EBay question about an annoying buyer

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Message boards at their best - consumer advice .

Right. Sold decent sized Lego set on eBay a couple of weeks ago. It’s definitely complete, but that’s by the by.

Buyer has messaged me sporadically over two weeks when he can’t found a piece - literally “there’s little corner bit missing” as he picks his way through the set, asking me like you might ask the person you’re doing it with.

He messaged me today, said he’s finished it, but there’s five pieces missing. The five pieces are literally all common tiny bits with a cash value of about 84p combined.

Also, weirdly, he’s complaining that there are extra pieces (Lego always includes a fair amount of small extra pieces) , but I’m not sure what his issue is.

Anyway, I said that I’m sorry that pieces appear to be missing, and I’ll happily refund him the cost incurred of the pieces if he either buys them in store or online.

He gets arsey and says he doesn’t see why HE should have to spend time on this. So I say “OK, alternatively you can send the set back for a full refund”, and he says no, and demands I go and buy him the pieces and send them on to him or he’s contacting eBay. Guy’s being a right willy.

I know eBay always sides with buyers, but I’m thinking since I’ve actually offered a partial refund, AND offered a full refund, I’m not actually clear on what eBay could do that’d be worse than what I’ve already offered.

What do you think?

[Loyal_Supporter]

Message boards at their best - consumer advice .

Right. Sold decent sized Lego set on eBay a couple of weeks ago. It’s definitely complete, but that’s by the by.

Buyer has messaged me sporadically over two weeks when he can’t found a piece - literally “there’s little corner bit missing” as he picks his way through the set, asking me like you might ask the person you’re doing it with.

He messaged me today, said he’s finished it, but there’s five pieces missing. The five pieces are literally all common tiny bits with a cash value of about 84p combined.

Also, weirdly, he’s complaining that there are extra pieces (Lego always includes a fair amount of small extra pieces) , but I’m not sure what his issue is.

Anyway, I said that I’m sorry that pieces appear to be missing, and I’ll happily refund him the cost incurred of the pieces if he either buys them in store or online.

He gets arsey and says he doesn’t see why HE should have to spend time on this. So I say “OK, alternatively you can send the set back for a full refund”, and he says no, and demands I go and buy him the pieces and send them on to him or he’s contacting eBay. Guy’s being a right willy.

I know eBay always sides with buyers, but I’m thinking since I’ve actually offered a partial refund, AND offered a full refund, I’m not actually clear on what eBay could do that’d be worse than what I’ve already offered.

What do you think?

I would just contact ebay and include your messages as evidence that you have attempted to arrange a solution with the buyer and that they are not co-operating.

Buying the replacement pieces and sending them over (free postage) seems fair and partial refund is even better for the buyer.

[Brigs]

Message boards at their best - consumer advice .

Right. Sold decent sized Lego set on eBay a couple of weeks ago. It’s definitely complete, but that’s by the by.

Buyer has messaged me sporadically over two weeks when he can’t found a piece - literally “there’s little corner bit missing” as he picks his way through the set, asking me like you might ask the person you’re doing it with.

He messaged me today, said he’s finished it, but there’s five pieces missing. The five pieces are literally all common tiny bits with a cash value of about 84p combined.

Also, weirdly, he’s complaining that there are extra pieces (Lego always includes a fair amount of small extra pieces) , but I’m not sure what his issue is.

Anyway, I said that I’m sorry that pieces appear to be missing, and I’ll happily refund him the cost incurred of the pieces if he either buys them in store or online.

He gets arsey and says he doesn’t see why HE should have to spend time on this. So I say “OK, alternatively you can send the set back for a full refund”, and he says no, and demands I go and buy him the pieces and send them on to him or he’s contacting eBay. Guy’s being a right willy.

I know eBay always sides with buyers, but I’m thinking since I’ve actually offered a partial refund, AND offered a full refund, I’m not actually clear on what eBay could do that’d be worse than what I’ve already offered.

What do you think?

Open a complaint via PayPal or ebay
Show messages sent & let them look into it.

Or buy the 84p of bits & send them just to get rid of him.
You only get 5 negative feedbacks before they could close your account

[Constanza]

I think you need to think outside of the box for this one.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Wouldn’t have minded sourcing the pieces and sending them to him if he’d said “getting to a Lego shop’s gonna be a pain in the arse, is there any chance you could get them please mate?”.
But cos he went all Lampard on me immediately, and demanded I source the bricks after I offered to cover the cost, I’m happy to go scorched earth with this guy.

But my main question is this - since I’ve given him the option of covering the cost of getting the missing bricks OR returning the set, even though eBay sides with the buyer, they wouldn’t actually suggest anything other than those two options, would they?

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Message boards at their best - consumer advice .

Right. Sold decent sized Lego set on eBay a couple of weeks ago. It’s definitely complete, but that’s by the by.

Buyer has messaged me sporadically over two weeks when he can’t found a piece - literally “there’s little corner bit missing” as he picks his way through the set, asking me like you might ask the person you’re doing it with.

He messaged me today, said he’s finished it, but there’s five pieces missing. The five pieces are literally all common tiny bits with a cash value of about 84p combined.

Also, weirdly, he’s complaining that there are extra pieces (Lego always includes a fair amount of small extra pieces) , but I’m not sure what his issue is.

Anyway, I said that I’m sorry that pieces appear to be missing, and I’ll happily refund him the cost incurred of the pieces if he either buys them in store or online.

He gets arsey and says he doesn’t see why HE should have to spend time on this. So I say “OK, alternatively you can send the set back for a full refund”, and he says no, and demands I go and buy him the pieces and send them on to him or he’s contacting eBay. Guy’s being a right willy.

I know eBay always sides with buyers, but I’m thinking since I’ve actually offered a partial refund, AND offered a full refund, I’m not actually clear on what eBay could do that’d be worse than what I’ve already offered.

What do you think?

I would just contact ebay and include your messages as evidence that you have attempted to arrange a solution with the buyer and that they are not co-operating.

Buying the replacement pieces and sending them over (free postage) seems fair and partial refund is even better for the buyer.

Contacting eBay is easier said than done… can’t speak to a human, and the choices available don’t cover this situation

[Chicken Dhansak]

I think you've had a ruck with somebody on this board and this is his way of winding you up.

[Brigs]

Wouldn’t have minded sourcing the pieces and sending them to him if he’d said “getting to a Lego shop’s gonna be a pain in the arse, is there any chance you could get them please mate?”.
But cos he went all Lampard on me immediately, and demanded I source the bricks after I offered to cover the cost, I’m happy to go scorched earth with this guy.

But my main question is this - since I’ve given him the option of covering the cost of getting the missing bricks OR returning the set, even though eBay sides with the buyer, they wouldn’t actually suggest anything other than those two options, would they?

Yup, they could refund him from your PayPal & leave him with the goods if he complains first

[Max B Gold]

Has he proved the bits are missing. We only have his word for it and he is being a fanny/willy about it.

Buy him the bits and send them to him then block him. Lego people don't like getting blocked.

[oriboy]

I think you need to build bridges with the guy.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Has he proved the bits are missing. We only have his word for it and he is being a fanny/willy about it.

Buy him the bits and send them to him then block him. Lego people don't like getting blocked.

What I’ve done is this:

Complained that he’s making a false claim, and specified the resolutions I’ve offered him

What I’m going to do if this carries on is send him the five pieces in a massive f***ing box through Hermes. It’ll be worth it

[Constanza]

No, one piece at a time, every 4 days with a fortnight before the last piece.

[MalvoliO]

Constanza's option will leave that buyer seriously bricking himself!

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Maybe I’ll send him a Lego horses head

[Long slender neck]

Pretty psycopathic behaviour to sell it with pieces missing.

Ordering the missing pieces and sending to the buyer is the best and quickest solution.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

Nah, partial refund seems to be the norm. Gets to the person who needs it quicker, minimises fuss, everyone happy.
This guy is having an emotional response where he is adamant that he demands I get him the missing pieces, he can kiss my bottom

[The Reverend]

Nah, partial refund seems to be the norm. Gets to the person who needs it quicker, minimises fuss, everyone happy.
This guy is having an emotional response where he is adamant that he demands I get him the missing pieces, he can kiss my bottom

An emotional and obsessive response to something trivial which results in making demands to a stranger. Could you imagine such a thing!?!?!?

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

It’s ok, I don’t need your address

[BIGRON]

Just tell him too fook off .

[Adz]

Maybe his mum wont let him go to the shops on his own.

[DrWindy]

I can’t be certain but I think technically you’re in breach of contract if the set is not complete. I agree with you that he can’t demand what he has requested he can only request a full refund. Be careful as I believe you would be responsible for his postage costs.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

My understanding is that would be the case if I wasn’t offering a resolution, but since I’ve offered him a full refund or to cover the cost of the pieces, he’s not really got anything to actually complain about. Managed to speak to a human on eBay customer services who said as much

[Sid Bishop]

My understanding is that would be the case if I wasn’t offering a resolution, but since I’ve offered him a full refund or to cover the cost of the pieces, he’s not really got anything to actually complain about. Managed to speak to a human on eBay customer services who said as much

How did you actually manage to speak to a human being on Ebay customer services ?
Ebay used to be so easy to speak to a customer service representative and get things sorted out but around the time of the Covid outbreak they did away with that very hekpful service and changed to the present very frustrating online customer service and as you wrote '' Contacting eBay is easier said than done… can’t speak to a human, and the choices available don’t cover this situation'' Amazon also did the same but in the last year or so have restored the customer services where you can phone them up and actually speak to someone. I try to avoid buying things on Ebay now, too annoying and frustrating if things go wrong.
The only means of contact is by contacting the buyer and if you cannot resolve the problem between the two of you, well hard luck !! I also feel sorry for the hard working people on the phone in eBay customer services who lost their jobs mainly due to the Covid pandemic.

[CEB2ElectricBoogaloo]

I did a bit of googling outside of eBay, and found someone on a reddit thread that had a direct link to the page within eBay that connects you to an agent. Had to queue for ten minutes first, but got through. I was even a bit wary that it was a scammy link, but the person I spoke to had my order number, details of the product and access to the messages exchanged (and her name checked out on linkedin, too)
I’ve bookmarked the link, so if you need it let me know and I’ll dm it to you

[Sid Bishop]

I did a bit of googling outside of eBay, and found someone on a reddit thread that had a direct link to the page within eBay that connects you to an agent. Had to queue for ten minutes first, but got through. I was even a bit wary that it was a scammy link, but the person I spoke to had my order number, details of the product and access to the messages exchanged (and her name checked out on linkedin, too)
I’ve bookmarked the link, so if you need it let me know and I’ll dm it to you

Yes I would like that, please dm it to me. I have not got a smart phone, do you think it would it would work on a desktop pc ?
So this is link is for an online customer service centre, not a call centre.