Topic: Another ebay neg feedback post

[flyin_]

Alright, I see some discussion this morning on the idea of leaving negative feedback as a buyer and how to resolve these issues.  I have a question on the other side and would like some opinions on who is responsible. 

About 2 months ago I sold a pair of used rear shocks for a KZ1000 (I parted out the whole bike).  The aution said used shocks assumed to be in working condition.  I had a good photo that showed there was some rust and that they were not in new condition.  I did not see any obvious signs of failure of the shocks and sold them assuming decent condition.  I admit I don't know too much about shocks but I think I would notice if they were completely shot.  My auction also said shipping to the lower 48 only with a flat shipping rate.

Ok now onto the sale.  The buyer did not contact me for over a week, and said he has 2 emails bla bla bla.  So I decide to continue on with the sale and he is a pain in the ass.  He wants shipping est. for Canada and another address in NY.  So after about 3 or 4 weeks of pissing around I finally get payment by paypal including shipping costs ot Ontario Canada. 

Flash forward to this week (9 weeks after the auction end date) and I get an email from the buyer saying the shocks are in poor condition, leaking from the cylinder and usless to him plus that he had to pay an additional $8.50 when he recieved them in Canada.  I responded respectfully and honstly saying I'm sorry he doesn't like them and that I listed the parts in the condition I thought they were in.  I sold them used as-is and paid shipping by USPS.  By the way the final sale price was $23 plus about $23 for shipping to Canada.  He says that he will accept a $40 refund ($18 more than the actual sale price) or he must leave neg feedback. 

I'm not going to refund money, and I have no idea how he could have to pay extra costs to recive them in Canada.  So what are your opinions as to who is at fault and if this deserves neg feedback to me.  By they way I have all positive feedback no negatives.  How long after a sale can you leave feedback?

[ofreen]

To me, buying used shocks would be like buying a used oil filter or maybe used condoms.  I wouldn't expect much from them other than holding up the rear end of the bike.  If you accurately represented the condition of the shocks, then the buyer doesn't have a legitimate beef.  If you have a lot of positive feedbacks, one negative won't kill you.  If I see a seller has 99% positive feedback, I don't worry about it.  I figure that seller just ran into the inevitable dip#$%*.

[Gordon]

The buyer took a risk buying used shocks that were not stated to be tested and in good working condition.  And to request a refund that long after the auction is just stupid.  He's upset that he took a risk and got burned, and now wants to blame anybody but himself for it.

The extra cost he had to pay to pick up the package was probably customs fees or something along those lines.  If it was in fact and error on your part and you didn't pay enough postage, he should have contacted you before accepting the package to see if you would pay the extra fees, and if you declined he should have refused to accept it.  By picking up the package and paying the fees before talking to you, he absolved you of any responsibility for paying them.

The ebay system will allow feedback to be left up to 90 days after the auction end, but there is a way to leave it long after that if you still have the auction number.  I would tell him up front that I had no intention to refund any amount to him and that any problems with shipping or condition of the item should have been resolved weeks ago.  If he leaves negative feedback, leave a calm, factual response and any potential buyers in future auctions will be able to tell who the real idiot is. 

[6pkrunner]

You are being held hostage. He's trying to milk you. "I want the purchase price AND[/b] most of the shipping from you."
Used parts are just that, used. High wear items like shocks, tires, brake pads, chains should be taken for what they are and what life they have spent.
Don't you get a chance to dispute the negative feedback in some way?

And tell him to screw off - you did your best to show and explain the condition. If he thought he was getting a new set of shocks, he's delusional.

[flyin_]

Sh*t, I just looked back at the auction and saw that my listing said "The springs are in good working condition with adjustable preload and damper."  As far as I could tell they were in good condition though.  The bike was running 2 years ago they were bought from a salvage yard as replacements about 3 to 5 years ago.  They seemed to work fine on the bike and they are still in the same condition as when they were purchased from the salvage yard.  I guess I should be more carefull on how I list things in the future.  I still don't feel I am wrong on this issue. 

So what can "good working condition" mean for shocks that are 25 years old? 

An opinions?

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

What the hell did he expect for 23 bucks??? Shipping across the border is more expensive due to brokerage fees and customs fee. If he didn't know then he does now. he's obviously a cheap bastard. Tell him to ship them back at his expense and you will refund the $23. Thats just to say to him to piss off because he won't do it. If he did he'd probably send you his old leaking shocks and not the ones you sold him.

[cbjunkie]

technically you misrepresented the shocks.

[dusterdude]

technically you misrepresented the shocks.

how?

[cbjunkie]

Sh*t, I just looked back at the auction and saw that my listing said "The springs are in good working condition with adjustable preload and damper."

(underline mine)

even though this was unintentional, it is a misrepresentation since he should not have vouched for the working condition of the shocks in any way.

an "AS-IS" sale should be purely that, with no claims otherwise. he should never have made the statement without personally verifying the claim. the buyer has every reason to expect to be able to fit the shocks and run them - they may be old, but they should not be leaking and in need of a rebuild according to the ad.

MHO, of course...

[flyin_]

Hind sight is always 20/20.  In the future I will use words like "good"  much more carfully.  I still feel they are in working condition and I wonder what condition you can reasonably expect a 25 year old shock to be in.  I don't remember seeing any leaking and they seemed to work fine on the bike a few years ago.  What a pain in the a.  Maybe I will still present the option for a refund if he pays shipping to send them back.  I'm sure he won't since it will cost that much just to ship them back. 

Overall I would say I have had a good experience selling on ebay.  On over 40 parts sold on that one KZ I have all positive feedback and have made over $1000 on a boken down bike that paid $1000 for in 1995. I figure I should end up with about $1400 in the end.  Not a bad sum of money for something worth about $300 as a full bike    

[cbjunkie]

keep up your good rep...it's worth it and although you'll be out a few bucks you get to be the good guy, keep all positive feedback and...you'll be my hero too!   

[dusterdude]

junkie,to me,if the springs arent busted or sagging,they are in good working condition.

[cbjunkie]

sounds to me like they need to be rebuilt...

[dusterdude]

i wouldnt be surprised,if they were anything like the shocks on the 750,they were junk when they were new.

[Gordon]

He said the springs are in good condition, not the dampers.  But it's still kind of iffy.

[cbjunkie]

yeah - i'm not out to spank anybody...i try to avoid conflict if possible, and it seems like flyin is a good guy who wants to do the right thing - in any case it's important to me not to violate my own conscience.

yes the shocks were old and the buyer is obviously ignorant and a skiver as well as to how to buy shocks. true the shocks were shiite the day they were built, or anyway the day after, but i personally feel that the ad was misleading since it gave the impression that the shocks were good to go - obviously they are not and will require significant further investment of time and money - not something any of us shy away from here on these boards, but an unexpected and unpleasant awakening for the guy thinking he was at least going to be able to get by with them for a while.

's'all i'm sayin...
junkie out.

[ElCheapo]

Most sellers will tell you to go to hell when you want the shipping refunded. Beware of the feedback hostage thing. Sometimes you just have to to hell with it, let leave feedback that is nasty. The favor can be returned and you can always post a follow up on the feedback he left for you.

I just had this dick leave me negative feedback without bothering to contact me about problems with the part. Anyone who knows me I would have refunded the fools money without making him ship it back.

I sent him an email basically telling him that he had graduated to complete #$%*. And that leaving nasty feedback has killed off all chances of him getting his money back.

Sad fact is this was over a lousy $9 part 

[cbjunkie]

right. don't leave negative feedback until you get to the bottom of the issue.