Problem buyer

[KingRay]

I sell a $1300 air tool on CL for $350 used and took payment via paypal since he was in another state. The tool seemed to work fine when I had it but I didnt test it in a commercial environment like he did. The guy is super nice, etc just for some history here.

Anyway, He sent payment on the 4/27 and it cleared as an echeck on 5/3.

he calls me today saying that he used it and it worked but thought it was a little weak in power so he sent it to a repair facility in another state. They completely tear into this and say it need o-rings/ gaskets and a Piston. Of course they usually always say gaskets and o-rings since they get torn up by going through and disassembling tools like this. They charge like $350-500 just to repair these small things like o-rings, etc. which is really all that can go wrong. He said they want to install a new piston too which is very expensive if they even made them any more and says they dont so he cannot get this repaired.

I have talked to many people over the years of selling these and not one person has EVER heard of a piston needing replaced so they say its just the repair facility BS since they probably want to sell him a newer replacement tool that now runs about $2500.

I said I may have another one to trade out with it but it works good like the one I sent to him. There are so many things that affect the force he is talking is weak on it that I think he is just one of those guys that just relys on the mfr to say what is what,, sometimes that is good but most people that deal with tools like this know what is going on when they get ahold of your tools. Everything is always wrong with them.

similar to when you go and get a basic brake job and you all the sudden are replacing every part that has to do with brakes because the experts says you need it.

what would you guys do here? sorry for the long post but wanted you to have all the info needed to reply.

I am seriously thinking about just seeing if he files a claim in time. They guy is nice but I feel I am paying for him not having any knowledge of this tool.

[Melissa1971]

If you had an item that didn't work as you thought it should, would you try to fix it or would you contact the Seller of the item first?

We all know when we buy something and it doesn't work to contact the Seller/Store etc..we certainly do not take it upon ourselves to fix it, pay someone else to fix it...etc then come back later on the Seller trying to get retribution for an item that isn't what you sold. It is no longer the item you sold him.

Without a doubt, I would ask him to explain the problem to you so you can stall him. I would say you will look into it and be very gracious. Then I'd close the Paypal account, remove the funds. Maybe call Paypal to learn how quickly the account can be closed. They are easy to re-open. He deserves nothing from you.

[KingRay]

Originally Posted by Melissa1971

If you had an item that didn't work as you thought it should, would you try to fix it or would you contact the Seller of the item first?

We all know when we buy something and it doesn't work to contact the Seller/Store etc..we certainly do not take it upon ourselves to fix it, pay someone else to fix it...etc then come back later on the Seller trying to get retribution for an item that isn't what you sold. It is no longer the item you sold him.

Without a doubt, I would ask him to explain the problem to you so you can stall him. I would say you will look into it and be very gracious. Then I'd close the Paypal account, remove the funds. Maybe call Paypal to learn how quickly the account can be closed. They are easy to re-open. He deserves nothing from you.

would I really even need to close the paypal account. I have had 45days or later claims filed in the past on old account and just got an email saying that someone filed a claim but didnt file it within 45days so it was denied.

Now that I read your comment it really irritates me more that he had it taken apart. Another thing about it is that is has this thick rubber body covering it so that had to be completely cut off and thrown out to reveal the tool below. He hasnt even gotten it back from the repair place yet so stalling wont be much of a problem.

[Melissa1971]

your bank account is tied to Paypal so you may need to talk to your Bank to ensure paypal cannot debit your account.
Give them paypals name and the amount of the sale ($1300) you expect to have an issue with and they can block that amount. Others may have better ideas, good luck to you.

[KingRay]

Originally Posted by Melissa1971

your bank account is tied to Paypal so you may need to talk to your Bank to ensure paypal cannot debit your account.
Give them paypals name and the amount of the sale ($1300) you expect to have an issue with and they can block that amount. Others may have better ideas, good luck to you.

I might have written that wrong. it was a $1300 tool that he got for $350 since it was used. I was just putting that on there to show the great deal he got to begin with.

[Melissa1971]

Originally Posted by KingRay

would I really even need to close the paypal account. I have had 45days or later claims filed in the past on old account and just got an email saying that someone filed a claim but didnt file it within 45days so it was denied.

Now that I read your comment it really irritates me more that he had it taken apart. Another thing about it is that is has this thick rubber body covering it so that had to be completely cut off and thrown out to reveal the tool below. He hasnt even gotten it back from the repair place yet so stalling wont be much of a problem.

I am surprised you didn't get upset with him, the guy has the odacity to destroy the item, malign it into something you didn't sell him which is fine but you return the item you bought, not try to return something that doesn't resemble it for a refund. No one does that.

This is a Craigslist sale, not an Online sale so I am not sure he has much power here. It's way too much money if you ask me not to have my bank block Paypal from attempting to access it. I've done this in just the last 3 months, my bank blocked paypal. All I did was give them the amount total and whenever they decided to debit it that amount they were blocked. They received many denial messages

You need to open a Stealth Paypal Account. And never take money via paypal for an item, get cash from them or a check. Paypal is dirty

I closed the bank account linked to paypal, it was tied to our real account so it was time to open a real business account anyhow.

[Melissa1971]

Originally Posted by KingRay

I might have written that wrong. it was a $1300 tool that he got for $350 since it was used. I was just putting that on there to show the great deal he got to begin with.

That's much better

But it is still alot of money if you ask me

[Cashew]

i'm not sure exactly what the rules are for CL. but if the tool didnt work, he should send it back to the seller for exchange or for a refund.
He takes it upon himself to have it repaired . NO WAY sorry for his luck!!
If wanted to get an expert opinion on what the cost would be to fix the tool, fine. Really no cost till the expert ties into it.
I think the buyer was right if he wanted to fix the tool at his own cost.
He is wrong if he thinks you should pay the cost or even refund him anything now.
Should be a lesson to the buyer. If it dont work the way you think it should work, then return it..

[jeffweico]

he calls me today saying that he used it and it worked but thought it was a little weak in power so he sent it to a repair facility in another state.

He was purchasing a used item for $350 that would have cost him $1300 if new. You sold it as used. Unless your description of the item was "Like New" then I think you are correct in refusing a refund.

If I sold you a 5 year old car, would you expect it to have the same feel when driving that a new one would have? Of course not. And sure, you could take the 5 year old car to the dealership and they will tell you every little thing that is wrong with it and fix it for a price - a very HIGH price - but that does not mean I sold you a piece of junk. It just means that I sold you a car that was 5 years old, with the normal wear and tear you would expect from an older vehicle.

I would feel differently if he were claiming DOA, or that it stopped working after 10 minutes of use. But he claims "it felt a little weak". That does not mean it wouldn't have worked just fine for a reasonable period of time. If he was looking for perfection, he should have bought a new one.

Please keep in mind that my opinion is based on what is in your post and assumes that you did not promise him anything beyond the fact that the item in question was in working condition. If you told him it was "like new" then I would say that he DOES deserve a refund.

As to whether or not PayPal would agree with my opinion, I have no idea.

[GreenBean]

What sort of ding-bat would buy a clapped out air-tool on CL? A sensible buyer would realize that the tool might have had hours of use and be in 'poor' condition. Sometimes a bargain is not a bargain. This buyer might just have found that out.

[KingRay]

If it goes past the 45days there really isnt much he can do anyway is there? besides maybe a chargeback. It was an echeck so can he even do a chargeback on that? I have never sent one but I thought an echeck was just him using his bank for paypal funding on the payment.

I am playing it by ear here, The problem is the guy is super nice and has been since day one. The tool worked great and That is what I told him. There is so many things that can make it appear weak too.

Another example I am dealing with in my mind is this. The tool says it has a pull strength of 4500 to 5200psi. Well nearly all fasteners that this tool installs only require 3300psi to install anyway. The high numbers are just the specs of the tool. He sends it in and yeah it probably doesnt read in that range but still works fine. ANY repair facility will want to install all new parts to make it back to THEIR spec range.

Its really a deal like brakes, The brake repair shop has specs and they ALWAYS say your rotors need replaced when nearly ALL mechanics say that BS but the repair shop just goes by book specs for the longest life so they push several hundred dollars of New unnecessary stuff on you for that reason only.

I guess I have really explained my point here so no need for more long examples. lol sorry about that,

I told him I would call him today and I did, I told him I am trying to locate another tool for him but wont know anything until next monday. (little closer to 45days for a paypal claim if he decides to do that).

I asked him what condition it was in now and he said he has no idea so we will see. I cant imagine the factory repair shop putting it back together for it to be used. Usually they throw them together just to ship back. again we will see. I am pretty convinced by reading your comments that I am not at fault here now that he has done what he did.

[rsot]

While I may provide comments later as I read through your thread, I would highly suggest other forms to pay rather than pa yp al for these kind of ventures. I know it's easier said than done but I always try to operate by avoiding pp when possible - not just for % but also for it's set of problems AND attitude towards seller.

Savvy buyers take advantage of this and VERY dangerously.

[Melissa1971]

Originally Posted by GreenBean™

What sort of ding-bat would buy a clapped out air-tool on CL? A sensible buyer would realize that the tool might have had hours of use and be in 'poor' condition. Sometimes a bargain is not a bargain. This buyer might just have found that out.

Now that there is FUNNY!