comes with a cap to protect the glass, so I admit that is an important, attachable accessory.  But the pic of the lens didn't show the cap, BUT, the listing did not mention it missing nor did it say that whatever is in the photos is only what will be in the package. 

So is the buyer reasonable in returning the item if the listing failed to at least state the photo statement?

[coolections]

No, the buyer was not unethical. If a cap normally comes with the lens then it is the seller's responsibility to inform any potential buyer that there is no lens. This scenario you mention is the EXACT reason why Ebay allows returns. Especially  auction sellers who are the worse offenders. They use this copout by telling the buyer it is their fault for bidding so high.

[trustedbasset]

It’s hard to say. My thought would be if the item you are selling can be used without the part then I would say it is buyers responsibility to ask the seller if it isn’t shown. 
If the item does not work well without the part then the seller needs to list it as parts and list it as missing a part.

Nothing is ever black and white so to cover all bases, draw attention with a statement that said piece is missing even though it works perfectly fine without it.

[myboardid]

Thanks for clarifying the situation.  Your seller is in the wrong, IMO, and your buyer had a perfect right to expect a normal part of the camera to be included.  The buyer was not unethical. 

There are plenty of unethical buyers and sellers here, but hopefully more of each who are ethical in their dealings. 

Your seller, BTW, was not unethical, but did make a mistake in not including the appropriate information.

[gracieallen01]

Beware!  Personal opinion to follow.

Every person, buyer or seller, is going to have their own definition of 'ethics'.  What is believed by one to be ethically reasonable or correct is absurd for another.  It will also depend on what one wishes to accomplish, as ethics change with needs and/or desires.  One must remember that one is dealing with 'people'.

If one is going to sell something on ebay, or any place else, one should put in the description and photos exactly what is being sold, as well as what may normally be a part of the item and that is not being sold/included.  It has nothing to do with ethics.  It is about covering your backside.  Remember, you are dealing with 'people'.  All people, be it buyer or seller, have their own agenda.

(personal opinion - your mileage may vary)

[lamber9347]

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@guitar0633 wrote:

Let me clear some stuff up about this situation.

I already know Ebay supports buyers more than seller many times.  This question isn't about what Ebay will or won't do.  It is ONLY about whether the buyer who returned the unit acted unethically in doing so.

Let's say I know both the seller and buyer.  I am friends with both but they don't know each other.

Now.  The buyer says he wasn't even upset that the seller didn't actually say in words in the description that no lens cap was included.  He says that had the seller only done the basic courtesy of just saying that "whatever is in the pics is what will be included, NOTHING ELSE" that he would not have bid on the lens because the cap was not included in the pics, so he says he would have then known for sure that no cap was with it and would not have bid at all.

The seller says "Hey, it wasn't in the pic, so you should have ASSUMED that only what was in the pic would be in the sale and I shouldn't have had to mention that whatever was in the pic is the only thing that will be in the package.  He says the buyer acted unethically for the return, and the buyer says the seller didn't have to actually say the cap was missing, but that the seller should have at the very least mentioned that what was in the pic was only what would be in the package.  He says had that simple statement been added he would not have bid.

The seller says that is NOT an Ebay rule that the statement HAS to be made.

We know Ebay awards the return, the seller gave the return with no dispute or even a message back, return was immediate.

So

DID the buyer act unethically by asking for the return.  Or did the seller do everything that should be reasonably expected of him by the buyer?

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Thanks for the clarification. I disagree with most so thought I'd post my reply. I do completely agree in that the seller should always point out every detail in a listing and should have said what is in the photo is what you are receiving. I don't feel either of these two were "unethical", that's too strong a word, but I'm swayed more in one direction. 

For your scenario I feel that the buyer was incorrect. Reason is the buyer says he wouldn't have bid had he known the lens cap wasn't included, yet he acknowledges that he could see there was no lens cap in the photo. That's why I feel he was incorrect to expect something that wasn't in the photo and wasn't mentioned anywhere. He is acknowledging that he knew this yet still chose to bid and only afterwards says he would not have bid had he known.  In your scenario the photo only showed a lens with no cap. If the cap was such a make or break for the buyer and it wasn't shown in the photo, then why didn't he ask the seller first before bidding? There has to be some responsibility on the buyer's side- again in your scenario. 

[fern*wood]

I personally don't like the vague statements of look at the photos--you only get what you see.  Regardless of the wording, many of us are poor photographers and I don't think that should be a get out of jail free card.    I always try to point out missing items that are normally included, but mistakes are made.   I kick myself, try to gracefully accept the return, and pledge to do better going forward. 

[reallyhardtofind]

Anything sold online should be 100% described even it may only seem tiny to you. You're the eyes for the buyer. Terrible sellers like this give the online market place a bad reputation. Next to terrible packing and customer service. 

[*madison]

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@guitar0633 wrote:
But did the buyer act unethically in requesting the return?

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No.

[southern*sweet*tea]

::general reply::

This is just my opinion, take it for what it's worth.

For a vintage or pre-owned item, the only thing a buyer should expect is what's shown in the photo and what's mentioned in the title, description and item specifics.  Period. They should not expect what may or may not have been in the package 50+ years ago when the item was new.

For a new, unopened item they should expect exactly what they would get if they walked into a store and purchased it off the store shelf. Same for a new, open box item.