"For Parts or Not Working" items and Returns

[autopartsales12]

I recently sold an item as "for parts or not working." The buyer received the item and opened a return request under eBay's moneyback guarantee stating that the item was not as described. In the message with their return request, they stated that the item was broken. This seems like an open and shut case, right? Well, I responded and said that the item was listed as not working, so I would not be accepting a return in this case. They never responded, and a week and a half later I called up eBay to ask what I should do moving forward. I was told to file a complaint against the buyer for abusing the return system then contact them back 24-48 hours later. So I filed that complaint then contacted them 2 days later. They told me I can open a case or just wait for it to expire. Here's where I made a mistake, I assumed this case was so clear cut that if I opened a case, it would be decided in my favor. Well, I was wrong. I opened a case and within 10 minutes it was decided in favor of the buyer! What is going on with eBay nowadays? Why does the system even allow buyers of items listed as not working to open return requests claiming that the item is not working? Why was this decided in the buyers favor? And finally, what can I do to resolve this in my favor? 

[albertabrightalberta]

@autopartsales12 

All your sold items were sold as "used" and in the item specifics, used items must be working. 

If you want to sell a non-working item, you have to choose that option. 

[buyselljack2016]

quote from listing

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"I personally believe it is still working, it just needs the radio code that you can obtain by calling any Mercedes dealership,"

[albertabrightalberta]

Is it the "97-99 Mercedes W202 C230 SLK320 AM/FM Radio Sound Cassette Player 0038206086 OEM" because that was sold as "For parts or not working." 

[autopartsales12]

I did have it listed as "for parts or not working." It is not something I currently have listed, It already sold. 

[autopartsales12]

Yes, that's it. 

[autopartsales12]

Yep, and I was wrong. That's why I explicitly said I'm not taking the risk, and listing it as for parts anyway. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

“Here's where I made a mistake, I assumed this case was so clear cut that if I opened a case, it would be decided in my favor.”

Hi, the mistake you made came long before escalating your claim. In this case, it looks like you shot yourself in the foot. Sellers cannot hedge their bets on eBay, or say “buyer beware” and then wash one’s hands of it.

The item is either working, or not. Instead of leaving it as not working, you put a disclaimer in the description saying that in your opinion, this is a working unit. You admit it is untested and that a previous buyer returned the unit, and informed you it was not working. Yet you want to argue the point with yet another buyer who is informing you that the unit is not working.

The eBay policy about listing is that all info given must be clear and consistent, with no contradictions or disclaimers across the listing fields.

You sold a broken, untested unit with the assurance that it was likely a working radio. The description in the listing states, “This radio is in great condition,... I personally believe it is still working,”

Sorry, but this one is on you.