Without trying to give a super long story, I’m currently going thru a “sticky situation” with a buyer. They purchased multiple items, all the same type just different colors. Initially they messaged me saying the item (purchased as a gift) was not as advertised.
They mistook the design in the items for a different looking design. I cleared that up with them (by referring to the photos of my listing) which they later admitted to but weren’t happy about. But they also claimed to receive “wrong” colors that I don’t even carry, and claimed that one of the items was basically a totally different item (something I also don’t carry). They also mistook the fabric content... claimed I advertised one fabric but they ended up being another fabric. The listing doesn’t even mention fabric content at all.
I asked her if she made any other purchases, and if it’s possible she mistook me for another seller. She ended up getting upset and defensive. When she realized she made the first mistake of the design, she backhandedly apologized saying how she’s not an eBay expert like me and fell for my listing “trap”. Adding that she wasted her retirement money. I then just offered a return/full refund to help.
She continues to say how dare I call her a liar and says she knows she didn’t mistake me “...because I know. I don’t have to check my records” and I’m lucky she’s not able to send photos. Ends with telling me she’s a senior citizen but not senile as I claim her to be. I continue to ask her why can’t she send photos? Photos would definitely clear up everything. She replies saying because I keep calling her a liar and senile (which I didn’t), she’s going to have her son come and show her how to upload photos... then I’ll be sorry.
I’m not sure what is going on but I have two hunches. 1) she mistook me for another seller that she bought similar items from, or 2) since it’s a gift it’s possible the buyer never actually saw the items. But rather had some form of miscommunication with the gift receiver and jumped to the wrong conclusion (I’ve had this happen about 3-4 times before).
I know my message verbiage isn’t 100% non-offensive... because no one’s is. But I’d think that my verbiage would not offend 90-95% of buyers out there. There’s just some people that will take offense at anything. They hear words that you didn’t say just to get riled up. That’s why I asked the question in my OP... which is the lesser of the two evils?
