Mdina 'cut ice vase' buyer says it's a fake?

[obscurities]

For what it is worth, and I can not attest to the authenticity of the vase, but as a buyer and seller on ebay, a negative or two on a seller would never deter me from buying.... unless they only had a feedback or two    .

After having dealt with the human race in retail for as long as I did, you can not please all of the people all of the time.....

The fact of the matter is that if you do give a refund and don't pay return postage, the buyer can still leave a neg and there is nothing you can do about it....

Do not be held hostage by the threat of a negative... many sellers do the "right thing" and get negs from the buyer anyway.... You see it all the time if you read feedback.....

If the product is right, move on, besides, you could get a different piece back and they have proof of return for a package.... then you are out money and the product.....  seen that happen also.... unfortunately,  some buyers (scammers) will try every trick in the book.... sad but true.....

Craig

[chopin-liszt]

As somebody who has only ever bought, I can attest there are some seriously dodgy sellers too.

But this item is 100% right, it's a lovely Mdina "Cut-Ice Lollipop", in an early and highly desirable pattern, designed by Michael Harris.

[obscurities]

As somebody who has only ever bought, I can attest there are some seriously dodgy sellers too.

Absolutely......  it is just too bad the dodgy buyers can't just do business with the dodgy sellers and leave the rest of us alone.....   

Craig

[TxSilver]

It may be that the buyer is just feeling insecure about the purchase. It happened to me today, so I can relate. Chris, if you could assure him that it is Mdina and tell him to take a few days to verify, you will guarantee the purchase. It may be that the vase was just surprisingly bright and shiny.

(My purchase is still under question. I'll post it to the board in a few days. I decided to keep it just for the research potential. The seller didn't do anything wrong in my case.)

[Pip]

Not a trader, more a friend of collectors and finder of 'rare' and beautiful piece's , sorry if I came across that way, I have been called 'tactless' many times  
cheers Chris

Chris, firstly I agree with the others, there's nothing at all wrong with your vase.  However, I would like to just challenge you on the statement you made above.  What do you mean by that exactly?  If you're selling your own personal possessions that you've accumulated over time then yes, you're a private trader - if however you're selling things you've bought specifically to sell on then I'm afraid that does indeed make you a business trader and, as such, you have obligations to your buyers that you wouldn't have otherwise.

Selling online as a business means you must refund your buyers in full for whatever reason, no quibble - the issue of who pays the return postage depends on a number of factors including the reason why it's been returned however many business traders would cover this cost also as a gesture of goodwill.

[Pip]

The item is 100% as described and therefore doesn't require a refund. If its because he doesn't like it then thats a matter of how nice and honest he is with you.

Sorry Mike but that's slightly misleading.  That's only applicable to private sellers - business sellers must offer a full refund for any reason whatsover (change of mind, don't like it anymore, doesn't match the curtains!!) - who pays the postage cost for it to be returned however depends on a number of things.

[kane_u_pain]

Also begs the question if you are selling 'dozens of items a month' than technically you are a business and not some selling household wares that a taking up space or no longer needed...you should give them a full refund. As to who pays for return postage is at your own discretion...

[chopin-liszt]

I have never, ever had a seller pay the return costs.
And I've only ever complained with very good cause, I've always ended up frustrated, disappointed, hassled and out of pocket.  >:(

[robert1960]

I guess this boils down to how much 100% feedback is worth to you... would you pay £4 or £5 to keep it at 100% ?   

I'd pay the return postage in the knowledge my feedback is (probably) safe and you can resell the vase to someone that appreciates it.

(BTW you really ought to register as a business seller, as that's what you are)

[Pip]

Also begs the question if you are selling 'dozens of items a month' than technically you are a business and not some selling household wares that a taking up space or no longer needed...

Whilst I agree it does appear that Chris is a business seller - the number of sales itself isn't necessarily a factor - it's the intent at the time of purchasing the item that is later sold.  For example, if I was to buy a hoover because I needed a new one but then found on getting it home that it wouldn't fit in my cupboard and sold it that would be considered a private sale because I originally bought the hoover for my own personal use.  If, however I saw one going cheap and bought it specifically to sell on and make a profit, that would be classed as a business transaction.  Chris, you've said you're 'a friend of collectors and finder of 'rare' and beautiful piece's' - that doesn't sound like you're selling off your unwanted personal possessions to me.

Anyway, it might seem like I'm going on (apologies) but the point here is that seller obligations vary quite significantly depending on whether it's a business or private sale so it's entirely relevant in this instance.

IGMC!

[Cathy B]

Chris, we all come across unpleasant people on eBay. I remember one bloke a couple of years ago who gave me a negative because I asked him to use bubblewrap. If I were you, I'd get the buyer to return it to you, you'll have to write off the postage, and then resell.

[chriscooper]

Hi all, the statement "not a trader" was purely a tongue in cheek statement aimed at the many 'glassy friends' I have made over the years, particularly the Whitefriars collectors who 'pop' in here from time to time   Anyone who knows me will understand the statement "more a friend of collectors" and "finder of 'rare' items.
The post was started originally probably out of frustration, having just sold a perfectly good correctly described item only to be faced with the 'threat' of a negative feedback or lose money on an item, because the buyer knows even less than I do   Seems to have turned into a debate on whether I should be registered as a business or not. To be honest (again anyone who knows me) knows I have sold a lot of low and items over the years and the odd 'gem' mainly again to whitefriars collectors. I am well aware of the morals of selling on ebay on the very rare occasions I have to make a refund, mainly the odd 'lost' or broken items I always refund in full including return postage.
To be honest it's not a problem to me if I never sell another piece of glass again, pretty sure though a business seller would not be very happy if they had 3 or 4 of these a week, seems to be a simple question aimed at the knowledgeable Mdina folk, Sue and Suzy John in particular who have been more than helpful to me in the past as turned into a bit of a personal scrutiny of my affairs, a debate on the moral ground between buyers and sellers
which was never my intention, where's that shovel :phew:

[johnphilip]

Chris as you and i know with some people you just cant win , so just put it down to experience if it cost you a couple of bob its less life threatening than stress , keep in touch mate . JP . :huh:

[Anne]

The UK's Distance Selling Regulations
This guide is based on UK law. It was last updated in July 2010.
http://www.out-law.com/page-430

Note, despite what it says on the eBay guides, online auctions are not covered by the DSR - BINs are, auctions are not.

[Pip]

The post was started originally probably out of frustration, having just sold a perfectly good correctly described item only to be faced with the 'threat' of a negative feedback or lose money on an item, because the buyer knows even less than I do   Seems to have turned into a debate on whether I should be registered as a business or not. ....
To be honest it's not a problem to me if I never sell another piece of glass again, pretty sure though a business seller would not be very happy if they had 3 or 4 of these a week, seems to be a simple question aimed at the knowledgeable Mdina folk, Sue and Suzy John in particular who have been more than helpful to me in the past as turned into a bit of a personal scrutiny of my affairs, a debate on the moral ground between buyers and sellers
which was never my intention, where's that shovel :phew:

Chris, I'm sorry you feel that way - I was responding to this statement that you said to someone earlier in the thread 'surely you are missing my point I am trying to establish whether it is a fake?  if it's genuine Mdina as per my description then surely they have no recourse 'under item not as described'?    Which seems to imply you want opinions as to whether your buyer can force a return on you or not.

As for intending only certain people to answer your query - it's a public message board, anyone can answer within reason.  Perhaps in future you could state at the start of your thread that you only want certain people to comment and only about certain aspects.

And yes, I also get unreasonable customers too at times - it's to be expected when you're dealing with the general public - I just accept what they're saying, smile, apologise sometimes (yes, even when I'm not wrong!) and move on.  I've lost money in situations like yours through no fault of my own - it's just the way it goes sometimes.  Good luck with your selling anyway.

Anne, thanks for the link to the new updated DSR - that's my bedtime reading sorted!