Ebay Problems - PS3 Has a Chunk Out of it After Returned

[fullmetalfan720]

So I sold a PS3 about a month ago on ebay. It worked fine, I tested it efore I shipped it. Buyer pays for it, I ship it out in two packages, a flat-rate with just the system, and a box with the accessories. About a week goes by, and I assume everything is fine so I leave feedback. Then, a couple days later, the buyer sends me a message:

I just plugged up the unit and tried to put a game in it. The unit does not automatically receive the disk. If you push eject, it will receive the disk then eject it right back out. What is the problem? I will be needing a refund.

This seems really strange as I never had this problem with it. I asked him to send me a video of the problem, he replies a week later saying it wouldn't send, but he could send it to my cell phone number. I tell him to just send it back. (Last Saturday) Wednesday, I send him a message asking if he shipped it out yet. I received no communications from the buyer since last Saturday. Today, I get a package containing the PS3. I notice it has a chunk of plastic missing from the bottom. This was not what it was like when I sent it out. I plug it in, and there is no display. The buttons on the front don't work properly. It makes weird noises when you put a disc in. ]


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So, I called up ebay. After being transferred and escalated a couple times, I talk to a guy who says that I'm going to have to go to my local police department and get a police incident report and fax it to ebay. Then ebay will refund the buyer and I will keep the money for the item. Have you guys ever had ebay have you do this? I'm wondering how it works.

TL;DR: I sold PS3, buyer returns it, I get it back, and looks like it was dropped. Ebay wants me to file a police incident report, then they'll refund the buyer, instead of me.

 

[MrNEWZ]

(1) Did you verify that the serial number is the same?

(2) Did you insure the package?

(3) Ebay does this for mail fraud. They had me do this last year when I sent a guy over 100 DVD cases and he returned 10. A notarized statement should also work, but I never saw a dime and was out the money. Overall annoyed with the situation.

 

[Vinny]

[quote name='MrNEWZ'](1) Did you verify that the serial number is the same?

(2) Did you insure the package?

(3) Ebay does this for mail fraud. They had me do this last year when I sent a guy over 100 DVD cases and he returned 10. A notarized statement should also work, but I never saw a dime and was out the money. Overall annoyed with the situation.[/QUOTE]

I'd check the serial number first but then I'd check the console's screws and whatnot. It's possible the buyer just swapped guts of your system with those of his broken system and in that process, broke off a piece. And that would probably explain why none of the buttons work... he/she probably screwed something up.

But since the buyer never mentioned that broken part, you could also try and say that he/she broke it and is now trying to return it.

 

[phantasyx]

I sold a broken ps3 I could fix a bit ago and it sounded like that, was the guy from Las vegas? because if he is then he is a lier. Check that serial to see if it matches up.

 

[fullmetalfan720]

[quote name='MrNEWZ'](1) Did you verify that the serial number is the same?

(2) Did you insure the package?

(3) Ebay does this for mail fraud. They had me do this last year when I sent a guy over 100 DVD cases and he returned 10. A notarized statement should also work, but I never saw a dime and was out the money. Overall annoyed with the situation.[/QUOTE]

1. I'm not sure about the serial number, but the warranty sticker identifies it as the one I sent out. The sticker is from a local repair place and is still intact. (Had it repaired for YLOD problem before, worked fine after repair, and I put this fact in the listing.)

2. No.

3. Good to know.

 

[biuevenom]

[quote name='fullmetalfan720']1. I'm not sure about the serial number, but the warranty sticker identifies it as the one I sent out. The sticker is from a local repair place and is still intact. (Had it repaired for YLOD problem before, worked fine after repair, and I put this fact in the listing.)

2. No.

3. Good to know.[/QUOTE]

Those stickers are easy to remove and put back on without having the hologram broken.

IMO, either the console got damaged in the mail or he swapped the internals and put the stickers back on. If you packed it well and the box got to him with relatively minor damage, chances are he swapped the insides or broke it sometime after receiving it.

Either way, from my experience ebay will side with the buyer unless you get the police report they requested. You might get better responses on this off the ebay board "seller central" on what your next step should be.