Thread: Ridiculous E-Bay Return Request

Sold a razor on E-Bay recently and had the buyer request a return. Normally that wouldn't be a problem but in this case, the explanation is out of the ordinary. Interested to see if you guys think it is as ridiculous as I do. I've shaved with this razor on occasion and it performs flawlessly.

BOKER ELITE STRAIGHT RAZOR HORN SCALES

Dear Mr. Gaines: I request that you accept my returning this Boker razor. That the ridge on the spine extends all the way to the tang is unexpected. Holding the razor is thus made uncomfortable. With the weight being on the scale side of the pivot pin, the razor tends to fall out of my hand. It really is different from my Boker English Cast Steel and Boker Damascus razors in the way that it fits in my hand. Sorry for the inconvenience. The razor is completely unused by me. I held it for a while, and then put it back in the wrapping that it came with. Best regards

I just looked at that listing... WOW thats a beautiful blade! I want one. lol My RAD has gotten out of control and I promised my lady only one more purchase. hehehe well its been eating into our Florida vacation... ugh! But wow that thing looks great, love the curves. Had a blade like that in some ways and I liked the hold, forefinger moved a little forward for what feels like a more 'aggressive' grip.. Reminds me of a Frederick Reynolds that was a swayback with a high curve on the tang, feels a little awkward gotta get use to it.
Maybe he just couldnt get used to the feel, maybe his fingers were very dry and the blade was slipping... and perhaps he has never had a blade shaped like that? Anyway the pictures are very well taken, you can clearly see everything, except I can see how the ridge could be wobbly in ones fingers being that it comes to a point along the top, if I were him I would just keep the beauty and learn how to use it. But thats ebay. Better to send it back then for the poor bloke to slice himself a bad one.. Sucks though losing time and postage..

I would be worried about how he said that the razor tends to fall out of his hand. Sounds like they might have dropped it and damaged it and now wants to return it. I guess you could always have them send it and inspect it before returning the money to make sure that it isn't damaged. I am not sure how Ebays return policy is on these matters.

Before the guy sends it back.... I would ask him to take some pics first to make sure it isn't damaged. I would also ask eBay about the return since he says something about dropping it. Better safe than sorry, eh? I'm not too knowledgeable about eBay's return policy. I've only had to deal with not receiving my goodies. I did get a full refund on those.

It's up to you. You can refuse and let ebay decide if that reason warrants a return, but in any case that's part of doing business remotely. Alternatively, you can sell it locally and then the buyer can inspect it before parting with their money.
With access to much wider audience comes the challenge of negotiating different expectations between the parties.

He may just be genuinely disappointed. How is his ebay feedback? You can ask him to return the razor with insurance. If it comes back to you broken you can get the razor's value back from the insurance company.

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

I would be worried about how he said that the razor tends to fall out of his hand. Sounds like they might have dropped it and damaged it and now wants to return it. I guess you could always have them send it and inspect it before returning the money to make sure that it isn't damaged. I am not sure how Ebays return policy is on these matters.

I would definitely get pics before authorizing a return.

Originally Posted by gugi

It's up to you. You can refuse and let ebay decide if that reason warrants a return, but in any case that's part of doing business remotely. Alternatively, you can sell it locally and then the buyer can inspect it before parting with their money.
With access to much wider audience comes the challenge of negotiating different expectations between the parties.

+1 Where else can you access millions of potential customers around the world for such a small overhead? I don't sell on eBay much but it is a welcomed opportunity when I do. With that potential comes some "characters". A small price to pay in my opinion but a definate downside. As a side note: I run into characters even when I sell something locally. Lol.

Buyer wants to return it because the ridge on the spine extends all the way to the tang is unexpected.
Really?
I assume you the seller showed a photo of the blade. Any photo of a Boker Elite would have made it the opposite of unexpected and therefore of no basis for return. If the buyer does not like it now, then let him turn around and re-sell it.
As the seller, you already did your part.

Weird. It was a clear ad, if you ask me. If he gets it and doesnt like it, he should be doing like the rest of us... put it back on Ebay, and take the loss.