God I hate ebay...

[homestarmy]

Well I sold an EQ on ebay, and now the guy sends me a letter that says:

item arrived today, the lights work all except the one for the parametric eq. the unit does not let the input signal pass through to the outputs, the unit was installed correctly by a certified installer, when i was told it didnt work, i took it to a local electronics shop they then told me that a transistor on the input stage was blown. what can we do to rectify this situation, as of yet i have not left feed back, i wanted to see if we could come to terms first.

Hmm, it's odd that he recieved it and same day got it instaled by a 'certified installer' and had time to get it taken to a shop to diagnose the problem. The item had no problems before it was shipped. I don't believe that electronic problems happen in the mail, especially something being 'blown'.

I responded with this:

I don't see how that could be the case, because it worked perfectly before it was shipped. Anyhow, did they give you a cost on what it would be to fix that part? We could work something out with that cost if you want to supply a reciept, otherwise, I suppose we could get the item returned. I really do not see how an item blew itself without being used, but I suppose that it is possible in some way.

Man you sure got it installed quick by your certified installer, same day it was recieved.

Let me know what you want to do.

So I suppose if he has to supply a reciept, it can always be a handwritten one, or if I call his 'person' it probably will be a friend.

It just smells too much like a scam to me.

What do you guys think and what would you do?

I am thinking having him return it and he pays shipping, maybe I'll eat shipping to him. Otherwise, if the money he tries to extort out of me leaves me with $50 profit, I'll stay with that, because I ended up making $100 on something that I was only looking to get $50 out of.

God, I swear I'm done with ebay.

 

[pac1085]

You took pictures of serial number labels, insides or any other identifiying marks, right?

When I sell electronics, I usually take the cover off the item and put some marks on the pcb with a marker so I know that it was mine...

 

[homestarmy]

Oh, and I see the email was received 2 hours 39 minutes after delivery confirmation says it was shipped.

Sure quick to get it 'installed by a certified technician' and 'checked out by an electronics shop'.

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: pac1085
You took pictures of serial number labels, insides or any other identifiying marks, right?

When I sell electronics, I usually take the cover off the item and put some marks on the pcb with a marker so I know that it was mine...

That's good information, but unfortunately I did not. However, there was a sticker on it right on the top that had a date on it that I have in my picture from when I walked into bestbuy with it. If that is gone, I'm not doing crap.

The problem though is that I'll end up with bad feedback.

That idiot.

 

[acemcmac]

Originally posted by: pac1085
You took pictures of serial number labels, insides or any other identifiying marks, right?

When I sell electronics, I usually take the cover off the item and put some marks on the pcb with a marker so I know that it was mine...

Good thinking

 

[darkxshade]

That's why you should take down the serial numbers, god knows stores do that so that people don't buy something and then return the broken part they previously had. And that is why people go to ebay, sellers should take every precaution to make sure they don't get burned.

 

[pac1085]

I work at en ebay dropoff store, and have do deal with people like this every day. You're going to end up with bad feedback no matter what you do, if you do get it might want to give squaretrade a try.

There's not much you can do but eat it at this point, since you have no evidence that he switched it, which I'm sure he did.

 

[homestarmy]

If I'm going to get bad feedback regardless, then why refund him anything?

 

[pac1085]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
If I'm going to get bad feedback regardless, then why refund him anything?

He will make it sound like you are the one that screwed him, which will make it even worse for you.

Oh, and I see the email was received 2 hours 39 minutes after delivery confirmation says it was shipped.

I take it you mean he sent the e-mail 2 hours 39 minutes after it said it was delivered?

I suppose its possible, but unlikely.

How many feedback does the buyer have?

 

[homestarmy]

BTW, he also asked before the auction was over a very specific question which is very suspicious:

Q: Does all of the units inputs and outputs function correctly, ie does the unit allow the input signal to pass through to the outputs?

A: Yes, there were no problems with the unit. I had it control my front pair of speakers and my sub. Everything on it functioned properly.

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: pac1085

Originally posted by: homestarmy
If I'm going to get bad feedback regardless, then why refund him anything?

He will make it sound like you are the one that screwed him, which will make it even worse for you.

Oh, and I see the email was received 2 hours 39 minutes after delivery confirmation says it was shipped.

I take it you mean he sent the e-mail 2 hours 39 minutes after it said it was delivered?

I suppose its possible, but unlikely.

How many feedback does the buyer have?

I just realized, this is the guy that only has 1 feedback. I should block my auctions for anyone that has feedback of less than 5.

 

[darkxshade]

Take a pre-emptive strike and tell him to return it and that you have the serial number. If it matches up, you will refund him and if it doesn't, you will go to the authorities, ebay whatever for it. And pray he doesn't call your bluff.


And if you registered the product prior to ebaying it, you might try calling the manufacturer and see if you can get the serial number on it.

 

[Nikamichi]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
Take a pre-emptive strike and tell him to return it and that you have the serial number. If it matches up, you will refund him and if it doesn't, you will go to the authorities, ebay whatever for it. And pray he doesn't call your bluff.


And if you registered the product prior to ebaying it, you might try calling the manufacturer and see if you can get the serial number on it.

:thumbsup:

 

[olds]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
Take a pre-emptive strike and tell him to return it and that you have the serial number. If it matches up, you will refund him and if it doesn't, you will go to the authorities, ebay whatever for it. And pray he doesn't call your bluff.


And if you registered the product prior to ebaying it, you might try calling the manufacturer and see if you can get the serial number on it.

This is what I would do.

Also. it does sound like a rip off is in progress. He had one that didn't work and he bought yours to do a switch a roo.

Originally posted by: homestarmy
BTW, he also asked before the auction was over a very specific question which is very suspicious:

Q: Does all of the units inputs and outputs function correctly, ie does the unit allow the input signal to pass through to the outputs?

A: Yes, there were no problems with the unit. I had it control my front pair of speakers and my sub. Everything on it functioned properly.

 

[Lucky]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
BTW, he also asked before the auction was over a very specific question which is very suspicious:

Q: Does all of the units inputs and outputs function correctly, ie does the unit allow the input signal to pass through to the outputs?

A: Yes, there were no problems with the unit. I had it control my front pair of speakers and my sub. Everything on it functioned properly.

that's extremely odd.

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: darkxshade
Take a pre-emptive strike and tell him to return it and that you have the serial number. If it matches up, you will refund him and if it doesn't, you will go to the authorities, ebay whatever for it. And pray he doesn't call your bluff.


And if you registered the product prior to ebaying it, you might try calling the manufacturer and see if you can get the serial number on it.

Before I read this, I sent him this message secondary:

By the way, if repaired, I will need to speak with the certified installer and the electrician who deemed the item broken. And if returned, it will need to have the same identifying marks and serial number. Just FYI.

Thanks!

I'm trying to sound nice, and I'm not going to call him on the fact that it took only two hours to get all of that done.

 

[Lucky]

"I'm trying to sound nice, and I'm not going to call him on the fact that it took only two hours to get all of that done. "

that's the first thing I'd call him on. Ask him how a certfied installer came to his house (on-call), inspected it, deemed it broken, and how he brought to a store afterwards, had it inspected, got home, and emailed you in less than 3 hours. Pretty odd.

 

[darkxshade]

good luck to you then, I've personally stopped using ebay 5 years ago.

 

[Wuffsunie]

If he's had it installed by a certified installer, as for the number of the guy's company. Only refund if you can independantly verify the number (look it up online) and call them youself to confirm the circumstanaces of installation.

 

[homestarmy]

Originally posted by: Wuffsunie
If he's had it installed by a certified installer, as for the number of the guy's company. Only refund if you can independantly verify the number (look it up online) and call them youself to confirm the circumstanaces of installation.

That's what I am going to do.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat

Originally posted by: darkxshade
Take a pre-emptive strike and tell him to return it and that you have the serial number. If it matches up, you will refund him and if it doesn't, you will go to the authorities, ebay whatever for it. And pray he doesn't call your bluff.


And if you registered the product prior to ebaying it, you might try calling the manufacturer and see if you can get the serial number on it.

This is what I would do.

Also. it does sound like a rip off is in progress. He had one that didn't work and he bought yours to do a switch a roo.

Originally posted by: homestarmy
BTW, he also asked before the auction was over a very specific question which is very suspicious:

Q: Does all of the units inputs and outputs function correctly, ie does the unit allow the input signal to pass through to the outputs?

A: Yes, there were no problems with the unit. I had it control my front pair of speakers and my sub. Everything on it functioned properly.

definately, especially by those questions he asked before you shipped it, he wants to return the one he has...

 

[homestarmy]

So he finally replied back with:

He tried to get pictures but they didnt show the detail he needed but he showed me the board he said it was a B1243, or more common 2SB1243 transistor in slot Q12 i looked at it it has burn marks on either side of Q12. i asked him how much it would cost to repair it he said he had to souce the part but he would do the labor for $25, im not trying to be a pain, i just dont want to lose money on something that doesnt work, it would have been different if i had know it didnt work when i bought it i would feel i had a choice in whether to bid and try to get it fixed or not bid at all.

And I replied with:

You have to understand that it is EXTREMELY FISHY that you asked before the auction was over if it had the EXACT problem that you say it has. It is also EXTREMELY FISHY that you were able to get it installed by a certified technician, then remove it and take it to an electrician who could take it apart, test it, and give you an answer, all in time to get back to the computer and email me under three hours after it was received. I did have delivery confirmation, so I know what time it was received.

There are certain problems that can happen in shipping, but if an item is working perfectly when uninstalled, there is no way that an electrical problem of this sort can happen after the fact, in shipment.

If I do any type of refund, I am going to need the name of the companies used to install and fix the unit so I can verify them, and also their telephone numbers to be able to speak to someone.

Comments?

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: homestarmy
So he finally replied back with:

He tried to get pictures but they didnt show the detail he needed but he showed me the board he said it was a B1243, or more common 2SB1243 transistor in slot Q12 i looked at it it has burn marks on either side of Q12. i asked him how much it would cost to repair it he said he had to souce the part but he would do the labor for $25, im not trying to be a pain, i just dont want to lose money on something that doesnt work, it would have been different if i had know it didnt work when i bought it i would feel i had a choice in whether to bid and try to get it fixed or not bid at all.

And I replied with:

You have to understand that it is EXTREMELY FISHY that you asked before the auction was over if it had the EXACT problem that you say it has. It is also EXTREMELY FISHY that you were able to get it installed by a certified technician, then remove it and take it to an electrician who could take it apart, test it, and give you an answer, all in time to get back to the computer and email me under three hours after it was received. I did have delivery confirmation, so I know what time it was received.

There are certain problems that can happen in shipping, but if an item is working perfectly when uninstalled, there is no way that an electrical problem of this sort can happen after the fact, in shipment.

If I do any type of refund, I am going to need the name of the companies used to install and fix the unit so I can verify them, and also their telephone numbers to be able to speak to someone.

Comments?

Tell him that if he had a problem with it he should have talked to you before allowing someone to inspect it in a manner that voids any warranties? Tell him that since he had it opened up by a place other than the original manu. that you will no longer support it?

Or, just realize you're going to get a negative either way and tell him to F' Off.

 

[Safeway]

Don't accept the exchange. He is definately trying to scam you. What a fvcking, worthless asshole. I'd want to beat him with a baseball bat.