Question 'fleabay' Schrodinger's cat question

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

Just bought what I thought was a new laser printer on Ebay, only to open the box and see "refurbished" on there.


I went back to the listing, and sure enough, it said "new" up there at the top. But down in the description, they inserted the word "restored" in between Brother and the model number. I never thought something could be both - thought it had to be one or the other. I was quite annoyed at first, because I thought I was buying something that had never been used. However, I now see the word restored WAS down in the description, so I probably can't get a refund by asking, unless I pay the 25 bucks or so to ship it back.

Is this a pretty common thing to run into - where the description up at the top doesn't quite match all of the wording down at the bottom?

 

[bba-tcg]

Just bought what I thought was a new laser printer on Ebay, only to open the box and see "refurbished" on there.


I went back to the listing, and sure enough, it said "new" up there at the top. But down in the description, they inserted the word "restored" in between Brother and the model number. I never thought something could be both - thought it had to be one or the other. I was quite annoyed at first, because I thought I was buying something that had never been used. However, I now see the word restored WAS down in the description, so I probably can't get a refund by asking, unless I pay the 25 bucks or so to ship it back.

Is this a pretty common thing to run into - where the description up at the top doesn't quite match all of the wording down at the bottom?

I'd say that if the issue was pressed you could/should be able to get a refund. I would probably just push for a discount rather than pay for shipping it back, assuming that everything works the way it should.

 

[Pohemi]

Deceptive selling/advertising/marketing. Sounds like sellers you'd find on Fleabay, IMO.

I boycotted fleabay years ago, but from what others tell me, it's only gotten worse. FWIW though, they're all about the "buyer's protection" and not sellers. Far easier to get burned as a seller, even if the buyer is lying about the item/sale.

Give it a shot, you might get "lucky". They (Ebay) might be more inclined to step in than you'd think.

 

[WilliamM2]

I would ask for a refund. That is not new, and it's listed as new. Ebay will usually side with the buyer.

Another thing I notice lately, is sellers with obviously used items listed as "New open Box", then in the description it tells you there is no original box?

 

[tcsenter]

Yep, Ebay should side with you if you want to return at seller's expense. Contact seller first to get them admitting they shipped you a refurbed item.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

Absolutely file a dispute on that. eBay is 100% a buyer's market, and that listing is absolutely deceptive enough not to pass muster.

eBay defines item conditions and "New" means brand new. They absolutely have a "refurbished" item condition that sounds like it would have been applicable in this situation that the seller chose not to use.

 

[right_to_know]

Amazon is really bad for this sort of nonsense too.
In common law countries there should be some laws dealing with misrepresentation and or fraud for these problems if you were going to take it further.

 

[mindless1]

Amazon is really bad for this sort of nonsense too.
In common law countries there should be some laws dealing with misrepresentation and or fraud for these problems if you were going to take it further.

There are. You don't "have" to accept this nonsense, and you don't have to pay a cent to ship it back to them either. It is a contract to buy a new printer and that was not fulfilled. It's the seller's problem how to get it back.

 

[WilliamM2]

There are. You don't "have" to accept this nonsense, and you don't have to pay a cent to ship it back to them either. It is a contract to buy a new printer and that was not fulfilled. It's the seller's problem how to get it back.

Well if it hasn't been resolved by now, after 6 months...he probably does have to accept it.

 

[GunsMadeAmericaFree]

I decided to keep it, and the printer is working great. Still annoyed at the discrepancy between the title and description, though.