The buyer is asking for a refund even though he himself disassembled the device to take photos | Community Mentor Help

archikool · 2025-10-19T16:26:32.723000Z

Hello, I sold and shipped very quickly an electronic device that was fully functional and carefully packed in its original box. The buyer had simply asked me for a “prettier” remote control. So I ordered and had a brand-new aluminum remote control delivered to him free of charge, even though it was clearly stated that the supplied remote was not original. Even so, he didn’t like it. I added a few gifts to the package, which he received at home, in Europe, within 48 business hours.At that point, everything was working perfectly, and the buyer said he was delighted. About ten days later, he wrote to me: “it no longer works”, with photos to back it up. He had taken the device apart to take photos and videos. I didn’t take offense at that. A technician friend looked at the images and found that it was probably a faulty solder joint, maybe weakened by transport — a minor and common fault on a device more than fifteen years old. I then proposed a complete and fair solution:I would cover the return shipping of the device, its repair and its full servicing, with pickup from his home. But the buyer refuses and demands a full refund, even though he opened and handled the device himself and is sending videos and photos. I have no way of knowing whether a handling mistake may have caused the fault. Also, I sold this device out of necessity, and I no longer have the cash flow to refund it. I installed new and rare components; the device worked for several days, and those parts can no longer be resold as new. So I’m wondering: is the buyer still protected when he dismantles a device himself? I acted in good faith and proposed the best possible solution.

Discussions

The buyer is asking for a refund even though he himself disassembled the device to take photos | Community Mentor Help | eBay France