Returning Used Items Etiquette

[strgt]

I bought a used transponder on the wera classifieds and when it came in it had a bad battery. The guy swears up and down that it worked before he sent it (which I find hard to believe that it just completely stopped working for me). He agreed to refund my money, yet he was going to wait until it came in and then send a check instead of refunding through paypal. I got a bad vibe from this guy and insisted he refund my money through paypal first before I ship it back. He agreed to do that (reluctantly) but i'm now wondering if I was in the wrong. If I bought something from walmart then I would have to send it back before they refunded me, yet on the other hand there's less liability on my end in that situation. I'm just worried about this guy saying I sent him the wrong transponder back that wasn't working, because that is what he claimed someone did to him before (and I think that bad transponder is the one he sent me). I look at it as though I am selling him this item and when you sell an item you receive payment first, before you ship. What is the etiquette on this?

[CBR929RE]

In the age of internet scams I think things have switched around from the old days. I think years ago it would have been send it back then get refunded. But now with how many people just rip off others because there's just no recourse since you don't know the person and live so far away I'd say you did right in protecting yourself getting your money back first.

[Stoneman]

You're making sure you don't get doinked any further. Good call...

[imkindafkedup]

You can't trust anyone. There is no right and wrong, as there is no guarantee that either people involved are honest people. If paypal was the payment method, then paypal should certainly be the refund method. No questions asked.

[JettaJayGLS]

Definitely refund through paypal, that way they don't get to keep their damn fees and the seller gets refunded for em.

I have a personal vendetta against paypal, so I do not like them getting anything.

Honestly, pending the price of the battery, and how sure you are that is the problem, I may suggest asking the seller to buy you a new battery for it.

Personally, I would ask for refund before shipping back. Or print a label for shipping from the computer, give him the tracking, tell him you dropped it off at UPS so it isn't registered yet, and ask him for the refund. When you get it, then drop it off.

[strgt]

Definitely refund through paypal, that way they don't get to keep their damn fees and the seller gets refunded for em.

I have a personal vendetta against paypal, so I do not like them getting anything.

Honestly, pending the price of the battery, and how sure you are that is the problem, I may suggest asking the seller to buy you a new battery for it.

Personally, I would ask for refund before shipping back. Or print a label for shipping from the computer, give him the tracking, tell him you dropped it off at UPS so it isn't registered yet, and ask him for the refund. When you get it, then drop it off.

Hes worried about getting it and it not being the same transponder. Like as though I had one where the battery died, and sent it to him in swap for his "good" one. Problem is to get the battery replaced in these things its around $100 and you have to send it to a guy in australia to do it. Its all sealed in epoxy and you have to find someway to get to the guts to solder in a new battery. Its looking at up to a month for that to get back to me and I have a race next weekend. I already bought another one here (luckily) and id just rather not deal with repairing it anyways.

[JettaJayGLS]

Hmm, well the guys I've dealt with on Wera have all been pretty reasonably people.

It's not an ebay sale, there should be a little bit of respect on both parties, you definitely seem to be showing it, and I understand his concern. Tough situation, I'd probably try to get him on the phone and talk it out, show him you aren't some punk.

[j4eric]

if i where him? i wouldn't send you the money back until i get the unit back...
if he agreed to your request for money back first....then give him a little cred...it was not his to do....he could have just screwed you and said f*** off.

[Eddie]

Man, I had a recent problem - so I thought.

I was all excited about a set of bodywork that I bought online via paypal - not ebay. So the thing finally arrived turn out being the bodywork for the wrong bike. Granted shipping alone was 125 dollars my initial reaction was that the seller dupped me. So I called and politely explained to him that his staff had sent me the wrong bodywork. He acted genuinely surprised and asked to check what happened. I called back in 10 minutes and he acknowledged that they had sent me the wrong box. Granted it was going to cost another $125 to ship back the seller came up with an interesting solution. He told me to keep the current bodywork and pay the shipping fees for the correct box.

So I sent him the shipping fees for the correct box and kept the incorrect bodywork he told me to keep. I got a tracking number for the correct box in a few minutes and the wrong bodywork was sold and paid for the next day.

I mean, my situation could completely have gone the wrong different direction, however, I was fortunate that the seller was an honest person. You just don't know who are dealing with and their true intentions.

[Eddie]

Granted that you really do know the other party's intentions, is it possible to try to get him to split the costs for a new battery? I think that from a transactional etiquette, you should try to work together. If he does agree to split the fee for a new battery both of you would be splitting the additional cost to the transaction without incurring further transactional risks.

[blacklightning]

Send in seal team six.

[Eddie]

Hes worried about getting it and it not being the same transponder. Like as though I had one where the battery died, and sent it to him in swap for his "good" one. Problem is to get the battery replaced in these things its around $100 and you have to send it to a guy in australia to do it. Its all sealed in epoxy and you have to find someway to get to the guts to solder in a new battery. Its looking at up to a month for that to get back to me and I have a race next weekend. I already bought another one here (luckily) and id just rather not deal with repairing it anyways.

Ohhh...gotcha...it has to be sent to a third party outside of the states for replacement.

[strgt]

if i where him? i wouldn't send you the money back until i get the unit back...
if he agreed to your request for money back first....then give him a little cred...it was not his to do....he could have just screwed you and said f*** off.

Totally on your side if the table was turned, which is why im second guessing myself. Im more worried now, that because hes not happy with our deal, hes going to say f*** off and not refund. However, in that situation I can at least have the transponder and be out $100 vs $300 if I sent it back to him and never got the money. I havent received the money yet (it hasnt been long so im not too concerned yet) I just got a bad vibe from talking to him on the phone.

[Pigman]

Totally on your side if the table was turned, which is why im second guessing myself. Im more worried now, that because hes not happy with our deal, hes going to say f*** off and not refund. However, in that situation I can at least have the transponder and be out $100 vs $300 if I sent it back to him and never got the money. I havent received the money yet (it hasnt been long so im not too concerned yet) I just got a bad vibe from talking to him on the phone.

Also, do a little serching on WERA see if his shit smells...if so, Id bail and keep it and have it fixed but thats me..

[butcher bergs]

If you wanna get rid of the broken transponder to someone local and avoid any extra hassle, PM me.

[eboos]

Proper etiquette would be to immediately start m-effing this person all over every message board.

At least that is how I see it done most often.