Should I request a refund?

[olbier0]

Hey everyone,

I bought an item a few weeks ago. This is a fly fishing reel made by Lamson. This is the original listing page.

The item was sold as brand new, which would mean it should come with the original box and should be in mint condition. However, this was not the case. The reel works fine but there are a few issues:

1) No box

2) The seller applied WD-40 to the inside.

3) Slight imperfections in the finish on the back.

So now I'm not sure what to do. On the one hand, the reel works fine and the problems are not huge. On the other hand, I was expecting an actual new product in the box. It seems pretty obvious that I am eligible for a money back guarantee refund. So now I have 3 questions:

1) Should I request a refund and is it worth the hassle?

2) If #2 is a no, should I get a partial refund instead?

3) If I request a complete refund, will the seller be obligated to refund shipping and customs fees? I am in Canada and the seller is in the USA.

Thanks.

[dbmm-media]

perhaps you can message the seller, tell him / her that the "new" fly fishing reel is not new. ask them how they would like to proceed. 

[disneyshopper]

My ebay > Purchase history > More actions > Return this item

Depending on the reason, determines who pays return shipping. For an item not as described the seller pays return shipping. A prepaid shipping label is provided. Print out the label, affix it to the package, take it to the post office. Have the clerk SCAN the label. When the package shows DELIVERED back to the seller, the seller has 2 business days to refund you. If no refund, you click the link to Ask ebay to step in to force the refund.

Since the seller is located in the USA, he cannot supply a prepaid shipping label good in Canada, so will have to send you a Paypal payment to cover return shipping.  Your decision as to whether to return the item or ask for a partial refund.

[pjcdn2005 · Accepted solution]

It looks like the reel was shipped through the global shipping program. If you return an item and you filed a return request through eBay because the item was not as described  you would receive your import fees and international shipping charges back from the gsp and the seller would have to refund you for the reel. The gsp only refund the fees and international shipping charges only if an item isn't received or if it isn't as described. If you were returning it because you didn't like the weight of it, changed your mind etc., then those fees wouldn't be refunded.    Just mentioning that in case you make another purchase through the gsp.

It really is up to you whether or not you return it. I realize that ebay stipulates that 'new' should include the original packaging however as a seller I know that I often don't receive the original packaging when I buy something to resell so it wouldn't be an issue for me, but I can understand why you expected it.  Slight imperfections are also possible with a  new items but should be mentioned in the description.  The WD40...not sure what to say about that...not something I would have expected.

I think that it would be a good idea to contact your seller and voice your concerns to see what they suggest.  I don't think that it is a good idea for you to suggest a partial refund as some sellers will view that as a 'scam' but it's possible that the seller will mention it on their own. It's also possible that they will think they have no responsibility because it was sent with the gsp. But unless the item was damaged  while being shipped by the gsp, the seller is still responsible for a not as described claim.

[juststuffisell]

Whew... that is an expensive reel. Poor seller.... 😞

A box was not advertised in the listing or in the photograph. I know what you are inferring and don't disagree, just pointing that out. Not sure why you would need the box anyway if you plan on using it. I don't fly fish, and don't sell new inventory so have no idea how these things come 🙂

If you like the item, and you feel like you got a super deal, then...contact the seller as noted and try and work things out. Otherwise, you do have the not as described option. Don't let this linger. Get it done as the seller needs to know there is an issue and you do have time limits on eBay.

Cheers

[olbier0]

If it was just the box I wouldn't really mind too much. But the fact that it was listed as "brand new" and has some cosmetic damage/flaws and was then "modified" with WD-40...that's a problem. The manufacturer advises against using WD-40 or silicone oil inside the reel so I don't know what the seller was thinking. Anyway thanks for your help. I will contact them ASAP.

[olbier0]

Very helpful thanks. It's good to know that the GSP covers the return shipping and import fees. I will contact the seller and see what they have to say.

[pjcdn2005]

Sorry, the gsp  doesn’t cover the return shipping, the seller has to pay for return shipping if an item is not as described.  The gsp would refund the amount that they were originally paid which would be import fees and the international portion of the original shipping.

[orangehound]

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@olbier0 wrote:

... and was then "modified" with WD-40...that's a problem. The manufacturer advises against using WD-40 or silicone oil inside the reel so I don't know what the seller was thinking.

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This would concern me the most.  WD-40 might work temporarily, but it has a tendency to gunk up over time and the only solution is to disassemble and thoroughly clean.

I would not want a reel that had WD-40 sprayed into it.