Bought faulty item, Ebay did not let me return, Paypal did not decide in my favor

[georgephilipbirnbros]

Early June 2018 I purchased and paypalled a electronic music instrument.

Instrument arrived faulty.

I contacted seller, and asked for advise.

Seller insisted I open up the instrument and try some fixes.

So I did.

Fault still there.

I conracted seller for refund return.

Seller refused.

I tried open ebay return case but ebay system said I could not and linked me to paypal.

At paypal resolution center I filed for refund claim due to faulty item.

Seller responded that I should not have tried fix.

I was typing at paypal my reply that seller instructed me to try fix.

In the meantime I already received from paypal that they decided not in my favor.

At paypal I sent them a message with my reply to the seller and I files a complaint at paypal about their very fast decision making without my reply to the seller.

No response.

Now my question: Is there still anything I can do at ebay?

I am not in the US.

Thank you for help.

Best,

George

[georgephilipbirnbros]

UPDATE

I contacted PP on several occasions, insisting on investigating the seller's claim that buyer tried to repair the item. The item is a synthesizer keyboard.

Finally PP gave in and asked me to send them proofs of messages etc where seller instructed buyer to disassemble the unit and to try repair it. PP indiacted that the entire case may be re-opened if indeed there is evidence that seller asked buyer to modify the item.

Well, I have several ebay messages from seller where he asked to unscrew the synthesizer, to bend a key, to solder loose parts, and even to remove a circuit board. I also have proof of a message where seller approves a new lcd display that I installed to replace the failing one. But later on in the claim process he used that against me like "buyer altered item".

So I made screenshots of all these messages and bundled them in a pdf document. I sumbitted that PDF document to PP and now I am awaiting their findings.

All in all, it seems that PP does weigh the importance of forensic evidence.

Keep you posted!

[hafoster]

You should know that since PayPal did not decide in my favor already --

a refund now, if any, will come from PayPal, not from your seller.

So if your intent is to punish PayPal for the unjust decision --

then this is the way to go: We all will fund your refund.

You (maybe) will get: A courtesy refund

Your seller will get: Away

[pop-street]

Take them to court. You have all evident needed because they told you to try to fix it. Then they change the subject and said you tried to fix it. Ebay and Paypal do not see the point. If you have been sending this seller message, best take pic of screen shot and print out all conversation. And get a lawyer. I do not approve of that on how that seller handle it. I'm a seller myself and there is no way I would treat a customer like that.

[castlemagicmemories]

George, sorry this happened to you.  I know the seller told you to fix, but your answer should be, I'm sorry, I cannot do that as I would not be able to return then as it would be altered.  

Never try to fix something unless you want to keep it.  You must be able to return the item in the condition it was sent to you, to be able to get a refund.

Also, for your protection, know how Ebay Buyer Protection works.  They give you 30 days after delivery to file a case.  

[castlemagicmemories]

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@georgephilipbirnbros wrote:

Hello,

Thanks for replying, most appreciated.

The point is that ebay did not let me file the claim.

The system kept on redirecting me to paypal no matter where I clicked.

I had no other choice.

And, the seller insisted me to try fix it, then later blamed me for trying fix it.

Well, seems there are no options anymore.

Thanks for your thoughts!

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Most likely it was because it was more than thirty days after delivery.  Ebay allows thirty days after delivery to file a case; if you go past that date, you can't file with Ebay.  Sorry you didn't know not to fix it, but no business, or Ebay seller, whether  a business or an individual, will allow a return of an item that someone has altered or tried to fix.  

[castlemagicmemories]

@agent006140

An ebay rep doesn't delete these threads.  The Boards are moderated by Lithium.  You can ask the moderator to lock the thread by clicking on the three dots to the right of your original post, choose the last option, report inappropriate content, then type in the box, I am the OP and I wish to lock the thread.  Hit notify moderator at the bottom right of the box, and a mod should do that for you.

[castlemagicmemories]

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@castlemagicmemories wrote:

@agent006140

@georgephilipbirnbros

An ebay rep doesn't delete these threads.  The Boards are moderated by Lithium.  You can ask the moderator to lock the thread by clicking on the three dots to the right of your original post, choose the last option, report inappropriate content, then type in the box, I am the OP and I wish to lock the thread.  Hit notify moderator at the bottom right of the box, and a mod should do that for you.

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[georgephilipbirnbros]

My intent is not to punish PP but to get a refund from the seller. I do not know that PP is to pay for the refund in a case like this.

[georgephilipbirnbros]

I did produce screenshots of all evidence and submitted all to PP. Hopefully PP will do something decent with it. To pay for a lawyer will be costing too much for me. And the seller of course knew that.

[georgephilipbirnbros]

I know now, I have learned my lesson the hard way, I'll never give in any request to fix any item purchased ever.

[georgephilipbirnbros]

There is a 30 days window of ebay, and a 120 days of PP. And not every country can use the return/refund option at ebay, they have to go directly through PP. Ebay is not uniform worldwide as far as their "protection" is concerned. The ebay system seems a bit odd.

[thatsallfolks]

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@georgephilipbirnbros wrote:
There is a 30 days window of ebay, and a 120 days of PP. And not every country can use the return/refund option at ebay, they have to go directly through PP. Ebay is not uniform worldwide as far as their "protection" is concerned. The ebay system seems a bit odd.

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eBay protection isn't uniform worldwide because consumer protection laws aren't uniform worldwide.

[georgephilipbirnbros]

My bank allows charge back only within a window of 30 days, so that's overdue.

I am willing to pay for the return shipping costs, which I already told to both the seller and to PP. I never intended to keep the item and the refund, I am not like that. Moreover, a faulty item is of no use and takes up space I pay rent for. Besides, faulty items cause bad feng-shui.

I have packed the item in a flight case style box, ready to ship. I am even willing to accept a partial refund. It is not about money, it is about justice and karma.

[missjen831]

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@georgephilipbirnbros wrote:
There is a 30 days window of ebay, and a 120 days of PP. And not every country can use the return/refund option at ebay, they have to go directly through PP. Ebay is not uniform worldwide as far as their "protection" is concerned. The ebay system seems a bit odd.

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Paypals window is actually 180 days. 

[castlemagicmemories]

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@georgephilipbirnbros wrote:
I know now, I have learned my lesson the hard way, I'll never give in any request to fix any item purchased ever.

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I understand.  I make my own determination if I can fix it or not, knowing that if I decide to do so, I have decided to keep it.  I've had sellers ask me to try to do this or that, and I just tell them, I'm sorry, I can't do that as I would not be able to return the item then, having altered it, and I open a case as necessary.