Faulty Washing Machine from Gumtree - Can I Get a Refund?

neophytte on 15/11/2018 - 13:30
Last edited 15/11/2018 - 14:32 by 1 other user

(Note, I'm trying to keep this succinct as I tend to waffle on)

Our washing machine blew up last week in a plume of dark smoke, we looked through Gumtree and found one my wife like - we negotiated on a price for the machine and delivery, as we don't have the muscle power or facility to pick it up.

Agreed on a time (5.30pm) for the machine to be dropped off.

Received a series of emails and phone calls, which delayed the delivery until 8.30pm at night. Paid cash. Kids were tired as it was past their bedtime, put them to bed. Wennt back to washing machine, hoses were missing. Sent email asking if they had them - got a response "no, but you can get it from Bunnings".

Next day, went to Bunnings, got the extra parts, plugged in. The machine is leaking everywhere - clearly not in the "good" condition described.

Do we have any way to get the goods refunded, and get our money back? I've already sent an SMS requesting refund, but doubt I'll hear back …

Thanks

Home & Garden Washing Machine

Related Stores

Gumtree
Gumtree

Comments

    • Ulysses31 on 25/11/2018 - 15:33

      Too many M's… Counterfeit!

  • [Deactivated] on 16/11/2018 - 14:52

    You can ask but they are not legally obliged to give you one.

  • Topdog on 16/11/2018 - 14:58
    +10

    OP could be the scammer and he knocked the washing machine over and now its stuffed… I know this is prob not the case with this OP. But sorry you got no chance in hell a refund, and it sucks you got ripped.

    Story Time,

    I bought a XBOX One X, Impulse buy… Plugged it in and it sat in the same place for months. (Only played it on the day i got it) (I am Sony Fan Boy). Sold it on gum tree some months later. When I was getting it ready for the seller. It looked bloody brand new… Met the seller, sold, next day he making contact all narky wanting a refund it does not even turn on! I said I am not providing a refund, But I am quite happy to come and have a look and see what the go was…. so I did, and when I get there it looked liked the thing had been dropped onto cement from 100 meters with a small chunk on the side. it had been dropped or knocked hard or something. I said this and he was like was already like that mate. I showed him pics of the gumtree ad and said see ya mate, and left…..

    • T1 on 16/11/2018 - 16:44
      +2

      +1 for going out of your way to have a look at it.

    • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:33

      Thanks for playing Devils Advocate, if this was the case though, wouldn't be posting on OzB with this story, I'd probably paint myself as less of a dummy who didn't test the machine …

  • Lexan on 16/11/2018 - 15:25
    +1

    Try to sell it for $100

  • lltravel on 16/11/2018 - 15:27
    +8

    Why anyone would buy a used washing machine is beyond me

    Who knows what they have put in there. Disgusting

    A decent washing machine is around $400
    Spend the extra and have peace of mind with warranty.

    • jason101 on 16/11/2018 - 20:33
      +2

      I agree in principal, but walk a day in someones shoes with only $250 no washing machine, bills to pay and hungry kids - suddenly a disgusting but working washing machine doesn't seem like such a bad thing.

      • jelko on 17/11/2018 - 11:41

        Use the credit card.

      • Ughhh on 17/11/2018 - 22:17

        Can always hand wash.

        • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:34

          The Mrs currently is …

  • padman on 16/11/2018 - 15:46
    +1

    Sell it on gumtree and deliver it without hoses.

  • Zondor on 16/11/2018 - 15:56

    No harm in asking, but they don't have any legal obligation to.

    • Herbse on 16/11/2018 - 16:17
      -1

      Considering their blazay reply about the missing pipes. I'd say their care factor is zero.

      Chock it up to a $250 lesson in gumtree dealing

      • miicah on 16/11/2018 - 16:27

        Blase*

        • xuqi on 16/11/2018 - 16:41
          +2

          Blasé*

          • neophytte on 16/11/2018 - 16:55

            @xuqi: There has been no response to text or calls … so I'd say @Herbse is correct …

            • xuqi on 16/11/2018 - 17:06

              @neophytte: Definitely a dodgy seller. Out of interest, how was his general demeanor/interaction whilst this went down?

              • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:37

                @xuqi: In retrospect it was pretty poor - they were keen to dump the machine and go, that should have been my warning sign …

      • idonotknowwhy on 16/11/2018 - 18:01
        • The cost of pipes from Bunnings
  • Baysew on 16/11/2018 - 17:28

    It might have just been a case of mistaken identity.

  • aussieprepper on 16/11/2018 - 17:58

    Did you get the hose that is used for the waste water that has to go in the sink?

  • nedski on 16/11/2018 - 18:55

    Have a look at Homeclearance. They sell brand new stuff that has cosmetic damage. Its an offshoot of Appliances Online.

    Got my new dishwasher and dryer from them

    • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:40

      Thanks, I'll look into that …

  • LUTSlit on 16/11/2018 - 20:32

    Please be careful buying from dodgy sellers guys.

  • Punda on 16/11/2018 - 22:27
    +2

    I just got one from appliances online. Under 500 delivered, connected and removal of old one. Fantastic service.

  • matt-ozb on 16/11/2018 - 22:28
    +1

    This post is about as stupid as someone buying a gumtree used washing machine without testing.

  • gentlecrack on 17/11/2018 - 07:07

    Did you remove the transportation bolts?

    • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:42

      No, the sellers left by themselves …

  • twocsies on 17/11/2018 - 10:30

    Not sure why so many OzBargain lawyers claim that it's legal to sell a second hand product that is not fit for purpose. Even if it is a private sale on Gumtree, it would be fraud to knowingly sell a leaky washing machine. Recovering damages for a $250 washing machine will not be worth it, as to do so will require use of the legal system, but that is completely different to "they don't have any legal obligation to" sell products that are fit for purpose, or if they are not fit for purpose, for example they may say not tested and sale is AS IS. Fraud is not legal.

    • chumlee on 17/11/2018 - 10:35

      Who says it's fraud? Maybe OP damaged it.

      • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:50

        I'd hope I'd come up with a better story than this, if I did …

    • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:45

      Thanks for that - the advert has since been removed, but it read that it was either in "good" or "excellent" condition (I can't remember which, as I read a few ads over a short period of time). I saw there were laws related to this in both the UK and NZ, but couldn't see any in Australia …

      • Tyrrells on 18/11/2018 - 16:07

        I don't know if this helps but I've contacted gumtree in the past in regards to an ad that was taken down so I could get a copy of it. They were able to provide the ad for me.

    • gromit on 18/11/2018 - 07:10

      good luck proving it was fraud. While of course fraud is illegal you are fighting a huge uphill battle in these situations as Australian consumer laws don't apply for second hand goods with private sales. Hence the buyer beware part as the onus really is entirely on the buyer in these situations to prove wrongdoing. The money is gone and chasing it from an uncooperative seller will always be more trouble than its worth.

  • chris2456 on 17/11/2018 - 11:10
    +1

    Can you report the seller to Gumtree? You may not be able to get your money back, but you could get their account banned.

    • Cartman2530 on 17/11/2018 - 11:45
      +1

      They'll just start another one up, its pretty easy as all you need is an email address… Gumtree will do nothing.

    • ravonda on 17/11/2018 - 14:28
      +1

      I was in the same boat as OP. To make it worse, I was scammed by the washing machine seller AND on top of that, the guy I hired on Scumtree to pick up the washing machine for me threatened to throw the washing machine down from his ute if I do not add an additional $20 for the time he was made to wait around (he went to pick up point 1 hour early on his own). He even threatened my pregnant wife at the time as she wasnt gonna pay him. It was late at night and we were really tired that week so we just paid up in the end.

      I reported both persons to Scumtree and they just said they'll investigate it. Then they said they'll close the scammers' accounts. Went to check and of course it was NOT closed. Never used Scumtree after that.

      FK SCUMTREE

      • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:47

        Sorry to hear your story, and I agree with your last statement …

  • brendanm on 17/11/2018 - 13:32
    +1

    $250 for a used washing machine that you didn't even see working? Not much more to get one brand new with warranty. Can't believe people pay this much for old crap.

  • kasiano on 17/11/2018 - 18:13

    Does your hose screw in properly into the machine? I have an old whirlpool washing machine that is made in USA so when I had to get a replacement hose I ordered it from ebay for the proper USA to Aussie connector. They did not sell this hose at bunnings. The hose threads look almost identical but theres enough difference that the hose will not fit properly and cause a leak.

    • neophytte on 18/11/2018 - 00:49

      Yes, the hose was slightly different, I used a hose clamp on it which stopped the leaking, and saw there was water coming from underneath …

      • kasiano on 19/11/2018 - 03:26

        I cant imagine a hose clamp working to secure it tightly. I couldn't get the wrong hose to go on the connector more than a couple of mm. Not sure how you are clamping something that wont screw on.

        • neophytte on 19/11/2018 - 13:43

          It's not a screw mount (sorry, didn't read your first post carefully), it's a slide on; this is not where it's leaking from …

  • echelon6 on 17/11/2018 - 21:15

    that's what you get

  • frostman on 17/11/2018 - 21:51

    Only thing you can do is report the seller on Gumtree,
    Not much will happen in terms of your money back but perhaps his/her profile will be flagged.
    Yes he can create a new profile but generally people avoid buying off gumtree users with less than 2 years tenure.,

  • c64 on 18/11/2018 - 09:39

    have you tried to determine where it's leaking from?

  • wkd on 18/11/2018 - 12:36

    always test when buying off gumtree

  • cheaper on 18/11/2018 - 17:32

    I replaced a hose last time and it leaked!! Refund it in Bunning and got a different brand and it worked. Are you sure you have installed the hose properly? Better check the source of the leak.

    • neophytte on 19/11/2018 - 13:44

      Yes, the source of the leak (was) internal, it's not the hose I added on … unfortunately …

      • c64 on 21/11/2018 - 17:20

        if you are handy with tools, you can take off the top cover (usually some screws at the back) and have a look for leaking pipes or loose clamps. turn electricity off before poking about.

        an exploded view is here: https://spares.bigwarehouse.com.au/file.php?document_id=6122…

        (but don't buy any spare parts for bigwarehouse)

  • wannagrababargain on 29/11/2018 - 09:17

    Username checks out…

    neophyte
    noun
    1. a beginner or novice.

    (Sorry couldn't help it)

  • BraggingRights on 01/12/2021 - 02:26

    No, they can simply claim you broke it during the process of owning it…

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