Manorcom negative feedback details.

I can't tell you how upsetting receiving this bad feedback has been, especially as I try to describe my items as fully as possible AND supply high quality pictures. Before this deal I had positive feedback from over 100 eBayers. I describe briefly the events here so you can make up your own mind who was right and who was wrong. I would ask you to bear in mind the following:

In my opinion the buyer bought used goods without looking closely at pictures supplied. I described it "An oldie but goodie, obviously some years old but eminently useable". The machine had been used successfully the previous weekend.

I should have known better than to sell to this buyer.

The events:

On 23-May-04 21:00:00 BST I listed item no 4303868261
Wolseley Titan Rotovator    <<< Click to view a copy of the listing. If you care to look it is quite a detailed description.

on On 26-May-04 at 11:02:02 BST after receiving several questions I added the bottom section
"your questions answered."     <<< Click to view.

A prospective buyer contacted me & we had some polite email contact.

He enquired:-

Thank you for your reply, if you will give me your phone number I will phone you ti dicuss rotovator and best method of collection/ delivery. Are the tines fairly well worn, it is difficult to see from photograph ?

We had a telephone conversation during which we discussed and agreed a possible delivery meeting place, me travelling 1/3 of the way for fuel cost only. He also enquired about the condition of the rotors. I stated they were fair but that I would send a further picture so he could make up his own mind.

This I did     Closeup picture sent

On the 30-May-04 21:00:00 BST the buyer won the auction. On the following Tuesday I delivered the item part way as agreed meeting his driver. It took 3 hours.

The next email from him:

I am very disappointed at the state of the rotovator!
This statement is not factual  (An oldie but goodie, obviously some years old but eminently useable, it has stood for some time unused.)
****** tried it out this morning and it can not manage even to pull itself, it needs a complete refit of tines before it can be used. I think you should reimburse me for some of the money to pay for new tines and it would have been more honest to have stated this in your description.
I look forward to hearing from you.

My reply:

Good morning *******
 
Hmmmmm.... When you say "it can not even pull itself" As you can see from the photo a friend used the rotovator and dug the whole of one side of his garden with it. I was there for a short time during the Saturday he used it. The machine pulled strongly and was digging fiercely.
 
I did 160 miles for fuel cost only (in order to help you) and used up over 3 hours of my working day. I found 2 spare belts and even gave your chap a can of easy start.

In my descriptions I try to go the extra mile to make certain that buyers will not be disappointed. I said "eminently useable" which is true. I didn't suggest that the tines were perfect. I even sent you a close up picture of the tines. I cannot see how new tines would make any difference. It either pulls or it doesn't.

You know that you can hold me to ransom over my feedback which I am anxious to guard.

I offer the following suggestions to resolve our differences:
1: I will fully refund your purchase price on safe return (at your cost) of the rotovator, in the same condition that it left me, to Castle Bromwich.
or
2: We can agree to disagree and leave each other bad feedback
or
3:As a goodwill gesture I will offer a £10 refund conditional on good feedback, bearing in mind that I have already given you some extras AND my 3 unpaid hours driving.
 
Balls in your court

His reply

I have your e-mail
 
This is the first  thing I have bought on e-bay which is totally useless in the condition delivered.
Your description is definitely fraudulent.
The rotovator can not pull itself through the ground because the tines are so badly worn, see attached photographs.
Your suggestions are completely unacceptable.
I am prepared to (at my expense) have a local supplier of garden machinery asses a) the value) and b) the working condition of this machine.
The only acceptable suggestion I have is that you supply me with a complete set of new tines at your expense, failing that we should agree on a valuation by a local firm.
I await you reply.

My reply:

Thank you for your reply.
I am disappointed that you have put in writing your accusation of of fraud on my part.
The photographs on the details of sale clearly show the tines. I even sent to you a close up photograph after you questioned the condition of the tines. Your collection driver looked over the machine and mentioned that he was familiar with rotovators and said that "you used to have a mountfield rotovator"
I stated on the sale details:
"You are welcome to view and try the machine, by appointment, in Birmingham, near to junction 5 on M6." I also stated "This unit is very heavy and an awkward shape, so I am not offering to post it. So I would prefer you arrange collection."
 
I stand by my offer of a complete refund on safe return of the machine.

No further contact has been made. What do you think?

Added June 06.
 I have been encouraged by the responses I have received from other eBayers out there for which I thank you very much. So I urge all you sellers out there to be aware that some buyers are not what they appear to be. Keep your wits about you. Try to answer the questions in as detailed way as possible, but above all be fair!

But be warned there are unreasonable buyers out there!