eBay woes

page23

Dear collective,

So, I buy a used bike off eBay for £435 + £25 postage. The guy delivers to me in person. Fine. Prior to this I had asked him what size the bike was (the detail was not listed in the description) and he sends a message saying he thinks it's a small. Great, that's the size I was after.

Anyway, shortly after he's left, I check the measurements of the bike and cross reference this to the manufacturer’s website and it turns out to be a medium. So, I mail the guy and tell him his mistake and that I wish to return it.

He's happy for me to return it and will try to collect himself. He goes on to say that he will need to charge me the PayPal costs, eBay fees and of course the original and additional delivery charge. He implies that by stating in his message he thought it was a small then that some how covers him... I point out to him that he should have measured the bike etc., if he was unsure, to avoid such a situation.

He's offered me £400 refund which leaves me £60 lighter. I'm fuming to say the least. So, does anyone have any experience and advice regarding this type of issue? I don't find the eBay online advice very helpful. Should I keep the bike and sell it on?

Any help much appreciated.

Mark Bom

I'm not sure what defines a 'small' or 'medium' frame?

Personally, I'd have asked for specific measurements so I knew exactly what I was getting as to me 'small' could mean anything in terms of top tube length etc.

I don't think you can blame the seller if you were happy with a vague description, albeit it is frustrating for you.

I'd go with the option of least hassle for yourself, no point getting stressed over these things.

amaferanga

Didn't you at least have a brief ride round the block on the bike when the guy delivered it? Doesn't matter then if he called it a small or not as you'd have known if it fit you.

As for the eBay fees - don't these get refunded if a transaction is cancelled? I sold some concert tickets earlier this year that went missing in the post so the buyer never got them. I refunded the buyer and got a refund of eBay fees.

OffTheBackAdam

I think your last statement, sell it on, is the way to go.
You should have asked for specific measurements of the frame, if you're 5'6" & he's 6'6", then what looks like a small frame to him, might not be for you.
His eBay & Paypal fees would be refunded, if the transaction is cancelled & money refunded.

mossychops

How did you pay? If you paid with Paypal raising a dispute usually sides on sticking it to the seller and just refunding your money.

You should have got better information on the sizing if he only said he "thinks" its small, but like I said ebay seem to go out of their way to screw sellers.

Maybe appealing to his better nature and politely pointing out that you'd rather not raise an ebay dispute and he would get his fees back anyway if the auction was cancelled.

giant_man

You should have made sure it was the right size before purchase, I can't see how the seller is to blame. He's probably charging you a little cos you mucked him about and wanted a refund, who knows ..... risky business, e-bay ....

page23

In hindsight I should've asked for specific measurements. However, in defence of this, I've found in the past that a lot of people don't know how to measure bikes correctly. One could argue that this could cause more confusion than a simple question regarding gross frame size. I should point out that this guy was not your typical bike obsessive.

MaxwellBygraves

Page23 wrote:

. I should point out that this guy was not your typical bike obsessive.

Then you should've been particularly wary of buying off him...

page23

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

Page23 wrote:

. I should point out that this guy was not your typical bike obsessive.

Then you should've been particularly wary of buying off him...

Funny enough, I hadn't met him face-to-face before buying it.

MaxwellBygraves

Page23 wrote:

MaxwellBygraves wrote:

Page23 wrote:

. I should point out that this guy was not your typical bike obsessive.

Then you should've been particularly wary of buying off him...

Funny enough, I hadn't met him face-to-face before buying it.

Appreciate that, but you have to be careful when buying online. Usually a few questions to the seller and you can tell a general level of experience.

Smokin Joe

Page23 wrote:

In hindsight I should've asked for specific measurements. However, in defence of this, I've found in the past that a lot of people don't know how to measure bikes correctly. One could argue that this could cause more confusion than a simple question regarding gross frame size. I should point out that this guy was not your typical bike obsessive.

If someone doesn't know how to measure the bike they are selling the answer is simple, walk away and look somewhere else.

You wouldn't buy a suit from ebay if the seller said he "Thinks it's small", why do just that with a bike?

page23

Thanks to those that offered advice.

To those of you that clearly have a chip on your shoulder and enjoy berrating people then i'd say; why bother to take the time to write such things?

The question was about what to do; not what i should've done. Hindisght is always a wonderful thing. Although i'm sure the pedants would disagree.

agent_buchwald

I'd sell it on - as far as it looks the seller hasn't mis-represented anything. Do a really good advert with loads of pictures and description and a good title and you'll probably get more for it than you paid - you'll have to pay fees but that's life and it was probably worth the gamble.

amaferanga

Don't see the point in selling it on unless you can get more for it than you paid to cover eBay/Paypal fees. And I doubt you'd get more for it selling it here on the forum.

bagpusscp

Page23 wrote:

Thanks to those that offered advice.

To those of you that clearly have a chip on your shoulder and enjoy berrating people then i'd say; why bother to take the time to write such things?

The question was about what to do; not what i should've done. Hindisght is always a wonderful thing. Although i'm sure the pedants would disagree.

Love it.
I have an A level in it.{hind sight}

Though it think some of us here are fed up with how e bay treats private sellers me included. I still work on the old rule for second hand goods "buyer beware"

Gizmodo

If you can afford to, keep it until closer to Christmas and put it on eBay - you might well get more for it.

jim453

Is the bike too big for you or not?

I'm assuming you sat on it when the seller came round to deliver it to your house. The size it has stamped on it is totally irrelevant.

I actually think it is you who is being unreasonable. Guy brings the goods round to your house for you to inspect before purchase after only telling you that he thinks it's a small. Now it's his fault you bought something you didn't want?

There was once an almost identical thread on here posted by a member called steelem. It turned out to be perhaps the funniest thread I've ever seen on these pages. He was being totally ridiculous too, and he couldn't see it. You aren't steelem are you?

lone wheeler

Sounds like the blind leading the blind!

Bloke goes to the trouble of delivering the bike in person, did you not think to measure it yourself or at least sit on it before paying for it and letting him leave?!

Sorry, I think it's your fault and not the sellers. Sounds like buyers remorse to me. You are lucky that the seller is even replying to you, never mind offering a solution.

wakou

Sorry Page23, but I am going to agree with most respondents here. You did not ask for dimensions, you got a vague reply....
"Caveat Emptor" applies here surely ...?
Now, YOU know a bit about bikes, even if the vendor did not, so give it a fettle up, measure it and sell it on. There is at least one person (the under-bidder) out there who is happy to pay (nearly) as much as you did, so you have not bought a lemon, just something not quite ideal for you personally....
HTH and good luck.

page23

Well, i opened up a dispute and it was found in my favour. bike being returned with full refund and at cost to the seller.

I actually posted the same thread on an entirely different website and the replies were so much more supportive and in my favour than the ones found on here. Thank christ i didn't listen to you guys! lol

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php? ... 1#x6563851

tonye_n

Still think the guys on here were right though.
You should have ensured that the bike was specified as the correct size for you prior to shelling out.... Especially as you had the chance to do so when the seller delivered in person.

I for one am stunned that they found in your favour... but it just goes to show that it is not ALWAYS a sellers market on fleeBay these days. Quite heartening actually.

bompington

I've just been notified that a buyer has raised a complaint against me for item not delivered - currently it's six working days since the purchase and the ad clearly states "estimated delivery 6-8 working days". And it was actually posted on Monday, post a bit slow then but not unreasonably so.
In fact the complaints system is actually weighted heavily in favour of the buyer, when you add in the paypal charges (10% and that includes what you charge for p&p) it's hardly a seller's market on ebay.

lone wheeler

So, you wanted to buy a bike from a seller that wasn't exactly sure of the size. he then delivers the bike to you, and you still have not got the sense to measure it yourself or to try it when he is with you before paying for it.

Did he hold a gun to your head or do you not know what size bike you need?

To be honest, i think that YOU are whats wrong with ebay, a genuine seller sells a bike, & delivers it to a buyer that afterwards changes his mind. Absolute joke. In fact, if i ever live in the UK again and decide to use ebay to sell any thing please let me and others on here what your ebay name is so that we can either block you or at least avoid you.

peter101cycle

Page23 wrote:

Well, i opened up a dispute and it was found in my favour. bike being returned with full refund and at cost to the seller.

I actually posted the same thread on an entirely different website and the replies were so much more supportive and in my favour than the ones found on here. Thank christ i didn't listen to you guys! lol

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php? ... 1#x6563851

Good on you....sorry have only just read this thread and what a load of plank responses you got. On eBay, it is the responsibility on the seller to be accurate in their description otherwise, especially if you pay with PayPal, they will almost always side with the buyer.

Seller was not accurate,tried to be a cheeky git in giving a partial refund and will probably get negative feedback as well. Good!

But, you were wrong to not check the item thoroughly when it was delivered.

peter101cycle

OffTheBackAdam wrote:

I think your last statement, sell it on, is the way to go.
You should have asked for specific measurements of the frame, if you're 5'6" & he's 6'6", then what looks like a small frame to him, might not be for you.
His eBay & Paypal fees would be refunded, if the transaction is cancelled & money refunded.

I think you will find as he was responsible for the miss selling, he will lose his ebay selling charges but get refunded the valuation fee.

jim453

Unbelievable.

peter101cycle

jim453 wrote:

Unbelievable.

Nope its true honestly