Transaction Question - Appropriate response?

G

grc

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Preserving names here out of respect for seller.

Say I purchased a cue (notable builder) listed with 2 shafts for at 13mm. Seller claims they measured shafts but upon receiving, I measure, one shaft is 12.6mm. I ask for a partial refund ($200) as my understanding is that a full shaft holds more value. They say I'm being unreasonable and just send the cue back but wait 2 weeks for them to get the money together. Cites that the cue is worth far more than what was paid so the value ask/partial refund is unjustified.

Unreasonable for me to ask to make it right by providing a partial refund? This considered a bad faith transaction and seller?

And now asking for me to send the cue back before issuing the refund pending their inspection that the cue hasn't been altered.
 
Unless I'm misunderstanding, it sounds as if the seller is offering a full refund because you're dissatisfied (for whatever reason).

That's good.

I also don't think that it's unreasonable to wait until the cue has actually been received back by the seller for him to issue the actual refund.

Just my personal 2 cents...
 
Here’s my take on this from the perspective of “me’, a seller who handles approximately 3–10 cues a week.

If one of my buyers is unhappy with a cue for a legitimate reason, regardless of whether the mistake was mine or came from the information provided to me, I believe I have a responsibility to make it right. However, if the request is for additional reimbursement or compensation rather than simply returning the cue, that’s probably not something I would agree to. My preference would be to have the cue returned and issue a full refund when appropriate.


A long time ago, I had a customer who felt that I had guaranteed how the cue would feel or play for him. That was never something I promised. However, I still chose to refund his money and take the cue back. Fortunately, I was later able to sell the cue to another buyer who was willing to pay even more for it.


I also frequently sell cues on consignment for other collectors and sellers. In those situations, the pictures, specifications, measurements, and other information may come directly from the consignor. If I later discover that something was inaccurately represented—such as an incorrect measurement—I would take that issue back to the consignor. If they are willing to accept the cue back and provide a full reimbursement, then that is ultimately between us.


That said, because my name and reputation are attached to the transaction, I would not leave my buyer waiting. If necessary, I would refund my buyer first and then work out the reimbursement with my consignor afterward. My reputation and credibility are more important to me than holding onto someone else’s money.


About 95% of the time, I insist on having the cue physically in my possession before I post it for sale. That allows me to personally verify the condition, measurements, weight, and other specifications and helps prevent mistakes.


However, there are sellers who sell cues on behalf of other people without physically having the cue in their possession. That’s not necessarily wrong, as long as the seller is transparent about the arrangement and takes responsibility when something goes wrong.


At the end of the day, mistakes can happen in any transaction. What matters most to me is how the seller handles the situation and whether they stand behind their name and reputation.
 
Brother Ron said:
One problem is that it sounds like the seller has already spent the funds and does not have the means to offer a refund for at least a couple weeks.
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It probably also depends on how long the buyer has had the cue in their possession. Typically, I believe 5–7 days is a reasonable amount of time for a buyer to inspect and evaluate a cue. Some sellers may even allow only 48–72 hours after delivery for the buyer to test the cue and decide whether they want to keep it or request a return or refund.


I don’t think it’s fair to blame a seller for spending the money from a sale if the buyer has kept the cue for more than seven days and only afterward discovers that the cue is not up to the stated specifications or has an issue.


For the sake of fairness to both parties, once a buyer receives an item, they should inspect it carefully and verify that everything matches the description and specifications provided by the seller.


As a seller, if my buyer has had the cue for more than seven days without bringing up an issue, I would consider the transaction completed and the funds available for me to use. Of course, if there was an undisclosed defect or intentional misrepresentation, that would be a different situation and should be handled accordingly.
 
If it were me, I’d be pissed the guy spent the money already. I never spend the money I get on a cue sale before I know the person is happy with it, but that’s just me.

The partial refund thing is sticky since it’s hard for anyone to feel good about it. Cleaner to just send the cue back for a full refund. But again, the guy having already spent the money is a problem.

I do with agree with the poster above that there’s a certain point at which it’s no longer reasonable to ask for a refund, so it depends on the amount of time that has elapsed since the sale.
 
grc said:
Preserving names here out of respect for seller.

Say I purchased a cue (notable builder) listed with 2 shafts for at 13mm. Seller claims they measured shafts but upon receiving, I measure, one shaft is 12.6mm. I ask for a partial refund ($200) as my understanding is that a full shaft holds more value. They say I'm being unreasonable and just send the cue back but wait 2 weeks for them to get the money together. Cites that the cue is worth far more than what was paid so the value ask/partial refund is unjustified.

Unreasonable for me to ask to make it right by providing a partial refund? This considered a bad faith transaction and seller?

And now asking for me to send the cue back before issuing the refund pending their inspection that the cue hasn't been altered.
Click to expand...
Did you use digital calipers to measure the shaft?
If I were the seller, I would just as soon you return the cue, and issue you a full refund.
 
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