Bought an item off eBay from a fairly large running company via an auction listing.

Received item, but decided I did not need it anymore.

With the item came documentation on how to return item, with freepost address, only caveat was to contact them first.

Emailed them with eBay id number and my intent to return and got a reply say it was fine and to send it back.

Posted it yesterday and then got this email today:

Dear Jamie,

Just to let you know, because this item was purchased on an auction it
cannot be returned. If you do return it we will have to send it back and
charge you for the postage. Sorry about that but this is the downside of
buying through an Ebay auction – you do not get the same rights as
buying full price.

Regards,

Lanson Running.

Their returns info on the eBay listing states the following:

Return policy
Returns will be accepted for an alternative product but the buyer must pay for all postage costs. Refunds will be provided in the form of store credit. Any item returned needs to be in an unused saleable condition.

…..but, I never saw that till after posting the item back to them.

So where exactly do I stand here?

Cheers.

http://reviews.ebay.co.uk/Distance-Selling-Regulations-And-eBay_W0QQugidZ10000000000140381

Computer says no

But the guidance says that DSRs don’t apply to auctions. I suspect you’ll have to take it on the chin!

http://www.oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/general/oft698.pdf

Ignorance is not a defense and they also published the details for you to read before you pressed “buy”. Sorry, you can do nothing.

Computer says no

I am not pleading ignorance of their terms in the listing, more the conflicting information they also provided in regards to returning the item.

For example, instead of telling me they would not return the item and point me at their returns policy when I contacted them, they sent me this:

Dear Jamie

Thank you for your email regarding the return or exchange of a web
order. This email confirms we have accepted your intention to send
something back. Please ensure that you follow the procedures below but
remember that you must now send anything back to us within the next 7
days for the return to be processed.

Note that any returned item(s) must be unused and you must include all
the original packaging and labels.

Please send the item(s) to our Returns Department using our Freepost
Name address below, together with the top right corner of your delivery
note, or with a covering letter stating your name, order number and
requested course of action.

The address must be on the package exactly how it is below and does not
require any additional details. A returns address label can also be
found on the bottom right corner of your delivery note:

FREEPOST
xxxxx Running
etc etc

Regards,

xxxxxxx

That mentions a web order and not an Ebay order, as they say an Ebay order has different T&Cs. It ooks like they assumed it was a standard web order and when it was identified as an Ebay order thing changed.
That’s just my point of view, best left to the experts and TJ. 😉

That mentions a web order and not an Ebay order, as they say an Ebay order has different T&Cs. It ooks like they assumed it was a standard web order and when it was identified as an Ebay order thing changed.
That’s just my point of view, best left to the experts and TJ

….this is where the plot thickens tho, as that above email was in reply to this one:

Hi,

I would like to notify you that I would like to return the following item:

Item : Go faster stripes for me trainers
eBay id : 190519xxxxxx

Item is not faulty, just not needed now.

Kind Regards

Jamie

Pretty unambiguous no?

To be honest, it’s the fact they want to charge me the return postage for their mistake that grates.

From tha ebay link

DSR’s do not apply to real world auctions however, trading standards and the DTI do NOT class eBay as auctions regardless of it being called an online auction. Therefore if you are a business you are liable to abide by DSR’s and ensure you are running your business legally. Visit the eBay for business guide

So I would quote that at them and see what they say

Are they a UK company? if not of course there is nothingmuch you can do

I wish people would guve all the details in the first post rather than changing the story as it unfolds… 😉

To be honest, it’s the fact they want to charge me the return postage for their mistake that grates.

Is it their mistake though? You saw a product, you liked the product, you bought the product. By your own admission the product is not faulty, so why should they lose simply because you’ve changed your mind?

Yeah they are a UK company. Just shot them a slightly terse email, not helpful I know, so will see what they say.

I wish people would guve all the details in the first post rather than changing the story as it unfolds…

What can I say, I am a born storyteller 😉

😆 Like all good stories I expect that you’ll wake up and discover this has all been a dream/nightmare.