GraysOnline Selling Damaged TV's on Their Auction Platform

Hey people Greys Online are selling items that are broken and totally unrepairable. I purchased a TV in original box and when opening discovered that the screen is smashed - only good for council pickup!! They refused a refund.Buyers beware.

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Comments

  • -2

    What was it listed as? Store return or similar by any chance? An auction is "as is, where is", they are for people who are willing to take the chance if getting a good product at a great price, or a shit product at a terrible price.

    The number of people whining about things they've bought at auction drive me up the wall, it's all you people who drive up the prices to insane levels, so people who actually understand what they are buying, can never get it.

    • +2

      Apparently a lot of people don't understand how auction houses work.

      It gets shovelled in one side, and hosed out the other.

      It ain't eBay, dudes.

      • +1

        As a once auction idiot I can vouch for this dumb arse approach having once bought a computer case for the price of a regular computer at auction. It was a long time ago but a lesson well learned.

  • +1

    Could have been damaged in shipping?

  • +3

    Hey mate

    I hear what you saying. You can expect a dent , scratches on the case , no remote ,etc but surely selling a TV with a smashed screen just unacceptable? How you supposed to check out the condition of the screen when you buying online. One would expect that Greysonline aren't selling completely damaged and unusable goods that are ultimately worthless. One would expect that they have a reputation to defend?

    • +6

      No, they don't, they are an auction house. They sell things exactly as they receive them, nothing is tested. The sooner people realise auctions are not JB hifi, the better.

  • Was already damaged on collection. Problem is credit card is debited prior to collection

  • +1

    Go to consumer affairs.
    No it shouldn’t be a smashed screen. The product should be usable unless it says parts only.

    • Lol, auctions are strictly as is where is, no take backsies.

      • +3

        Nah man let him complain to the accc. They can solve anything :p.

  • -1

    Auctioneers fall outside of consumer protection laws so they are obviously exploiting this…apparently NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunial is the best option.

    • +4

      No, greys online is a AS-IS auction type site. It isn’t like eBay. Everything is AS-IS/buy at own risk.

    • +2

      This is not them exploiting this, it is the purpose of a consignment auction house. They take everything, and sell to the highest bidder.
      This used to be cents in the dollar, because bidders knew the tv might not work, and typically to people in the room who would not bid on a broken tv. But people bid online assuming the best, driving up prices and getting disappointed.

      Hope you didn’t pay much, but you got precisely what you bid for, unless the description made a commitment like guaranteed undamaged and working.

  • +3

    They earning a 17.5% fee so they must have a responsibility to the consumer? So if I buy a car on auction and the engine is seazed so be it!

    • +3

      That is the case, ceased engine and all yours.

    • +3

      Correct, that's why only people with knowledge of what they are buying, or willing to take the risk, should buy at auction.

  • -5

    Just claim on household insurance, claim you dropped while wall hanging.

    • +1

      so just commit fraud?

      • -5

        Better then a loss.

      • -5

        Accidents happens. A poorly secured wall bracket and the tv will hit floor. Call up the insurer and file a claim.

      • +3

        Whats lower than a fraudster.

        One who encourages others to commit fraud.

    • You are suggesting a crime. Insurance fraud costs everybody not just the company as they build it into their margins. Btw ask anybody who has been caught how easy it is to get insurance afterwards and if they do how did the claim process go on their next claim? It’s just not worth it.

      • -3

        I've never claimed insurance, but this is the internet rofl.

  • +4

    Yeah thats Greysonline.

    Did you pay with Paypal? I raised a dispute and won my money back after they refused

  • What did the product listing say?
    It's been a while since I've bought from greys but the last time I purchased the item was listed as working - which is exactly what I got!

  • +4

    Link us the item op.

  • Op, did you inspect the item before making a bid?

  • It's an online auction not possible to inspect.

    • +4

      Please link the item.

      • +2

        Yes wthout that we have no idea.

        Grays has current listings with condition of item

        1. New
        2. Reconditioned
        3. Used/Untested
        4. Seconds

          For one of the 1 (new) condition listings its says 12 months vendor warranty

        And so on

        If the OP wont explain what condition was, and what Greys said when they denied claim, all we can assume is that it was a 3 Type condition of which as other say, there is no guarantee to work.

        What Grays says in a type 3 listing

        Please Note: Unit(s) are not tested and may contain faults that may make the item(s) unrepairable. Item(s) may have major marks, scratches, dents, imperfections or damage on both the fascia and the casing. Undescribed faults/damages will not be considered as grounds for refund. Accessories may not be included.

        CAUTION: Do not use or connect to supply, this second-hand electrical equipment may be faulty and should be inspected and tested by a competent person in accordance with AS/NZS 3760.

        • +1

          But even all those conditions doesnt mean you should get a smashed tv right?

    • Huh, you can still go in and view them, start them, etc - they even suggest you do in their listings.

  • You seem to be very knowledgeable about auctions, and where the risks and liabilities lie should the product be defective.
    Knowing all of the risks, why did you proceed with the purchase of a TV (which isn't something you replace every year) through an online auction house?

    • +4

      seem to be very knowledgeable about auctions

      Certainly knows more today than before.

  • +1

    I bought a TV from them. It was faulty but they told me to return it to them, they repaired it and then sent it back to me. It was advertised as a working TV though and not one of those untested or 'as is' lots that they sometimes have.

  • +2

    In 2016 I bought an LG OLED tv from GreysOnline through their EBay store. It arrived cracked in the corner of the screen. it had obviously been dropped. I got a full refund through Ebay. A few months later I bought another Tv from greys through their Ebay store, the exact same thing happened! Cracked Screen! Got another refund. Ended up going to GoodGuys and buying a tv instead!

  • +4

    From my experience, they do appear to take advantage of the “AS IS” caveat. Some items are clearly damaged beyond economic repair, however they won’t disclose that fact. Not even when a glance will identify its condition. It can be conveniently omitted. They generate a higher profit margin by allowing hope of unrealised potential to a potential buyer. Is it Illegal? no.. immoral? sometimes..
    It’s a Gray area..

    • Things at auction should be considered as "not working or damaged" unless specifically stated otherwise. They are good for people who can repair, it for people who need spare parts. People can't buy them for spare parts anymore these days, as every man and his dog is buying crap from the auction expecting it to be perfect.

  • +8

    The only tip I have for people who shop on GraysOnline is don't forget the r in the URL. It takes you to a completely different site.

  • -2
    Merged from How Does GraysOnline Sell Pallets of Broken TV's and Laptops as Untested?

    How can they get away with this? It only inflates the prices from people who think it may work
    It seems to be beggars belief that they would sell $2000 laptops and $5000 TV's for $3000 in a pallet as Untested.
    Surely the time it takes to test it would mean that they are all tested and they are all faulty?
    My friend is quite cynical after buying a few lots off them and they were all unfixable and he is an IT professional training people to fix monitors etc.

    • +2

      It's an auction.

    • +1

      They can be used as parts to repair others or be repaired themselves… nothing wrong with grays advertising.

    • +1

      WYSIWYG.

      They aren't breaking any laws. Caveat emptor.

    • +1

      Auctions are sold as is unless listed otherwise.

      The buyers are responsible for checking the condition of the items before bidding.

    • Your "friend" needs to learn after buying one lot it seems.

  • An Opinion

    UNETHICAL BUSINESS under The FLAWS of LOCAL RULES and REGULATIONS
    Spend Few Thousands Hire Crook Team Rob Millions From Common People

    Selling TVs already Tested Few Times with the ORANGE stickers of SUCCESSFULL
    Ad Advertisements using Communications Skills for MisLeading Buyers

    First Customer Founds TVs are Faulty and Returns to Company
    Company Test Founds it is Faulty Accepts Returns and Put the Details on Unit Packing about Faults
    Then E waste or Related Type Companies which may be even Gets Funds too for E waste Conducts Tests on Units mostly Choose and Puts Some on Auctions
    That Looks Quite Interesting Joint Venture of Dishonesty So Called Legal under The FLAWS of LOCAL SYSTEM

    Auction Company or may be other mostly Tests and Take Off all Details Mentioned about Faults and Sell Better ones as Quality Rejected
    Mostly They have Big Place for Testing in the Back Side of WareHouse

    Remaining Sells as UNTESTED and even in Pictures They Shows Orange Colour Stickers on TVs which Says SUCCESSFULL

    Such a DisHonesty

    COMMUNICATION GAME OF NON ETHICAL BUSINESS ACTIVITY

    Worse Scenario The Tvs which Tested Several Times They Sell as UNTESTED is it Fair

    And more interesting Things is That you may see Some of Same Tvs again after Couple of Weeks in Different Pallets so May be there are Bidders who Never Picks TVs but Push the Prices up to Targeted Prices

    Think 10 Pallets if you sell for avg 300 each Pallets so Total 3000
    But if you Sell avg 1000 each and actual sell only 3 Pallets so you Still Gets 3000 and Seven Pallets gets Re Shuffle and Comes back in Sale after few Weeks

    Same Story with Laptops and You can See RAMS Hard Drives SSDs Processors Sales in another Sales Still it is Mentioned UNTESTED

  • i have been browsing the site and you can see in some autions that they do state in the item description.

    be careful and ready the aution information carefully.

    i have purchased some stuff off their aution site and yes the items were as described. in the end i was happy but really i think they should provide more information to the customer.

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