Scenario

[frankhardy]

Let's say a seller has a modern, but fairly rare card for sale as a buy it now with a best offer. And let's say a buyer makes an offer and the seller accepts the offer. The seller states in his listing that the card is in "great condition", having overlooked a flaw. The buyer receives the card and notices that the card has a significant ding/bend on a corner with other corners being touched.

The buyer notifies the seller of this situation and tells him that if he would have known of the flaws, he would not have offered so much for it. The seller replies that he will give a full refund. The buyer then says that he does not want to do that and that this card will do until a suitable replacement comes along. The buyer says that when a replacement comes along that he will have to sell the dinged card, but will get less for it because the flaw will be described. The buyer says that he would rather have a modest partial refund of whatever the amount that the seller thinks is fair in order to make up for the inaccurate description. The seller then replies that he would rather issue a full refund.

Discuss

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by frankhardy

Let's say a seller has a modern, but fairly rare card for sale as a buy it now with a best offer. And let's say a buyer makes an offer and the seller accepts the offer. The seller states in his listing that the card is in "great condition", having overlooked a flaw. The buyer receives the card and notices that the card has a significant ding/bend on a corner with other corners being touched.

The buyer notifies the seller of this situation and tells him that if he would have known of the flaws, he would not have offered so much for it. The seller replies that he will give a full refund. The buyer then says that he does not want to do that and that this card will do until a suitable replacement comes along. The buyer says that when a replacement comes along that he will have to sell the dinged card, but will get less for it because the flaw will be described. The buyer says that he would rather have a modest partial refund of whatever the amount that the seller thinks is fair in order to make up for the inaccurate description. The seller then replies that he would rather issue a full refund.

Discuss

I never ask for or give a partial refund for any reason. To me it is do you want the card you received or not for the price you paid. I also think the seller is being fair offering a full refund for the card back.

[sebie43]

I understand both sides but from a seller perspective I think its just a matter of principle. It would leave a bad taste in my mouth with somebody being semi-satisfied and I would rather do a full refund.
Seb

[steve B]

I guess for me it would depend on what "fairly rare" meant.
A card there's a hundred of ? I probably care, one there's 10 of? Probably not.


At some point the condition matters a bit less, unless there's a huge difference in price or quality. I'm not sure just where that line is for me.
And , the reason for that is.......

While I understand a seller wanting either a totally happy buyer or to simply refund. OR that a seller might think a buyer is just lobbying for a lower price It happens, some people make stuff up. I've had a couple that claimed some sort of defect and when offered a full refund including shipping both ways just dropped it.

For me there's a range that would make me happy. If it's for instance something that's usually $30 and I offered 25 only to find a ding or crease that went beyond what would be ok for the price, I'd still actually be happy at a bit under retail for the condition.

With the exception of things totally misrepresented, or things I'd taken a chance on. I've had more of the second than the first, cards that looked good but were actually trimmed, or ones with flaws I simply missed. I don't bother even asking on those. I took a chance that something was really good and I was wrong, that's not usually the sellers fault. (Plus I've been right a lot more often )

Steve B

[ALR-bishop]

Was there a scan ? Was the scan a poor one ? Was it deceptive ? That would matter to me on this question. Great condition means little to me as a buyer given the range of meaning it has in ebay offers I see

[frankhardy]

It was a fairly poor quality digital picture with the card in a top loader and the flash glaring off of the top loader.

[frankhardy]

I am the buyer, as most of you figured out.

I contacted the seller to try to work it out. I don't think there is anything wrong with that.

The seller (either knowingly or unknowingly) failed to describe the card properly. If this card was a card that could be had easily, it would have been a no brainer - I either keep the card or I send the card back for a refund. However, this is a very rare card - a 1994 Topps Black Gold Winner ABCD. If I send the card back, I may not see another one for a few years. So, I politely asked the seller if he would make up for his error without me sending the card back. He declined to do this. So, since this card is so scarce, I feel like I have no choice but to keep it, even though I am not satisfied with it. Positive feedback has been left, although a little reluctantly.

By the way, I am not asking for something that I have never done as a seller. I have given partial refunds in the past when I thought it was warranted.