Buyer requesting late return for expensive eBay Item Sale

[Loveatfirstlight]

I've sold items on and off on eBay for years. I recently sold an expensive camera lens. I kept the money in my eBay account for two weeks just in case of any issues but the buyer left glowing feedback and seemed happy so I withdrew the money to pay bills. Now, with just a few days left before the 30 day return window closes they have asked for a return saying the lens in defective. I have asked them to provide photos of not just the defect but RAW image files taken with the lens showing the issue. It just seems to me to be a bit dodgy to have had and used the item for over three weeks and now claim it to be defective. It is a high value lens and what is more, I am out of the country for just over a week starting tomorrow and nobody would be here to take a return. I am just worried eBay may decide to refund the buyer and tell them to keep the item in my absence. I am still waiting for the buyer to respond to my request for images taken with the lens.

I think ebay is more reasonable in arbitration than Vinted. You've asked for evidence and this needs to be provided. Presumably even if you are abroad you can check ebay?
If you have a return with tracked delivery and signed for then it would be held until you return. You're only off for a week !

Thank you. Yes, I found out Royal Mail would hold the item. I am waiting for a response from the buyer to my request to provide more evidence. I've bought lenses off eBay before and immediately gone and shot with them to check for any issues with the lens or optics. It's the waiting three weeks bit I've found a little hard to swallow! I know its within the eBay 30 day returns period but it all seems very suss to me. It doesn't take three weeks to identify a fault like the one they are claiming the lens has.

I think you just need to see what evidence is provided. Looking at it from an outsiders perspective, you’re away for a week or so at the end of the return period, but there’s nothing to say that the buyer wasn’t away for a couple of weeks shortly after it was delivered and so hasn’t had a chance to test it until now. The feedback could just be based on speed of delivery and the appearance of the item. I agree, if I was in your position I might think they’d bought it, used it for a few weeks for a specific project and now have no use for it. But until the buyer provides evidence I don’t think there’s a lot more you can do. As it’s so close to the end of the return period perhaps they won’t (or won’t be able…) to provide any evidence in time :)

I have evidence now they have tried to resell an identical lens to one of the major camera resellers and the lens has been refused due to the fault they are claiming mine has. It would have made zero sense to have bought the lens from me as a private seller in order to resell it as reselling it to the trade would mean it would be bought for far less than they paid for it even in pristine condition given its market value - which I am well aware of. It may well be they bought my lens to replace an identical one and are attempting to return the rejected one and keep mine as all they sent me to 'prove' the lens is faulty is a one para screen grab. No date or headers or origin at all. I am going to insist they submit the full report as this is just getting more and more suss and is looking like fraud.

Oh yes this is absolutely what they are doing ! Be very wary OP. Is there any serial numbers or idenfying marks on your lense? You could even tell them it has a UV mark to warn them off

I had the same thing with a pair of leather leggings i sold new without tags, she wanted a refund on the last day said she thought they'd been worn and washed ( they haven't) I think she must of worn them in that 3 weeks and decided they didn't fit so well, I complained to ebay and they did refund her but it didn't come from my bank, they paid her, as I been selling for a few years with no issues,he said just now and then you do get people like her. If its a good seller they pay out to keep the seller happy rather than loose them.

Does your ebay not say no returns? If theyve had it 3 weeks and its only now defective it sounds like they broke it

Maybe send him the evidence or tell him you have it of the stunt he's trying to pull?

Did you not make yours with a UV pen or anything?

Sounds like they are pulling a fast one …. either have used it for a big event/wedding etc and now don’t need it anymore or they’ve replaced it with a faulty one.
I would not refund them and tell EBay exactly why.

It would bother me too yes. I agree he has the right to change into something more comfortable, like joggers or shorts, maybe a Tshirt. If I were you, I wouldn’t open the door either, nor getting something from the garden or the car. Tell your husband to grab a bathrobe or a “housecoat” or such when someone rings and let him open the door himself. You’re not the maid who has to tell visitors “her master is not receiving right now”.

Huh?

@Sennelier1 i think you meant to reply to the thread about the husband stripping off when he gets home?