Ebay Buyer - HELP!!!

[ferplexed]

Sold my iPhone 3GS in tip-top condition last weekend and sent it out this week. Had an email back from the guy saying it has a cracked back and more scratches on than expected - which mine didn't (it was in a wrap-around hard case from the day i got it to the day i sent it out).

I kindly asked for pictures which he sent. The picture is of an iPhone in p*ss poor condition and is 1,000,000% not the one i sent out or in the condition i sent it. I told the guy to go do one basically and now he's saying he'll open a case or get his money back etc. etc.

I want to know what my options are as it is definitely not in the condition i sent it or the same phone i sent.

Picture he sent:
iphone.damage.9.12.11.jpg

Need major help on this one as i have loads of other items on sale at the minute and don't need the hassle. Not the first time i've been conned as a seller either - getting really depressing to be honest.

Matt.

[simon180399]

matt, did you take a note of the serial number? also on the original paperwork their should be the imei no which will match up with the phone, if you still have that somewhere then check it and if he does file a dispute then he hasn't got a leg to stand on as they wont match up, you may be able to get it from the phone company if you have lost it.

thats the problem with ebay, things like this really pee me off.

good luck fella#
simon

[bigbadbear]

matt, play him at his own game.
tell him you have the serial numbers of the phone and ask him to please open a dispute and see what he says.

[brettguise]

Did you take a note of the IMEI number on the back? It looks like he may of defaced the number from the back plate I cant 100% see from that picture. The IMEI number is also on the general setting of the phone under General > About and also if you go onto itunes on your pc "Edit > Preferences and then Devices the serial and IMEI should be on that also.

If you don't have any of that the picture from eBay did you take one of the back and can see those details?

You should have the IMEI number on your pc iTunes anyway so if you find that ask him to confirm the IMEI number on the back of the damaged phone.

Other than that you could also try to scare him off with some bullcrap such as "I have notified xxxx fraud (I don't know anything that will scare him) that you have attempted to commit fraud and return a mobile phone that isn't mine or something and that the imei numbers are different and I have proof. If the matter is taken any further xxxx will get involved and take that matter to the police" If all else fails that may make him reconsider trying to con you if that's what he's trying to do in the first place.

eBay is a very brutal place and I wouldnt advise anybody selling high priced items or mobile phones especially. Lot of scams happen and the power is all in the buyers hands. With the likes of paypal money can be returned easily and you can get ripped off.

Brett

[brettguise]

Yes thinking about it theirs lots of ways to get the IMEI number and he has to provide it and send that very damaged phone with the same matching IMEI number to even be considered a refund. By the sounds of it they wont match up so it wont happen. Be one step ahead don't let him walk all over you with opening a paypal dispute. Nip it in the bud before he does and if he does you will be ready to win.

Brett

[ferplexed]

Thanks guys, this is what i need, people who know what they're talking about. Where is the IMEI on the phone i sent to him then?

[ferplexed]

IMEI isn't in the itunes thing. Anywhere else?

[ferplexed]

Got it!! Now what people?

[brettguise]

Send him a message stating something like.

I am happy for you to return the phone if you can provide the correct IMEI number for the damaged phone. I would like a picture of the damaged phone on its back with the IMEI number in plain view and also to confirm the IMEI number in writing. Bare in mind it is a criminal offence to commit fraud and if the IMEI number does not match up on the damaged phone to the one I have for the phone sent I will be notifying the police of your name address and telephone number that I have sourced from your eBay account. Thankyou.

Something like that I would send. I'm sure others can input other ideas.

[bigbadbear]

as brett says, that will put the wind up him and i bet you won't get a response.