Question
I had a copy of a modrately expensive book up for auction (opening bid was $99.99)...book got no bid. About a week or so after the auction ended an ebayer emailed me and wanted to know if I still had the book and would I accept $80 for it as "that is how much they normally sell for" (or so the emailer told me).
I accepted his offer, he paid through paypal, I sent book, book has been recieved (obviously today).
I get this email this evening...
"Hello
I received this item today and I do not feel the condition is as
described.The binding is in poor condition with extensive insect damage
especially on the back which you dont show. In addition you did not
mention at all that the end binding is sliced away from the book in front.
This extends about 2/3 the length of the binding. I would like to return
this and have a refund of my payment. Please let me know how to do this."
My description of the book said...
"CONDITION: Good plus. Spine sunned. Board spine edge and top edge sunned. Insect damage to the sizing of the cloth binding. Interior is clean, tight, and intact"
If he had just complained that the insect damage was more than he expected I wouldn't be here asking for help...I would have emailed him and told him to return the book for a full refund. but the fact that he is telling me that the end binding is sliced away from the book is what has triggered a red flag to me. The only, ONLY damage this book had was the sunning and the silverfish damage to the sizing...the corners were good, the pastedown was good, both hinges were intact, the book wasn't cracked, pages weren't torn or stained...yet his is talking about something that I could not have missed !
I sent him back an email stating the book was not in that condition when it was listed or when it was shipped and asked him to send me pictures...but I am just in a quandry here...the book WASN'T damaged the way he describes it!! I have an uneasy feeling I am about to be ripped off...or am I just being overly paranoid?
Answer
Well since sold off ebay no negative feedback can be left.
How did he pay for it?
Do you think he may be trying to do the "old switcheroo" with you?
Answer
Diann...I went back and looked at the date the auction ended and realized it had been listed in the storefront immediately after the auction ended but I ended the storefront listing to sell it to him at the reduced price. Even if he were able to give me a neg (which he can't since it was sold off ebay), I'm not worried about that...but I am worried that he is pulling a switcheroo. He paid with paypal, so he could complain to them, especially if he sends it back and I refuse to refund
There was no damage to the binding as he is describing