OT: Worst Customer Ever

[CocoGdog]

I sold a guy a brand new, sealed Linksys Print Server three weeks ago. Then he sent me this message:

his email:

My system is just too old to work with this new fangled print server. I arrived home on April 7th and have been working with them for a few hrs every day since then. Tho seriously tempted, I have not drop kicked it across the house or damaged it in any other way. The return is in no way any fault of yours. The product, listing, and shipment were perfect.

my response:

Please contact the Linksys help or support phone center to help you with this installation. I will have a difficult time trying to resell this product if you return it to me. I cannot sell used products at the same rate as a new product. You may also want to call Best Buys or Circuit City and they will deploy a Geek Squad or customer support rep to help you set up the wireless Print Server.

1. Should I accept the return?
2. Does this sound like something that I am responsible for?

 

[Aikouka]

You can take it back as a nice gesture, but I don't see why you should be at fault if someone didn't do their homework.

 

[olds]

Tell him you are not a retail store and to do his homework next time.

 

[olds]

BTW, this is OT.

 

[Vehemence]

Did you offer some sort of "Try it out for 30 days! Sleep with it, kick it, throw dog pee at it! Return it if you bought it and actually have no idea how to use it!" guarantee or something? Probably not, you just sold it with perfect specs, info, etc. You even gave him a nice and helpful response. You can't be at fault in this situation...like Aikouka said, taking a return isn't necessary and would just be an incredibly gracious acceptance.

 

[Phoenix86]

Tell him to pound sand.

 

[Mursilis]

Originally posted by: CocoGdog
1. Should I accept the return?
2. Does this sound like something that I am responsible for?

As others have said, you can accept the return if you wish, as a nice gesture, but how can you be responsible for the problem? You sold him a new, working print server, right? You described the product, right? So how were you to know it wouldn't work with his system? You couldn't even know what system he had. The fault is entirely on the buyer, not you, based on the facts presented.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: oldsmoboat
Tell him you are not a retail store and to do his homework next time.

 

[pyonir]

What makes him think he can just return it?

I would tell him sorry, but the deal is finished. I offered no warranty.

 

[Baked]

Dear Sir:

Go F yourself.

Love,
CocoGdog

 

[Bryophyte]

No, you shouldn't accept a return. You aren't the library. If someone lacks the sense to research a product he wants to buy, that's not your problem.

 

[crystal]

Sure why not. No need to create any bad vibe over this little thing.

 

[sutahz]

Under what terms did you sell it? Ebay? Craigslist? Street corner?
If no return policy was stated, do what you feel is best.

 

[rezinn]

25% restocking fee.

 

[TreyRandom]

Um... why don't you turn this from a potential customer-losing situation to a money-making situation? Offer to install it for him for an hourly charge. Everyone wins.

For the record, he wasn't anywhere close to what the "Worst Customer Ever" would be. The "Worst Customer Ever" would hunt you down and kill you for not accepting the return.

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: TreyRandom
Um... why don't you turn this from a potential customer-losing situation to a money-making situation? Offer to install it for him for an hourly charge. Everyone wins.

For the record, he wasn't anywhere close to what the "Worst Customer Ever" would be. The "Worst Customer Ever" would hunt you down and kill you for not accepting the return.

hehehe....you've never dealt with the buying public before, have you?

 

[dquan97]

You could ask him to pay for the depreciation cost...30%

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: sutahz
Under what terms did you sell it? Ebay? Craigslist? Street corner?

AT? Where did you sell it?

 

[CocoGdog]

1st - The product was sold on Amazon. They are strict about returns - 30 days.
2nd - This guy said he is a tech, but I insist that he is clueless.

Read this:

Yes, I had contacted linksys. I am an experienced tech who had no way of knowing the linksys software would conflict with the motherboard drivers. When the PRN server is on the network and the older PC signs on, then the PC locks up and must be turned of by the power supply switch. I have narrowed it down to onboard mouse and tried a USB mouse. Then the PC would lock up when the mouse was moved. Again, your product is perfect. This is a compatability issue no one has ever heard of. Please give me an RMA # and the address you would like me to ship it to.

back to me:

Well, a restocking fee is in order. This was a good place to rant. Apparently, some people have had the same experience.

 

[XZeroII]

That is the worst customer ever??? I was expecting the guy to be threatening to kill your dog or something.

 

[StinkyPinky]

I would probably charge a small "restocking fee" and take it back. He's hardly the "Worst customer ever". He's polite if a little pushy.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

does Amazon allow returns for reasons other than defect?

 

[SampSon]

Tell him you will accept the return for a 50% restocking fee.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

apparently they do, but you are allowed to charge a reasonable restocking fee and the buyer is responsible for shipping.

I'd never sell on Amazon if that's their policy.....

 

[alkemyst]

ask him to call you and then laugh at him. Tell him to cancel his connection and stick with TV.