Faulty Car Part from eBay

tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 13:43
Last edited 15/11/2018 - 13:48

So I purchased a diesel injector pump from eBay, long story short as possible but organised shipping outside of eBay (from the UK) that was delayed by a month, and eBay has no idea about the shipping.

The part was advertised in the listing as "Perfect working order" but I have since had a specialist mechanic look at it as I couldn't get it working and he has let me know that it has had water inside and is partly rusted and seized. As my original part was economically unrepairable the mechanic is using parts from both pumps to make a working one to get me on the road again. To just make the part workable is about $1400 (paid about $250 plus postage) plus testing and fitting about doubles that overall cost.

As the shipping (about $125) was delayed more than the advertised timeframe the freight company supposedly offer a full refund, as this was organised outside of eBay the seller is chasing this up for me and we have been quite amicable chatting about this and the broken part on WhatsApp thus far.

His last message to me contained the comment "its why I list all my parts as mechanical parts as faulty, it covers my back as I have sold parts on there before and people have sent their broken parts back…………all I can try and do is try the insurance on postage"

Upon looking at the listing again the condition is listed as "For parts or not working" which I am guessing could potentially cause an issue if going for a refund (even though he described it as "perfect working order"), if not the cost to return to part would likely be up around the $125 mark as well as I think the mechanic is using at least some of the parts from the pump.

Before this, I was going to suggest he refund me the purchase price without me having to return it and he can keep any shipping refund, he gets some money for the part and I get an effective discount for it not working.

What is the best path going forward, I haven't pushed for a refund yet as he is looking into the shipping refund which he isn't obliged to do but I feel that a pump that was listed as "perfect working order" (which it possibly was in working order before it sat for about a year) but was is faulty is worthy of at least part refund.

TL;DR bought a faulty diesel pump from eBay and want to know what my chances are and best way of getting a refund is.

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Comments

  • CLoSeR on 15/11/2018 - 14:00
    +2

    How much did you save compared to buying locally, I am assuming $250 is a steal as you are willing to spend $1400 to make it work.

    eBay can be hit and miss and of course risk increases with international purchases due to cost of shipping to get it to you and if you are unhappy with said purchase and want to return it.

    You've got some use of the parts; I would see what you can get out of postage which is a added bonus then move on. As a percentage of overall outlay to repair your vehicle the cost of this part and shipping is small, treat it as a life lesson and move on.

    • tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 14:07

      The issue is more about availability here in Aus than cost as this type never came with the vehicles that were sold here, $250 is about the normal cost of a used working one from the UK.
      Rebuilt vs used it the main factor in the price differences, not because of the used ones being not being OK but what is required to rebuild one.

  • 87percent on 15/11/2018 - 14:03
    +2

    that's actually quite a sneaky method of listing items on ebay, but clever on his part.. interesting to see how this plays out for you. If you initiate a chargeback via PayPal, you can return it BUT only $45 is covered. I think your best bet is a partial refund, which you would have to liase with the seller but IMO, unlikely unless he's a good person

    • tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 14:12

      He does seem like a decent person and has been quite helpful but his last comment makes me think that he doesn't intend on refunding money unless he can get some out of the freight company, reading between the lines I think this might be as he is just scraping by and that $250 purchase price is long gone.

  • HighAndDry on 15/11/2018 - 14:24
    +1

    Upon looking at the listing again the condition is listed as "For parts or not working" which I am guessing could potentially cause an issue if going for a refund

    Potentially? Nah, that kills dead any chance for a refund.

    • tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 14:26

      Speaking from experience? So descriptions count for nothing then and you can claim whatever you want?

      edit, genuine questions, not having a go at your comment.

      • HighAndDry on 15/11/2018 - 14:30
        +1

        Yeah, not with car parts though. I think a good guide is - if something is listed as "for parts/faulty", don't expect it to work, no matter what the description says.

        I mean - descriptions aren't as important as the condition the item is listed at, because the condition the item is listed at will be a much bigger factor for how much it can sell for, especially on a platform like eBay. (Imo it's not even that sneaky - I've bought car parts, a brand new OEM part is sometimes something like 2x to 5x to even 10x the price of a used/faulty part).

        And the problem is - the last time the seller had it in a vehicle, it could well have been in perfect working order, but it's just been sitting outside in the rain, or was rained on while enroute to you, etc. It's almost impossible for you to prove that the seller's description is incorrect, and the fact that its listed condition is "for parts or faulty" again just drives that nail home.

        Edit: If you're still on talking terms with the seller, see if they're willing to give a partial refund, but approach it from a "hey we're friendly and I think you're a decent person and this would be the fair thing to do", and not on the basis that you'd be entitled to one.

        Worst comes to worst, (if you're still in the time period for returns on eBay or Paypal?) you can still try and claim a refund if all else fails, just don't get your hopes up. Costs nothing to try though.

        Edit 2: I just realised my edit is pretty much what you said in your post. So yeah - go that approach.

        • tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 14:40

          It's almost impossible for you to prove that the seller's description is incorrect

          I have the mechanics report and photo's so I don't think it would be that hard for me to "prove" and the ad didn't say anything about it sitting or was working when removed just literally, Part description "Perfect working order" call me for more information.

          I could argue that the "for parts" bit I interperated as it being a partfor a car….but that might be a bit of a stretch.

          • HighAndDry on 15/11/2018 - 14:45
            +2

            @tryagain:

            I could argue that the "for parts" bit I interperated as it being a partfor a car….but that might be a bit of a stretch.

            Haha just a tad. Especially since if I'm reading your post right, you are using parts from it to fix your broken pump.

            And yeah - the thing is it's sold as "for parts/faulty" condition, so any description isn't so much binding as it would be, well, descriptive (aka, as far as the seller knows). It may have a lot more pull with the seller (if you asked him (nicely) for a partial refund) than it would with eBay/Paypal.

            Again though, if the seller doesn't budge, you can still go claim with eBay/Paypal.

  • Rukiata on 15/11/2018 - 14:50
    -4

    you gotten hardcore scammed.

    • tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 14:58

      Scammed as in he deliberately ripped me off, I don't think so. Lost out because I wasn't careful enough, possibly, time will tell.

      • Rukiata on 15/11/2018 - 15:01

        nO YOU GOTTEN SCAMMED.

        Why are you talking through whatsapp? this is a ebay sell you wont be protected because of that and from buying sold for parts. everything the dude is saying is clearly scammy

        • tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 15:17

          It was easier to organise the shipping by voice at the time. There has been plenty he has said that I haven't posted here that points to your hasty assumptions being incorrect.

          • Rukiata on 15/11/2018 - 15:21

            @tryagain: im being incorrect? yet your the one here asking about getting a refund so why dont you ask the seller than? lol is this a troll post?

            • tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 15:28

              @Rukiata:

              everything the dude is saying is clearly scammy

              .

              im being incorrect?

              Yes

              yet your the one here asking about getting a refund so why dont you ask the seller than

              that's all covered in the original post.

              is this a troll post?

              No

              See how easy it is to be constructive like everyone else!

              • Rukiata on 15/11/2018 - 15:30

                @tryagain: Yet the seller's description is incorrect, its listed as parts only, you talked over whatsapp and not on ebay, seller don'st seem to want to refund''

                Right not scammed. Well whatever you say hope it goes well and you get money back.

                • tryagain on 15/11/2018 - 15:32

                  @Rukiata:

                  hope it goes well and you get money back.

                  Thanks!

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