what can reasonably be expected of a seller?


Let's get the obvious out of the way.  If the seller posts the item "as-is" & "untested" then that's that and you get what you get.  Right?  But if neither of these is indicated and the item is listed as practically new or unused or immaculate....  or has been in ideal storage for years, then is it perfectly reasonable to ask the seller about functionality, to request the seller test the item to confirm proper functioning?  If the price is really good, is it reasonable to ask about functionality?    I've had 2 situations lately where this has come up.   In the first instance, the seller was willing to accommodate and I did pay for the item and was awaiting confirmation that the item worked properly but was unexpectedly told that he sold to another who didn't need confirmation and my money was refunded.  And in the second instance, I asked the seller to connect the cdp he was selling to a system to confirm that if worked properly as it could be a decade old and had "probably" never been used.  He responded that he wasn't connecting it to anything and didn't have time to sit and play it and that it was already packed.   So, am I just being unreasonable and expecting to much?  What do you think is reasonable?  Thanks.
lcherepkai

Showing 7 responses by uberwaltz

Seller absolutely needs to include the phrase... "Museum Quality" in the title description.
I kid you not just read that in an ad in eBay for a mark levinson product.

Nice way to alternatively describe "old piece of junk"!

A must have in my next listing!
Very good points 2psyop!

If an item is truly untested for whatever possibly genuine reason then it should be priced accordingly, not within a couple of cents of guaranteed top flight item.


I am not saying it does help at all, just giving my thoughts as to what I perceive as some other members thought process!

Personally if any buyer asks me to let them pay for shipping and organise it I politely tell them no.

As a seller I have also seen way too many attempted buyer scams to fall prey to immediate claims of instant money back at the very first mention of an issue and need good solid communication and details before I would proceed.

It works both ways.....
I think they were trying to infer that there experience is that some sellers have "not had the time/inclination" to follow up on an insurance claim.
This is of course nonsense as every seller should make it their job to act expeditiously on such matters if they value their reputation and have any wherewithal!

I think the thought process was that if the buyer provides the shipping and pays the shipping company direct then they have control if there is a problem and make their own insurance claim if there is a subsequent issue.

This is of course also open to abuse as the seller will now have no say in the matter if the buyer "claims" it was damaged in transit and may indeed end up with some old substituted junk shipped back to him if the shipping company goes that route.

Cynical yes, has it happened before, most assuredly.
@spin4cards.
That will work for the majority of the time as eBay can and will make a seller take an item back no matter how they described it or state no returns.
UNLESS they are savvy enough to know to list it in the for parts or not working category, then you have very little comeback even if in the description they say it is in working condition and turns out not to be.
Tbh when I see that an item has been in storage for a long time I get very nervous as a buyer.
How was it stored? What environment?
A lot of electronics can have adverse effects to long term less than ideal storage conditions.
Same with speakers, surrounds can deteriorate, diaphragm can weaken.

I would ESPECIALLY want a full working guaranteed test from long term storage items.
However most times I just pass on these items to start with for above stated concerns.
I sell a fair bit here and have been on eBay for over 17 years and have 100% feedback on both sites for a darn good reason!
The last thing I want is to deal with an irate buyer or have to take something back as a return.

So I list item as honestly as possible even if it may put people off at times and provide as many pix as I think are warranted.

I respect all questions and treat them all with the same civility even if at times I may be inwardly thinking "WTH?".

Buyers should feel free to ask away after all it is their hard earned money they are parting with.