Moral dilemma

Refund him with a bouncy cheque and tell him to take it up with ebay.

 

I've sold a bunch of ZX7R spares on EBay over the last couple of
weeks. One prospective purchaser contacted me outside of the auction
and asked for a front wheel, brake rotors, bottom yoke and front
forks, and we agreed a price of £350 by email.

The next bit is not really relevant to the issue, but colours my
opinion of the buyer - he arranged to come and pay (cash) and collect
the stuff on Saturday afternoon. I rushed home from the Koncrete
Krew-fest to meet him at 4pm. At 4:15 I got a text message saying
he'd got stuck in traffic and wouldn't be able to make it. He called
from home (Leicester) a couple of hours later and it turns out he had
only been 10 miles from my place and just got plain lost. I asked him
why he didn't call me, but he couldn't explain. So, I arranged to
meet him halfway (Stratford) on Sunday afternoon.

We met up OK, he lifted the stuff out of my boot, put it in his, gave
me the money, and drove off.

In the evening I got an email complaining that the front wheel has a
"great big fucking dent" in it. In truth, the wheel had what looks
like a tyre level ding in it (which I noticed when I put it in the
car), but it balanced up ok, and was fine when we last raced with it.
The purchaser doesn't want the wheel, and expects a refund.

Part of me is thinking "caveat emptor" - he should have inspected the
stuff before paying for it. If it were me, I certainly would have
inspected the stuff properly before handing over the money. However,
the other (smaller) part of me is thinking that just because the
blokes a bit of an idiot, that's no reason to stitch him up.

What would you do?

 

Refund him, it's not worth the hassle. You'll sell them again.

 

I'd begrudgingly give him a refund, minus postage and petrol costs.

 

Well, if I do refund him, it'll only be for the wheel, for which, of
course, we'd have to agree an individual price. One of the reasons I
don't want to refund him is that I probably won't be able to sell it
easily with a ding in it. Which, of course, means that he is morally
right, really.

And, what hassle could there be? It's not an EBay sale, so he doesn't
have a leg to stand on, really. I'm just wondering how much of a nice
guy I want to be.

 

"Molly" said to Champ wrote:
SNIP pillock that didnt look properly at what he was buying.

True, its not, and you will.
However, after his fucking about, i would tell him that he seemed happy with
the items when he handed over the cash, should have inspected them better,
and if he wants a refund, fine.
However, he needs to learn how to read a map and come to you.
--
Donegal Paul
Lambretta Li186 - crashed and bashed
Vespa T5 Millenium - Wifey's (technically)
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
www.a4c.co.uk - What are YOU doing?

 

Champ wrote:

I'd say that he had the opportunity to inspect the goods, and if he
didn't and paid, that's his look-out. At the same time, I'd offer him a
refund, but point out that the wheel is easily the least valuable
component of everything you sold, and that therefore the refund will be
ukp30 (or thereabouts).

Whether the above is true or not doesn't really matter - it makes the
point. I'm obviously assuming yuo agreed a lump sum for everything, and
didn't itemise each component.

 

Rip out his cold black heart with my bare hands, show it to him...

....then wake up.

 

Well, I was thinking of 50 quid, but considering my time and petrol
spent going to meet him, that doesn't seem too far off.

You assume correctly.

 

TOG@toil, , emerged from their own little
world to say

I'd normally agree with caveat emptor. However, the bloke has your address.
Do as TOG says: negotiate a partial refund. Better than having him return
the wheel to your address in an aggravated manner.

 

Can't you de-ding it?

If he's a pain you might just find you need new tyres.

True but you may not either if he and his mates get nasty. ;-)

Just be yourself.

 

Tell him to **** offski.

Alan

 

What are you on about?

Oh, I see - you're assuming he'd resort to violence. I don't actually
*know* anyone who would do that, and I'm fairly sure this chap
wouldn't either.

 

heh. Well, I suppose it could happen...

No. From my point of view, the wheel is completely useable - I've
raced on it, FFS. But he's building a streetfighter, and he's going
to get it polished, and wants it to look all lovely.

 

Is it possible to polish chemical metal?

 

Tell him he had the opportunity to inspect the stuff when he bought it and
he didn't so tough. I know it sounds nasty but I've done a lot of dealing
on EBay and it just isn't worth the hassle with these tossers and life's too
short. Caveat emptor indeed, I've been stitched up myself. You live and
learn and take it on the chin.

As for Molly saying elsewhere that he and his mates might get nasty, he
couldn't find your house! Anyway, I think plenty of the UKRMers in here
would give you a hand. How's the eye BTW. Better, I take it?

 

This option has obvious appeal

That's not going to happen either way

yes, thanks.

 

Champ wrote

Same a Narks and Sparks: full refund and no arguments.

Then I would turn into Del boy and punt it out again on ebay and mention
the mark on the rim.

 

Champ wrote

you do.

 

"wessie" said to TOG@toil,

Yeabutt, he couldnt find it first time, what makes you think he could this
time?
--
Donegal Paul
Lambretta Li186 - crashed and bashed
Vespa T5 Millenium - Wifey's (technically)
www.thepilgrimssc.co.uk
www.a4c.co.uk - What are YOU doing?