Ebay Problem - Buyer says DVD Burner doesn't work

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Slimline

Golden Member
Jul 19, 2004
1,365
2
81
Do you think it is a possibilty the drive DID work fine, and perhaps he tried to upgrade the firmware and did an improper flash, thereby disabling the drive?
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
maybe it's because I'm an idiot but I don't see how insurance would help in this case. the drive was packed well and had no visible damage.
 

CRXican

Diamond Member
Jun 9, 2004
9,062
1
0
Originally posted by: Yossarian
maybe it's because I'm an idiot but I don't see how insurance would help in this case. the drive was packed well and had no visible damage.

You know that's a good question. There really is no way to prove that it worked before you sent it.
 

rudder

Lifer
Nov 9, 2000
19,441
86
91
Originally posted by: Injury
Option 1: "Drive was verified in working order before it left. Sorry about your luck. Consider purchasing the insurance next time.

Option 2: "I will accept the drive back and check its status. If it is determined to be a problem not caused by me, I will not issue a refund. Consider purchasing insurance next time."

Option 3: "Send the drive back and I will issue a refund less shipping. Because I'm that nice of a guy. Consider purchasing insurance next time."

How will insurance help? Unless the box is crushed or something, you will not get any money.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
How is it broken? Was It damaged during shipping? Or maybe the buyer has the master/slave/CS jumper or bios settings Incorrect. I wonder if theis guy knows what he is doing?
 

Injury

Lifer
Jul 19, 2004
13,066
2
81
Originally posted by: rudder
Originally posted by: Injury
Option 1: "Drive was verified in working order before it left. Sorry about your luck. Consider purchasing the insurance next time.

Option 2: "I will accept the drive back and check its status. If it is determined to be a problem not caused by me, I will not issue a refund. Consider purchasing insurance next time."

Option 3: "Send the drive back and I will issue a refund less shipping. Because I'm that nice of a guy. Consider purchasing insurance next time."

How will insurance help? Unless the box is crushed or something, you will not get any money.

Because if a person with ample trading experience said that the drive was in working order before it left, then I would feel safe in claiming that it was working when it left. If the buyer claims that nothing he did made it non-working and that it was DOA, then that means that:
a) The drive was damaged in shipping. There doesn't necessarilly have to be exterior damage to make it damage during shipping. A fall from 30 feet wouldn't necessarilly damage the packaging, but may shake something up in the delicate laser assembly in the drive. No amount of packaging can prevent internal components from being protected, as a person shouldn't be expected to take apart the drive and secure all parts. Insurance should cover this.

b) The buyer is lying, and something he did broke the drive. In this case, the statement is a way of saying "It's out of my hands now."


I know there are some dirty people out there, but when Yzzim says that he sent the drive in working order, I trust him. Which leaves either of the other two parties involved to be the cause of something going wrong. If the buyer didn't screw it up, then he could safely file an insurance claim.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Alwatys cover your self when selling something in an auction by saying: "sold as and unit is untested" or "sold as is with no guerentees"
 

SuperSix

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,872
2
0
Do you have a link to the auction? Did you state AS-IS or offer any type of DOA warranty?
 

Yossarian

Lifer
Dec 26, 2000
18,010
1
81
from the usps site--

Proof of Damage or Partial Loss of Contents for unnumbered insured, numbered insured, and all items insured online.
If the article was damaged - or if some or all of the contents were missing - take the article, box, wrapper, and all packing materials to your local Post Office immediately with the required documentation.

the buyer claims he doesn't have the package anymore so you would probably be SOL. the post office has no way to verify that the drive was packed properly.
 

jadinolf

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
20,952
3
81
Originally posted by: RagingBITCH
I don't see why you keep saying the fact that he didn't purchase insurance = negating seller responsibility for the item working, assuming the damage was during transit.

Otherwise you are responsible as the seller for making sure the item is working as described in the auction.

Right and you should not have given the buyer the option of having insurance ot not. The buyer pays for the insurance...period.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Originally posted by: Wag
I refund the money because I stand behind what I sell.


Yeah, that is really nice of you. There are some people out there who buy things from ebay and their Item arives in working condition, but instead of leaving positive feedback they; turn and complain that it does not work in hopes of getting a refund from ebay or the seller. Tell him if he wants a refund he must ship it back to you. And At you discression after examining and testing the drive I might agree to refund his costs.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Originally posted by: SuperSix
Do you have a link to the auction? Did you state AS-IS or offer any type of DOA warranty?

Read the first post he has had a link there the whole time.

 

jagec

Lifer
Apr 30, 2004
24,442
6
81
Originally posted by: CRXican
Ha, don't get me started. Buyers are most often cheap asses who want to rip you off. I know how much the damn thing is worth, don't be an idiot and offer $30 less, I can't stand that.

Perhaps you fail to grasp the purpose of buying something on ebay, rather than from a store.
 

Xionide

Diamond Member
Apr 20, 2002
8,679
2
81
Tell him to ship it back insured. If it works when you get it then refund the money. If it doesnt make a claim since it would seem to be damaged from shipping.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Originally posted by: Xionide
Tell him to ship it back insured. If it works when you get it then refund the money. If it doesnt make a claim since it would seem to be damaged from shipping.


If you do get it back in working condition only offer him a partial refund. If It is broken offer him a full refund and make a claim via insurnace.
 

TallBill

Lifer
Apr 29, 2001
46,017
62
91
There is only one thing you can do...

Sneak in through his window.. and eat all of his snackpacks.
 

dman

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
9,110
0
76
On used items I have a disclaimer that if the buyer needs the original receipt for manuf. warranty coverage (proof of purchase date) I will provide it within x days of auction close. After that they are SOL. (Assumes the used item is still under manuf. warranty. Also assumes they'll provide warranty support for a resold item... typically having the original receipt would be fine, they could just say it was a gift from a friend, etc, with that, if there was an issue.)

Unless the drive is physically damaged I don't think shipping insurance would cover it.... I dunno though.
 

dabuddha

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
19,579
17
81
Originally posted by: Xionide
Tell him to ship it back insured. If it works when you get it then refund the money. If it doesnt make a claim since it would seem to be damaged from shipping.

He can't make a claim because the buyer was too cheap to pay for insurance.
 

Googer

Lifer
Nov 11, 2004
12,576
7
81
Originally posted by: dabuddha
Originally posted by: Xionide
Tell him to ship it back insured. If it works when you get it then refund the money. If it doesnt make a claim since it would seem to be damaged from shipping.

He can't make a claim because the buyer was too cheap to pay for insurance.

Good point. He made choice not to protect him self, so you have little obligation.
 

Gibson486

Lifer
Aug 9, 2000
18,378
2
0
I always thought you would have to prove that shipping damaged the product in roder for insurance to work.
 

shilala

Lifer
Oct 5, 2004
11,437
1
76
Put the shoe on the other foot and do what you'd want someone else to do for you.
Personally I'd send back his money less the shipping cost both ways if the drive turns out to not be defective. If it is defective, I'd eat the whole thing.
If the buyer opts out of insurance you could spring for the two bucks. Insurance works both ways. If you feel that it's that important to make the note in your listing, you may want to make insurance mandatory.
Two bucks is not a deal breaker, bad feedback is.
 

SuperSix

Elite Member
Oct 9, 1999
9,872
2
0
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: SuperSix
Do you have a link to the auction? Did you state AS-IS or offer any type of DOA warranty?

Read the first post he has had a link there the whole time.

Doh! DIdn't read past the Cliff notes. :eek:

He clearly states that he's not responsible for shipping damage, and since the buyer can't argue it wasn't damaged (threw away the packaging), he's in the clear. Now.. if the buyer decides to leave neg feedback - you'll have to live with it.