Would you give a refund for a sale that is 4 months old?

[jsts22]

We sold an electronic aquastat about 4 months ago. The item was second hand and we stated on the listing that the item had not been tested, we do not know if it works, and it is sold AS IS. Item sold for around $75 when a brand new one is around $220.

The buyer writes me over 4 months later and says they just now got around to installing it and it is faulty and does not work and if I would be willing to give a refund.

I feel like it was a risk they took buying an as is, untested item, and that they got it for 1/3 of the new price.

What would you do?

Give a refund (minus the shipping it cost to get there of $20) or not do anything?

At this point I would have to pay pal them money as ebay won't even let me give a refund past 90 days.

[spark-chaser1]

In my opinion, the item should probably not have been sold untested, as it is most likely to be purchased to be used. Aqua stats are not collector items or of historical significance… someone is looking for one to install that works.

In this case, the buyer should have known better than to have purchased this, first of all, and secondly- having done so, shouldn’t expect a refund so long out of date from purchase.

So no… I wouldn’t refund. Nor would I continue to sell utility items that may not work. That is just asking for a repeat of the current situation.

[chapeau-noir]

It's been so long that their only recourse is to contest the charge with their payment source. Given that, I would not refund, but I'm a bit of gambler, and if they file with their payment source, you'd end up refunding against your will anyway (and with a $20 charge on top of that) - I'd take the chance that they may drop it.

My reply would be courteous, though, just citing how long its been now, the capability for refund is no longer even in the system, and that it had been sold untested.

ETA: Agree with @spark-chaser1  for future - I'd rather sell "for parts or repair" than untested.

[jsts22]

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@spark-chaser1 wrote:

So no… I wouldn’t refund. Nor would I continue to sell utility items that may not work. That is just asking for a repeat of the current situation.

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We sell new items via our other sales channels, sometimes people return those for unknown reasons and we will try to liquidate our returns on ebay. Sometimes we buy used items in bulk and list them on ebay to get some money out of them. Both of these sort of items we have no way of testing if they are electronics or relay sort of items. All I can do is sell it for a cheap price and put in the description it has not been tested and sold as is.

I guess in the future I will try to say for parts not working if the condition is unknown

[albertabrightalberta]

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@jsts22 wrote:

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I guess in the future I will try to say for parts not working if the condition is unknown

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Just an FYI. 

Even if you sell items are "for parts/not working," it can still be returned for a refund if the buyer claims NAD within 30 days. 

[inhawaii]

Beyond 30 days I would not refund. I would take my chances that the buyer does not do a chargeback.  Good luck!

[pennysdream]

Hi, I would explain to them that it is past the time that eBay allows to issue a refund.  At this point there is really nothing that you can do to help them. (True statement)

I would not suggest that they do a charge back. 

It is not your fault that they took so long to test the item.  If they cared about the money or that it worked, they would not have waited so long to install it. 

[m60driver]

I would just tell them that a refund is no longer possible.  But if they file a chargeback I would capitulate and not contest it as you are likely to lose that dispute and an additional $20 as well.