Should I tell the buyer?

[autopartspuller]

I received a return request today.  The buyer claimed that I sent him the wrong part.  Not that I sent them something different than what they ordered but rather, the item was described wrong because it didnt fit the car.  Then proceeded to tell me what I should have sent (in a bit of a snotty manner).

The part definitely should have fit his car.  Not only does the part number match his car make/model but, it actually came out of a car from the same year/make/model.  So, I responded nicely, like I always do and told them I would certainly take the return.  I then informed him that they stopped putting the part they said they wanted in the GM models in 1982 and also explained the very basic difference between the two the difference between the two.

So.. to my question.  After I sent the response and accepted the return, I got nosy.  I find that on the same day they purchased a part from another seller, with 22 feedback, that my part would have bolted onto.  This seller DEFINITELY mislabeled their part.  It should bolt onto his car but, it will NEVER work. 

So should I tell the Buyer?  They were already a little snotty with me and I dont want them thinking I am stalking them.  My husband says no.  That I already did my part, in a very nice manner and was clear that I would help if needed.  I feel like they are going to have one heck of a mess on their hands if they try to put it together as is and want to stop them before it gets there.  Thoughts?

[southern*sweet*tea]

Ten years ago I would have said to definitely let the buyer know.

Nowadays, I think I'd just mind my own business. Frankly there are a lot of unhinged folks out there that I'd rather not rile up.

When you think about that, it's pretty sad.

[fashunu4eeuh]

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@autopartspuller wrote:

I received a return request today.  The buyer claimed that I sent him the wrong part.  Not that I sent them something different than what they ordered but rather, the item was described wrong because it didnt fit the car.  Then proceeded to tell me what I should have sent (in a bit of a snotty manner).

The part definitely should have fit his car.  Not only does the part number match his car make/model but, it actually came out of a car from the same year/make/model.  So, I responded nicely, like I always do and told them I would certainly take the return.  I then informed him that they stopped putting the part they said they wanted in the GM models in 1982 and also explained the very basic difference between the two the difference between the two.

So.. to my question.  After I sent the response and accepted the return, I got nosy.  I find that on the same day they purchased a part from another seller, with 22 feedback, that my part would have bolted onto.  This seller DEFINITELY mislabeled their part.  It should bolt onto his car but, it will NEVER work. 

So should I tell the Buyer?  They were already a little snotty with me and I dont want them thinking I am stalking them.  My husband says no.  That I already did my part, in a very nice manner and was clear that I would help if needed.  I feel like they are going to have one heck of a mess on their hands if they try to put it together as is and want to stop them before it gets there.  Thoughts?

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Hi, your husband probably is right, since no good deed goes unpunished. However, if it were me, I'd likely want to contact the buyer and ask if they are certain it was your part that didn't fit, as you noticed they purchased a mislabeled part from another vendor on the same day.

Very sorry they were less than cordial to you, so unnecessary. 

[fern*wood]

I wouldn't go near that.  They already made it clear they think they know more than you and you sent a wrong part, so they won't believe you.   Plus, if you say something and they find out you are correct, it will probably just anger them more.  I would stay low and hope to get your part back in good saleable condition.

[mr_lincoln]

@autopartspuller   Sure, you seem knowledgeable enough to try and help the Buyer ... let them know they can still process the return without any issue from you but if they plan to get the same part from someone else they will also need to get the correct part that the other Seller mislabeled and that you are available for additional questions on their repair should they have any ... if you can find the correct "other" part you could also point them to it (eBay item number).

[clearsphere]

Don't forget to block them when they try to buy it again from you in the future

[privacy60]

my vote is no ABSOLUTELY NOT

[tonf-21 · Accepted solution]

I sell parts...

I get returns from buyers who aren't as think as they smart ALL... The... Time...

With parts that I am selling more than one of I will eventually or in some sort of order build an instruction sheet, sometimes a video on Youtube, other times a step-by-step... I may send them that IF I think it may stop the return from going through and/or IF I think it might help that buyer.

There are things I know, in most cases the parts I sell I've installed myself, most often more than once and I'm usually pretty familiar with the machine, the part, and the process... 

Sometimes it works, maybe about half the time.

Other times I get the return anyway, and on occasion I have one goes OFF on me.

If that happens I have to keep quiet.

It's not easy, I've had to learn this skill over time.

SO...

As to your question, I would probably heed your husband's advice.

[automotivepartsrecyclrs]

50/50 chance you might not get back the part you sent to the buyer. If they bought the same from another seller and or just send you back their part they replaced.

Good idea to invest in Sharpies or paint pens of different colors to mark each part prior to shipping.

[autopartspuller]

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@mr_lincoln wrote:

@autopartspuller   Sure, you seem knowledgeable enough to try and help the Buyer ... let them know they can still process the return without any issue from you but if they plan to get the same part from someone else they will also need to get the correct part that the other Seller mislabeled and that you are available for additional questions on their repair should they have any ... if you can find the correct "other" part you could also point them to it (eBay item number).

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I am positive that some of this stems from the fact that the part they need (the one that the other buyer said was good for their car) is a hard to find part.  For the correct part there only two others up right now and both are "for parts".  It goes bad frequently.  I sell them almost as soon as I get a good one in.

[autopartspuller]

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@tonf-21 wrote:

I sell parts...

I get returns from buyers who aren't as think as they smart ALL... The... Time...

With parts that I am selling more than one of I will eventually or in some sort of order build an instruction sheet, sometimes a video on Youtube, other times a step-by-step... I may send them that IF I think it may stop the return from going through and/or IF I think it might help that buyer.

There are things I know, in most cases the parts I sell I've installed myself, most often more than once and I'm usually pretty familiar with the machine, the part, and the process... 

Sometimes it works, maybe about half the time.

Other times I get the return anyway, and on occasion I have one goes OFF on me.

If that happens I have to keep quiet.

It's not easy, I've had to learn this skill over time.

SO...

As to your question, I would probably heed your husband's advice.

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Well I sold him a smog pump pulley: 3 bolt that works with a serpentine belt.  He thinks he needs a 4 bolt pulley, because he bought a smog pump that requires a four bolt pulley.  The 4 bolt pulley fits a v belt system.  the 1984 Crossfire and the following TPI has a serpentine belt.  He purchased a smog pump that that was described for his car but, is only good to 1982.

In my return response, explained in my message that GM stopped putting the 4 bolt pulley in Corvettes after 1982 and I mentioned that a four bolt pulley is a V-belt system.

After reading everyone's responses, I am going to heed my husbands advice.  If the person really knows anything about cars, some of this should make sense.  Plus if you look up the part number of the pulley (which was in my title) it clearly tells you what years it's good for.  So, if they cant manage to at least take a second to review the info I gave them, then it's not likely that explaining that the other seller had the wrong info in the listing will do any good.

If they respond back to my return message, I will follow up with the extra information.  Otherwise, I will assume "they know best", take the return and go about my day.

[clearsphere]

In my return response, explained in my message that GM stopped putting the 4 bolt pulley in Corvettes after 1982 and I mentioned that a four bolt pulley is a V-belt system. Sounds like you've done all you can.

[gracieallen01]

I think I would let it go.  It is probably going to take someone that they think knows almost as much as they do, to actually look at, and handle, the parts and tell them what's wrong.  It sounds like a person who is never wrong and when they are, it is someone else's fault.  I don't foresee a happy ending in their future.