Sold as parts/not working, buyer complaining about condition

[trisnpod11]

Recently sold a bike part I got from work (dropper seat post) as for parts not working, however I listed it as unused (only been installed), faulty from supplier as that is exactly as I believed it to be. 

Buyer is now complaining that it has dirt inside the mechanism so must be used and I’m unsure what to offer him. If it has been used it definitely hasn’t been used much at all as it’s in such good external cosmetic condition.

At the moment I’m thinking of offering a refund of item and original shipping if he pays return shipping as it is still very close to the described condition, and given it’s a parts/not working item, light use shouldn’t make much if any difference to its value. However I did make a mistake in the listing, hence my offer to refund original shipping. 

Does this sound fair?

listing: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F133269151609

[albany_sellers]

When you are listing for parts, it's best not to speculate on what is wrong with something. The less you say the better when it comes to Parts/Repair.

[kensgiftshop]

What you do right now, depends on if buyer has filed an INAD yet.

If they have, accept the return and provide return shipping or just refund and let them keep the item.

[chapeau-noir]

Being someone who would actually install and use a part like that, and who has sold a lot of bike parts, I think the listing was very descriptive and I see nothing wrong with it - save that the dirt (which would indicate use) was not described.  I've cleaned and listed a lot of bike parts and there's no other way to get dirt into them without use.  So I agree that this is the sticking point (so to speak).  Even if there is no dirt and the buyer simply didn't read the description, if they file an INAD, you'll have to take back the part, refund everything and then relist either cleaned or with the use pattern.  A third option beyond the one you mentioned is simply a partial refund (refund original shipping, say), and buyer keep the part.

[nkmipgolf]

You're a good man, I would have sent him a rag to clean it.

[chapeau-noir]

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@nkmipgolf wrote:

You're a good man, I would have sent him a rag to clean it.

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No kidding.  Buuuuuttt...this is eBay.  OTOH, the buyer may decide 'eh', I'm bothering myself over nothing and drop it. I mean, it's a fixer part, anyway. 

[luckythewinner]

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@trisnpod11 wrote:

I listed it as unused (only been installed), faulty from supplier as that is exactly as I believed it to be. 

{snip}

If it has been used it definitely hasn’t been used much at all as it’s in such good external cosmetic condition.

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IMHO "unused" is not something you believe about an item, it is something that you know about an item.