geowishart
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posted on April 20, 2001 10:10:21 AM new
I Listed a Dell docking station for a CP1 Latitude laptop computer last week. I noticed that they were going for around $60.00 to $70.00. A lady emailed me and asked if I could measure The distance from the left edge of the port that mates to the computer right edge and so on. She has a Dell Inspiron 4000 and Dell said that She needed a docking station specifically designed for Her computer.
In my listing I showed two clear pictures of the ports. I also stated that it was tested and in great working condition. Which it was. Well I was surprised when She was the winning bidder at $96.00. I packaged it with lots of bubble wrap and in a over size box . She emailed me yesterday and said that the port was bent and could not use it. I emailed Her back and asked if She bent it by forcing it to mate up.
(Now comes the fishy part.) She claimes that Her husband has a CP1 Latitude and only tried it with that computer! I would not have a problem sending her money back, but I get back a broken docking station that I can’t resell and a big neg. on top of that. Buyer is demanding that I send payment before shipping the dockstation back to me. It this fair? What should I do? My item was in perfect working condition when I shipped. Now it looks like I will get back a damaged product .
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minx47
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posted on April 20, 2001 10:25:34 AM new
Unfortunately its hard to tell if she is legit or not......I would be very leary of a "switcheroo"....having had this attempt made on my stuff a few times in the past 4 years. At any rate......ABSOLUTELY DO NOT, refund the money without the merchandise back. You mentioned that you had clear pictures of the item....does it show if anything was bent or not? Either way, please don't refund without the item. This subject has been brought up on this board many times and the advice is always to get the item back first. These people would not be able to walk into Walmart or Kmart and demand their money back without the item in hand and neither should you. You are a "business" too. And if the item in the picture does not show damage.....I would tell her politely and non emotionally that it does not show in the picture. That worked for me twice......once they realized that I kept my listing pics that was the end of it...I don't have any negs but I know that sooner or later its a possiblity and I refuse to be afraid of it.....Don't let her scare you with that......if it happens...respond to it as to the reason and go on.......Good Luck!!
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spazmodeus
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posted on April 20, 2001 10:25:44 AM new
Take the negative and don't give the money back. This is a no-win situation for you -- you're still going to get a negative even if you refund the money, so you may as well minimize your damages right now.
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gs4
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posted on April 20, 2001 10:28:03 AM new
No refund. Sounds like they tried to force it. If you take it back, all you will have is a boat anchor. If they neg you , just say item was in working order when you shipped it.
Hope you did not leave feedback yet. No point in you taking the loss for something they did.
customer service yes
customer abuse no
Be firm, but polite.
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geowishart
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posted on April 20, 2001 10:36:20 AM new
Thanks. I feel better all ready. She got 65 pos. and 1 neg. I got 9 pos. one more and I would have a yellow star?
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redskinfan
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posted on April 20, 2001 10:43:19 AM new
geo,
Do NOT refund the money. If you have pics of the item you can show that it wasn't damaged. If she damaged it that's her own fault. You'll get a neg either way. You'll get your yellow star some other time.
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jmjones6061
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posted on April 20, 2001 11:01:10 AM new
plus with a feedback of only nine - you could discard the id and start with a new one....
Jane
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countryhorse
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posted on April 20, 2001 12:47:49 PM new
I definitely would NOT refund. It is too fishy...If you get a negative, just respond to it in your feedback...be polite & professional. One negative won't mean anything to anyone - you have enough GOOD transactions to show you are okay.
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gravid
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posted on April 20, 2001 01:24:41 PM new
Wasn't it insured? Gotta do that. For your protection not theirs. This stuff is too easy to destroy. If you were sending cast iron skillets it would be diff.
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geowishart
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posted on April 20, 2001 02:04:57 PM new
Yes it was insured. I payed for most of the postage and insurance myself. I think the package would have to be lost or damaged to collect. I called Dell today and was told the same thing. It won't work and she could to damage to both the laptop and the docking station. That is if you could force them to gether. If She sends to me. The other fishy thing is if Her husband does Have a Latude. and She has a Inspiron, They why would She not compair the docking port and see there not the same. Why did she ask me to measure the size and distance.
It's a stand off right now. Even if She me back the Station. I am going to send it right back to Her
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quickdraw29
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posted on April 20, 2001 02:06:04 PM new
Sounds to me she is pulling a switch-a-roo. You'll get back her husbands broken CP1, and she's trying to play it safe by getting the money back first because you will look at it and say no way is this the same one you sent out (maybe some wear, dust or other signs of use).
To save a negative, offer her $10 off her next purchase from you. They never go for it and they feel you have given it an honest try resolving the situation.
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capotasto
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posted on April 20, 2001 02:13:22 PM new
"If you were sending cast iron skillets it would be diff."
Careful, cast iron is easy to break if you drop it!
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smw
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posted on April 20, 2001 02:19:39 PM new
Did the Docking whatever have a serial number on it? If so do you still have it? This could tell you if it is the same part.
But on the other hand I agree with Spaz. This is a no win situation. I would refuse to refund. If there was a neg I would bag the user name and get another too.
Actually why no register a second user name now so the 30 day shades clock will be ticking while you are negotiating with this buyer ?
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flynn
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posted on April 20, 2001 02:22:44 PM new
"If you were sending cast iron skillets it would be diff."
I learned the hardway on that about 8 years ago! Cast iron is just as brittle as glass when it's dropped.
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mikeselis
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posted on April 20, 2001 02:27:44 PM new
It is my personal understanding that whenever you buy anything used you should assume that it doesn't work. Of all the computer items I have bought, the seller had a DOA clause. Otherwise I wouldn't buy, and if you didn't put a DOA clause then once it leaves your hands that is it. Since it was insured, let the shipping company investigate the "damages" because you can say that it must have been damaged in transit.
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katzname
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posted on April 20, 2001 02:59:54 PM new
I have a feedback over 500 ~ 2 neg and 1 neutral. In the beginning I let a few people take advantage of me because I was new and very scared of a neg feedback.
When I got my first neg ~ I let it upset me for two days ~ it was so undeserved.
On my second one ~ the person claimed that a huge little tikes toy had arrived filthy ~ and they wanted me to give them $20.00 back for cleaning it. Well ~ I had cleaned the thing with bleach and a preasure washer myself and wiped it again with 409 ~ my standard practice ~ and I knew it was spotless when it was shipped ~ and I had verified that the shipment was not damaged in shipping.
I told them I would be happy to refund the purchase price($60.00) if they returned it ~ but I would not pay the return shipping or refund the first shipping. I also refused to pay a cleaning fee ~ that was my second neg.
Many on these board would say that it would have been better to give them $ 20.00 then get the neg ~ I wear the second neg as a badge that says I will stand up for myself.
There have been 2 other times when the people have emailed me that something did not work when it got there ~ once I just refunded the money and went on with my life and the other time, I sent another of the same item. One of these guys was nice and the other not so nice ~ but neither threatened neg feedback.
Just yesterday someone emailed me with a problem............and ended the mail by threatening neg feedback at the end. The problem was easily resolved by giving them additional instruction on putting the item together ~ (but they believed the item was broken because they could not put it together). I emailed them back with the instructions to fix their problem and told them that I would also be glad to refund their purchase price ~ (I have sold many of these and never had to give additional instructions before) ~ and very nicely told them that they should give me whatever feedback they felt right about.....and then added that I did not allow the threat of neg feedback to influence me. ~ It just burned me up! I know it would have been better left unsaid ~ but it felt good to say it.
They emailed me back...........they will keep the item ~ it has been put together now....they consider the matter closed.....whatever that means.......no neg yet..........but I won't leave them feedback either...........
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sulyn1950
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posted on April 20, 2001 04:27:08 PM new
You said it was insured. In that case, just notify her that she will have to make a claim on the insurance for damage occuring during shipping, since you know for a fact it was not damaged when you put it in the mail. Tell her to be sure and take the box and all the packing material to her local PO so they may exam it and then start the claim. The PO will notify you and you can complete the claim.
If she baulks or threatens, then tell her camly that is what the insurance was for.
If she negs you, then you simply state that the buyer refused to do her part to process the insurance claim.
[ edited by sulyn1950 on Apr 20, 2001 08:01 PM ]
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tomwiii
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posted on April 20, 2001 05:54:11 PM new
I would respond professionally and unemotionally as follows...
"Eat %#$@ and bark at the moon!"
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minx47
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posted on April 20, 2001 08:06:32 PM new
Yup, after reading all this....I have to stick with my original post on this....I honestly believe that she is trying to switch...its just too fishy......some good advice here for you from everyone.....Just don't let her hold you hostage with feedback threats....I have over 600, and I have been in your shoes...ebay life goes on....this won't be your first or your last.....just handle it professionally, honestly and you will be ok. But we sure understand how upsetting it can be.....especially to a new seller. We have all been there and done that  ...don't give her the satisfaction of getting to you. Sometimes people pray on new sellers if they can because they know they can get to you....Good Luck, Pam
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mcjane
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posted on April 20, 2001 08:45:44 PM new
Invest in an invisible marker with a black light. I bought one on eBay for 12.00 postage included. If an item is returned & your mark is not on it do not refund & never
refund until the item is returned to you FIRST. I agree with the other posters take the neg & start over. I would not refund on this one, doesn't sound right.
I can give you the user ID of the person I bought the black light & pen from if you like. Email me at:
[email protected]
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Microbes
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posted on April 20, 2001 09:09:35 PM new
Never refund one red cent if the buyer isn't willing to send something back. (Notice I said "willing", you may decide you don't want something back if it was low value, but YOU decide, not the buyer.)
If this docking station is like most I've seen, the port you are talking about is the last thing that would get physical damage in shipment, so unless more than just the port was damaged, I would be wondering myself.
I am often leary when prospective bidders email me wanting to know if a part I have for sale can be used for something it wasn't made for. I normally tell them that I don't know, and they need to check with the people who manufacture the product. (Most often they wouldn't get an answer that way, but it gets 'em out of my hair, and if they buy it anyway, they can't come back and say "but you told me... Maybe I lose a sale, but...)
Yeah, this one sounds a little funny to me.
" Dell said that She needed a docking station specifically designed for Her computer."
If Dell told her that, why didn't she listen?
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geowishart
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posted on April 20, 2001 11:36:06 PM new
The black lite & pen sounds like a great idea. I will be buying and selling old vintage computers and calculators. There won't be any question if something is returned was the same product.
Thanks for all your feed back on this. I am going to sleep better tonight then I did last night.
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mcbrunnhilde
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posted on April 21, 2001 01:39:29 AM new
Geowishart, search on eBay for "black light pen" and you'll see more than one auction tha will end up costing you about $6.00, shipping included.
I've seen other auctions where the seller prominently states that he marks all his items, and will only refund if that mark is intact.
Without eBay, I might have a real life... 
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geowishart
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posted on April 29, 2001 11:32:19 PM new
A docking station was returned to me. Purchaser thought I has returned her money before she mailed package back to me. I did not send money back because I wanted the docking station back first. When I received it, it had a very large and visible scratch on top. My pictures prove that the one I send her was scratch free. I’m pretty sure this is not the same one I sold, but I have no positive proof. She emailed me about the money. What should I do? Your advice would be appreciated.
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redskinfan
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posted on April 30, 2001 04:58:06 AM new
If you have pics that show yours wasn't scratched up then you can show that either that wasn't your unit or that she damaged it. Don't refund, she's scamming you.
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rosiebud
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posted on April 30, 2001 08:43:22 AM new
Docking stations/port replicators have serial numbers or service tag numbers.. especially Dell's. You shouldn't need invisible markers for electronics such as this. When you run an auction that has such numbers, ALWAYS, put them into the auction description and then you will not have a problem with a switch.
As far as this problem goes.. make copies of the pictures and return the replicator to the buyer, with a letter that states that it is obvious that they are not the same item and you will not refund for an item that is not yours. Be sure to include the pictures with the letter.
You were advised earlier about letting the postal insurance deal with it.. ? Did you do so? Did the customer refuse? I believe, at this point, it's too late to do anything about that.. except for sending it back to the buyer as I described above.
Be prepared to get neg.. but hopefully you'll be able to leave one as well, stating that they tried to pull a switch on you. Be sure to respond to the neg you get, be stating the same thing and that you refused to refund for an item that wasn't yours.
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minx47
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posted on April 30, 2001 08:59:48 AM new
All Good Advice.......Take the neg, leave a factual non emotion response to it. Neg them back and go on. It sure sounds like your getting scammed.....Rosiebud had a good point, keep the serial numbers on items like that...its hard for them to switch then. Good Luck!!
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