Need advice on a Paypal dispute

jive1 · #1 12-08-2009, 07:19 PM

So after years of E-bay with no problems, I run into my first dispute.

Here's the deal. I was selling a pickguard from a G&L ASAT Classic, which is a Tele copy. I made it clear in the listing that it came from a G&L. I also told the buyer in a message that it came from a G&L, and that it was not a Fender. I made no claims whatsoever as to what it would fit.

He gets the pickguard, and it doesn't fit. He files a claim saying that I was misleading because I used the word Telecaster in the listing, and it doesn't fit his Telecaster. Well there's variances in Teles from Fender, and there's 100s of Tele copies out there. I don't know exactly what the pickguard would fit. Even an actual Tele pickguard may not fit. That's why I told him where the pickguard came from. IMO, he took a chance knowing that this pickguard was not a Fender and trying to fit it on his Tele. He even outbid others for the pickguard, and asked me just before the auction if he could return it if it didn't fit. I wasn't at a computer until after the auction was over to answer, but it states in my auction no returns and all sales are final.

I offered a refund minus shipping, but buyer wants a full refund and escalated to a claim. I can now refund full, part, or deny and escalate further.

Main thing I want to do is get my pickguard back, and not eat the shipping and E-bay fees. But, maybe it's better to cut losses, even though I think I'm right on this matter.

Any thoughts?

hover · #2 12-08-2009, 07:25 PM

you went out of your way to clearly state its origin. Tell him to eat it. Almost seems like despite knowing better, he felt the need to go out of his way to be an ass....just to see if he could. At this point you don't even know if you did get the pickguard back that it would be in the same condition it left in.

TrooperFarva · #3 12-08-2009, 07:35 PM

I can see why you would put the word Telecaster in the listing, but that is ultimately the source of your frustration.

This is going to depend on the wording of your auction. If it specifically says in the listing that it came from a G&L, is designed to fit a G&L, and likely will not fit most telecasters, but may, in addition to saying that all sales are final, no refunds, etc, then you'll probably be fine. If you didn't specifically say all of that, you could run into trouble.

Thunderitter · #4 12-08-2009, 07:36 PM

First of this guy is an ass. Unfortunately they're out there on eBay. I've encountered two this year.

I'd say a refund minus shipping in this circumstance is very reasonable. As you say, he took the chance that it would fit and to only pay a shipping charge for that is very reasonable and very much in line with any internet seller out there. The only time I'd expect shipping back is if I was sent the wrong item or if it was broken, etc.

On the two occasions I've had to use the dispute center this year, in both cases (I was the seller) I spoke to very helpful and reasonable folks, who took my side. On both cases I also spoke to eBay to fill them in of what was happening, so that if I was left negative feedback, which was the case in on of the situations, eBay had record of what had happened so the feedback was deleted.

Main thing as you'll know is keep all correspondence, particularly the one saying it was from a G&L and not a Fender.

So in summary I'd refund the cost of the pick-guard minus shipping and of course the buyer should return ship at his cost. Once the system does it's work you automatically get your fees back, and if you list it again and it sells you'll get you're eBay fees back too, although if you ask nicely (as I did) they'll refund before you re-list - it just depends on the mood of the person. I find that's when my Scottish accent work wonders, which makes up for all the time I get the wrong pizza sent to my house!

Good luck!

MJ5150 · #5 12-08-2009, 08:12 PM

Cut your losses. What are you out...$15?

-Mike

jive1 · #6 12-09-2009, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrooperFarva

I can see why you would put the word Telecaster in the listing, but that is ultimately the source of your frustration.

This is going to depend on the wording of your auction. If it specifically says in the listing that it came from a G&L, is designed to fit a G&L, and likely will not fit most telecasters, but may, in addition to saying that all sales are final, no refunds, etc, then you'll probably be fine. If you didn't specifically say all of that, you could run into trouble.

The auction clearly states that it is from a G&L, and that all sales are final. But, I didn't provide any infromation about what it would fit because I honestly didn't know and didn't want to make any claims.

TrooperFarva · #7 12-09-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jive1

The auction clearly states that it is from a G&L, and that all sales are final. But, I didn't provide any infromation about what it would fit because I honestly didn't know and didn't want to make any claims.

If you mentioned Telecaster in the title, but didn't specify that it might not actually fit telecasters, that doesn't bode well.