Royal Mail compensation - Xbox 360 - will I win?

*if* he does open a dispute with paypal, the only was he will get his money back is be returning the goods to you be special delivery or a recognised courier, otherwise they will not allow the claim to continue, the only downside to this is if he sends you a empty box back (has happened to me before)

Just make sure that you keep all email messages etc from him and submit these in evidence that he has got it repaired etc, again unless he has receipts for the repair he wont have a leg to stand on

Also if he does threaten to open a dispute with paypal, advise him of what i have said above, there is a huge policy on paypal about returning damaged goods, and unless he abides by it to the letter he wont have a leg to stand on

 

Yep, the empty box is precisely what I am imagining here! PayPal assume that the delivery details are proof enough! Stupid eh, you could send a plastic poo in the box and so long as you've actually send something back to the seller then you have ALL the necessary evidence they require to say "Here Mr Honest eBuyer, have your money back and have a nice day"

And that would be that...

Did you keep a note of his address btw, he didn't ask you to deliver the item to a different address than that on PayPal - nah, you'd have spotted that one? You have a telephone number?

 

I have a mobile number, address and still retain the tracking number and post slip.

 

Where in the UK is this buyer (town will do), I am sure you are tempted to knock on his front door.

What I am thinking is, you could arrange collection from him. Some couriers offer a box n wrap service. That means the customer is expected to just leave the item alone. It would cost more, but not as much as your LE Xbox 360!

Insist that you'd like to deal with it as you understand his condition. Trick him into sending back various details again via email. I mean really look like you are buying his storyline. False sense of security. Be careful what you WRITE to him.

Then arrange uplift via a reputable courier. Explain the situation and get to speak to the driver en-route. I have done this in the past.

 

That's probably going to be my plan B. He's too far away to visit (cambridgeshire).

For now I'm going to stand by the fact that it was his decision to get the unit repaired prior to contacting me, so it's his problem.

If he moves to open a dispute he'll find that I got there first.

 

^ out of interest where in Cambridgeshire?

 

Edit: This guy is pulling a fast one. Did he send you pictures of the machine? Did you write down the serial numbers? Ask him to send it back to you so you can check all the serial numbers with the ones you hav (even if you don't) including the "internal ones". See what he says.

Also you could try talking to the police. They have an online fraud thing now.

 

No he sent nothing. He was flaky with all of the details.

A lengthy email to ebay has resulted in the classic 'we can't get involved' response.

 

So it's down to Paypal then. Damn. If he takes the money back then you can take him to court, since you have evidence of the auction, proof of postage etc. Shame none of the discussion took place in emails.

Failing that, you could make the journey and pay him a visit.

 

Looks like it's heading that way.

Strange thing is I've heard nothing from him at all, no phone calls no emails.

I'm going to give it a few days and see what happens, there's not alot I can do other than keep a hold of the money until I'm sure it's over.

This has been a real nightmare I've had to turn down an amazing new flat at a very competitive price and 2 job interviews because I can't afford to move until next month without this money.

 

I got this today in an email:

[FONT=arial,sans-serif]ok well here we go! lol here is a list of wot he did and done
1) there is a chip/poss a crack in the green controler (got new one)
2)the white controler will not keep batt life ether norm batt (out of a shop or the plug and play one) (got new one)
3)hard drive will some times work or will not work(have got a 2nd one on the way)
4)heat sink and "x clamp" broke off poss to drop
or handing power unit done to crack in plug (done)
game's (5)
halo3 disc+case sortid out (got new one) same thing to forza 2 disc only he gave me used case
hope that helps sorry that i cud not make them pay
[/FONT]
I like the way it's been left open ended so he makes sure that I'm the one who brings up the subject of repayment for repairs.


I sent this back...I think it's fair:


[FONT=Arial, Verdana]Ok.

Here is my offer.

Return everything and you get all of your money back.

It was your decision to get it repaired not mine and I can't be held responsible for those costs.

What you should have done was contact me first before doing anything at all. I would have gladly refunded you the money and taken back the broken console.

I understand that you wanted it working fairly quickly as a present/gift but any partner/friend would be fairly understanding if you explained the situation to them.

If you bought something from Argos and had it delivered and it got beaten up. You wouldn't spend a fortune getting it fixed and then contact them asking them to foot the bill, you would take it straight back to them with a receipt and get them to sort it.

I am argos. Ebay and paypal are your receipt. You have the console, think of it that way.

What worries me more is that you had it fixed in a matter of a day by some cash in hand kid who won't provide paper work. I have had no offer of photographs or any evidence whatsoever that this is happened. Cash in hand, nameless young repairmen, shaky descriptions, reluctance to contact by email, repairs to a ltd edition console in a very short period of time, I'm not calling you a liar as I understand that such circumstances arise...but what would you think if it was the other way around?

Ebay said they can't help with the post compensation problem but they are aware of the situation that has developed.

From this point on I'll leave it entirely up to you what you do but I won't budge at all on my offer. I am not liable for costs in any shape or form as the cost to me originally would have been a broken console back in my home and less £270 if things had been done properly.

- Tim.
[/FONT]

[FONT=arial,sans-serif]up [/FONT]

 

Hahahaha - very quick update.

Within a matter of minutes I got a reply saying that he's got the paper work and he's going to use it with some other form of insurance.

Case closed.

Scammer caught.

 

Good man. Glad it worked out well in the end. Unfortunately there are a lot of bastards out there who know no moral standards.

 

Well done! Glad it's sorted out. What a little shite bag, you should ban him for one thing and when this is ended I would consider a very well worded feeback post to warn others of possibly issues with buyer.

It might be an idea to post the eBayers name to anyone who asks via PM - rather than it being available here. I would appreciate it actually to ban him from possibly bidding on any auctions I have - thanks!

 

Why keep it private? Blackball him on this forum.

 

Hmm, I'm beginning to think that this may not have been a scam I just think he was a bit slow and a bit stupid.

I'll leave it be because he still could push paypal proceedings if somebody tells him he can do that.

 

LOL - just in case he is determined to have been as Twimfy stated, just a bit "Tim nice, but dim".

 

From what you have said, I really do think he is/was trying to scam you.

 

Maybe so, but I'm happy to let it go.

Now I have the money I can now move back to Bournemouth and live closer to my girlfriend and my friends Hurrah.

The money was so important to me, I would have been screwed if this had gone further.

And although I feel it's my duty to protect other ebay members I don't think this guy is a threat to anyone really, he just didn't have it covered.