Advice On Issue With Sold Porcelain To China

Sold from my partner's account. Pair of Chinese dishes for 2,750.00.
The buyer sent the following message:

"hello my friend, I receive the two plates, but let me very disappointed . The plate out of the shape very much, please see the pictures . I have to return the plates to you. If you do not accept the return . Please refund me 1000$"

The dishes were described as being approx. 7" in diameter. The buyers sent pictures that show one being a bit irregular in size - 18 x 18.7 centimeters.

Does the buyer have a good reason for what he asks for?

 

That's a tough one, Kard.

As a seller, with lower-priced items I'd just ask the buyer to send the items back. I'm not sure what I'd do with a high-priced item that has to travel half way across the world.

 

Looking it at it from a strictly business viewpoint (my morals aside), I would say return for a full refund, having them be certain that the shipping has delivery confirmation with signature required as mandated by eBay (over 750 usd). And while eBay mandates that the seller pay for return shipping, there is no way that they can "force" you, or even charge your account as eBay can not print international postage labels for returns.

Chances are that this buyer s simply looking for a partial refund for no good reason reason other than they think they can "blackmail" you into it (Davy's explanation shows their method).

 

It is possible that the shape is a bit off. It is a hand crafted piece, over 100 years old. Is it normal to be a bit off, is that such a big issue, I don't know.
Can't tell for sure if the buyer is complaining only about one of the dishes or both.
Maybe I should negotiate the refund. Also, ask for a pictures taken with flat ruler. Maybe two rulers, showing on the same photo the different diameters?
Who do you think Ebay will aide with?

 

If he claims Not As Described, eBay will side with him. But the only resolution then is a Return for Full Refund - eBay does not sanction partial refunds. So if he is fishing/scamming for a partial refund, filing an SNAD will do him no good.

 

Just a word of advice - be sure that all correspondence (including photos) goes through eBay messaging. In the rare (VERY RARE) event that eBay will agree to look at any evidence, they will only accept the messages they can access.

I can't wait until February when all of this sort of thing is put back into the seller's control and eBay will only interfere when the Buyer and Seller can not agree on a resolution.............

 

I am really affraid of international redunds. We pack really well but who knows if the buyer will do the same. What if we receive the plates broken? Who pays what?
So, it is almost sure that if he files 'not as described' he will win?

 

By the way, is there a way to digitally measure the diameters with software? I guess, you have to take a very straight shot.
I don't know if he is trying to scam, he has good feedback.

PS
Davey, I think he is not saying that the two plates differe in sizes but one has not a perfect round shape.

 

All buyers have good feedback....there is no way for them to get a negative. And in my opinion, yes, it is a sure bet that he will win a Not As Described.

And I understand your concern about the buyer repacking to ship, and Davy's concern that you may just get a (made in China???) brick back instead of your porcelain.

 

Hi,
Many years ago I had a customer return a vase. She just stuck a broken brick into the box. Luckily I opened the box at the post office in front of the Post Master.
He sent eBay and the poster with a letter detailing what we/he found instead of my vase. I never heard from the buyer again and got a letter from eBay.
greg

 

Give him the $1000 and he'll be a happy buyer.

 

Give the 1000 bucks you say. Even if he tries to cheat?
By the way, maybe I should remind him that I saved him all the import taxes. I knew I should have not done that.
By the way, let's say you sell something for 2k. The buyer pays the import taxes. Then we agree on return. He has to eat the return shipping and the taxes. But how about the seller. If the buyer declare the return parcel for 2k, the seller has to pay import tax?

 

Around here , if the buyer declares it as a return of merchandise ....you get the taxes back , or don't pay them......I forget which.

As for the plates....he's cheating already !!!
but you have several well founded concerns.....

If you have the stomach to play the game then.......tell him the plates are exactly what he bought ....& if he opens a case ......" RETURN FOR REFUND " is how you answer it !
If the plates come back.....let the postmaster open the box !

If that's not your cup of tea......offer him $500.....and he'll reply...&1000...and you'll counter $600 & he'll reply $1000....& you'll beg him to take $800 and he'll reply $1000.......cuz he's a scammer and he knows he's got you by the short hairs, at which time you'll wonder why the hell you ever talked to him in the 1st place and you'll be left telling him to take the plates and stuff em where the sun don't shine !!!

& then he'll open a case !!!

( hey look Kardi ....I feel for you ...I really do .......but this is eBay 2015.....and these Chinese are no fools ......& he's trying to stick it to ya......soooo how much did the plates cost you in the 1st place and at what cost will it be to your mental health to screw around with this crook !!)

 

Take the photo, crop to the very edge of the plate and check the image w/h in pixels. Rotate 45 degrees and repeat.

 

To what end ??
They're photo's !!!

 

khl, explain again please. The buyer has been asked to take pictures with flat ruler. Photo with the gap at the beginning of his measuring tape was sent to him as well.
New reply from him:
"the plates out of the shape very much, do you know what means out of the shape. It is very very effect the price. I return the plates to you. You check it carefully. You will know the plates out of shape very much. I am very very sorry. I can now accept the plates. I am a honest man. I am not a person make trouble out of nothing . I hope we can ending this friendly. I ask you how much at most you can refund me . If we agree each other. I accept the plates. Or I return them to you soon.please reply me soon".