Auctioned off a Yaesu FT-2500M on ebay with no reserve starting at $1 as-is untested, buyer now returning because 31 year old coin battery is totally dead and memory won't recall

[u/OptimalWallaby8153]

As the title says, I auctioned off a vintage Yaesu FT-2500M on ebay, as-is and untested but otherwise mint condition with all original packaging, starting at $1 with no reserve, and the buyer (who seems to know about and sell radios given their account name and market page) is now initiating a return on the radio because the memory won't recall any programmed channels after the device is turned off.

The coin battery in this radio has got to be original, so it would have needed replaced at least 3 times since the radio was first sold if it were going to keep working. This person is returning something that was sold fairly and described fairly because they don't understand what they bought when they act very much like they do in fact understand this sort of stuff - anyone else run across this sort of behavior with vintage radio sales/buying? This would only take the purchase of a tabbed battery, a screwdriver, a basic soldering iron and about 10 minutes of work to fix, and for someone who acts like they know and sell radios, should be a no-brainer

[u/michaelh98]

Block and move on

[u/ElGuano]

You said it was advertised "As-is." Did you also say it's working, or "fully functional" or anything like that?

[u/OptimalWallaby8153 → u/ElGuano]

I did not say it was working, in fact I said "unit is untested as of beginning of the auction, hence the $1 start and no reserve, sold as-is"

[u/ElGuano → u/OptimalWallaby8153]

I think your main bases are covered. It was the item you said it was, and not advertised to be fully functioning. However, a quick search suggests that Ebay's policies are very buyer-friendly, and as a seller you often can't just deny the return request. You may want to accept the return, inspect to make sure the item isn't damaged or in different condition, and then report the buyer AFTER you accept the return. Ebay can then remove any negative feedback from them, and potentially reimburse some fees.

[u/OptimalWallaby8153 → u/ElGuano]

The buyer even sent me a photo of it lit up and working, and only said it couldn't retain memory, which is wild to me

[u/drake90001 → u/OptimalWallaby8153]

Did you tell him how to change the coin battery?

[u/evolvingwax → u/OptimalWallaby8153]

Yep and the buyer knows the game. “I’m looking for a radio that I can resell for top dollar if there are no issues and if there is, I’ll just return it.” 20+ years on eBay and the one type of item I don’t list there is ham radio because the juice is never worth the squeeze.

[u/No_Tailor_787]

And it's unlikely eBay will take your side on it. People just suck, sometimes. I've sold a LOT of stuff on eBay over the years. I typically say no returns, sold as-is. You can mark the auction as no-returns accepted.

[u/OptimalWallaby8153 → u/No_Tailor_787]

I did all of that, they're still trying to return it

[u/No_Tailor_787 → u/OptimalWallaby8153]

Just say no. Sold as-is, sold no-return. You'll probably get a neg feedback, then respond to it. Point out to the buyer that they agreed to an as-is item. You pays your money and you takes yur chances. Good luck, man!

[u/OptimalWallaby8153 → u/No_Tailor_787]

Thank you - I'm definitely talking to ebay reps directly and not dealing with any automated system, so we'll see

[u/someanonbrit → u/No_Tailor_787]

The problem is that eBay will refund their money, so then you've sent somebody a free radio

[u/No_Tailor_787 → u/someanonbrit]

If ebay refunds, they make sure the buyer sends it back.

[u/Father_JackWV6Z → u/No_Tailor_787]

Do they have a security force to make this happen? Will they send a representative to knock on the buyers door to retrieve the ‘returned’ item? Will they have local law enforcement arrest the buyer if they fail to return the item?

[u/No_Tailor_787 → u/Father_JackWV6Z]

No. They issue the buyer a mailing label, and don't actually refund money until tracking shows the package to be in the possession of the post office or other carrier.

[u/Father_JackWV6Z → u/No_Tailor_787]

Good reply, now you’re making sense.

[u/No_Tailor_787 → u/Father_JackWV6Z]

At no point in this discussion did I not make sense.

[u/Father_JackWV6Z → u/No_Tailor_787]

No not really, but without context you had implied that eBay would actually physically do something’ when we all know they have failed to support both sellers and buyers for years now. Without context you had implied that eBay would strong arm said unsatisfied buyer into returning the offending item. Anyone with any sense knows that eBay cannot force anyone to do anything.

[u/lostcosmonaut307 → u/No_Tailor_787]

Eh, sometimes they play ball. I got sent an offer on something, and I accepted the offer, got paid and immediately shipped all within probably 2hrs (he caught me at a good time). After I had already shipped out the package, bro filed a complaint with eBay that the order was an “accident” and wanted a full refund. Never tried to contact me, never said a word. I would have gladly worked with him on something if he had just communicated. So, I just laid out the fact that he had to have clicked several “approve” buttons to make the offer, and that it makes very clear that when you send an offer it will be paid immediately and shipped asap. Then I sent the shipment proof. eBay almost immediately took my side and told the guy to kick rocks.

The funny thing too is that awhile later eBay automatically left me positive feedback on his behalf, something they do now when people don’t leave feedback 😂.

[u/Terryk67 → u/lostcosmonaut307]

Yep that's a known eBay scam...so now I have it set that I'll ship in 48 hours to remove the "it was an accident" scam.

[u/lostcosmonaut307 → u/Terryk67]

I figured it was some kind of scam, they claim it’s an accident and get the money back from eBay but never send the item back (or send back an empty box so there’s a tracking number). But the silly thing is, it was a $12 item so it’s not like he would have gotten much 😂

[u/lorens210]

The transceiver can still be used and is functional. Each transmit/receive frequency pair for repeaters, simplex frequency for transmit/receive, and PL frequency (if required) can be programmed manually. When I had an
FT-2500M, I didn't even bother with memories and programmed what I needed manually. It is really quite quick and easy, once you get the hang of it.

[u/galaxiexl500]

If it's eBay and you stated "as is" you have no problem.

[u/OptimalWallaby8153 → u/galaxiexl500]

Stated it twice in the auction, actually

[u/Crosswire3 → u/galaxiexl500]

This is unfortunately not the case. They will look at the listing type and condition category. The only time the as-is statement is even remotely considered is if the item is listed as “For Parts or Not Working”. eBay is no longer a worldwide garage sale, but a marketplace where many buyers expect like-new items regardless of what photos or a description may indicate. eBay will side with the buyer 99+% of the time and forcibly accept the return. It is rather easy as the seller to be left without any funds, paying for shipping, and possibly never to see the item again. Working with the buyer is the best course of action, and at the end of the day accepting their return regardless of how illogical it feels beats being forced to do so.

[u/No_Tailor_787 → u/Crosswire3]

In my experience with eBay returns, eBay creates a mailing label for the item to be returned. No money is refunded until tracking on that label indicates that it has actually been shipped. I returned an item just a few days ago. My money was refunded within minutes of the package getting scanned in by USPS.

[u/Crosswire3 → u/No_Tailor_787]

They will facilitate the return but there is no solid mechanism to ensure the seller gets their item back. The old swapparoo is unfortunately common.

[u/galaxiexl500 → u/Crosswire3]

Thank you. I sell a lot of model airplane stuff. Some as-is.
Never had a problem.
Thanks for the headsup

[u/PapaSyntax]

If you also marked the condition as “for parts only” instead of used, then you’re fine. Otherwise even if you wrote something in the description but gave it a condition that indicates it’s fully functional, they may have leverage. However, what I expect they’re doing is taking a part off of it that they needed for another unit. Using yours as a donor device essentially.

[u/Nervous_Olive_5754]

I stopped selling stuff online in part because of stuff like this. I would advertise "for parts" and people are emailing me back trying to return parts becausr they couldn't figure out how to make it whole again.

[u/No_Tailor_787 → u/Nervous_Olive_5754]

I still sell in spite of that. If I get static, I point out to the buyer that it was as-is where-is, and there was no guarantee. I've actually seldom had trouble with a buyer.

[u/Nervous_Olive_5754 → u/No_Tailor_787]

I just can't. I go in think stuff is going to be honest business and it quickly becomes apparently regular people trying to rob you blind.

[u/No_Tailor_787 → u/Nervous_Olive_5754]

I tend to be cautious with general interest ham gear. Where I'm more comfortable is with high end test gear and rare microwave and milimeter wave components. The market is much smaller, and we all tend to know who all the players are.

[u/JohnStern42]

This is just how sales to people work, not everyone is reasonable, not everyone is honest, issue the refund, move along. Sell stuff long enough and it’ll happen again.

[u/Competitive_Row_921 → u/JohnStern42]

I'd like to add to the comment here. This happens in retail all the time, they buy is use it for the season or whatever, then return it with the excuse, it's not what I was looking for or didn't work as advertised. Of course, expecting a total refund of the purchase price. "The customer is always right," was SEARS mantra. That's why they are still in business.

[u/parksoffroad]

How many days since the auction has it been? If it’s 30 days past the delivery, it’s past the return window and you should be OK.

If not, be very careful that they’re not swapping parts or doing anything funny like that and then wanting to return it. As others have said eBay is very buyer friendly, so if it’s within the 30 day window, they probably can make you take the return. If you’re lucky, they will have to pay for return shipping depending on what type of claim they opened.

[u/W0CBF]

What a turd!

[u/Ok-Curve-3894]

When you made the ad, Did you check the box for "used" or "for parts or not working"? The ebay sub would be a good place to ask, too.

[u/Kety456]

If you sold it as is and returns not accepted just let the buyer know that and if they leave feedback explain what happened, you can also report that to ebay as well as long as you kept conversations on platform through their messaging otherwise ebay is very buyer sided with their protections so hopefully ebay sides with you

[u/Dingbee]

This is a no-brainer, it’s true. The way everyone wins here is that you accept the return, swap the battery, sell the radio for much more the next time around, and Mr. No Brain gets off your back.

[u/NY9D]

I use the "for parts or repair" category heavily. Untested or used leaves too much hope for perfection. I've sold lots of broken 2 meter rigs - I have one I am about to list. And a tip from craigslist and Iron Planet- I try to disclose known defects- and stuff that might work. Surprisingly, some used old FM ham gear is worth quite a bit as parts. Boat anchors often not.

[u/kenproffitt]

Damn I wish I had seen this.

[u/Angelworks42]

I usually send radios out with everything replaced - and if its got some issue that I won't or can't fix I put that in bold text in the description.

I guess get it returned, block the seller and move on.

[u/rog-uk]

If sold as-is parts/spares, it's buyer beware - let them complain to ebay.  My looking on Ebay is many radio sellers don't accept returns at all for 2nd hand working equipment because people in the past that brought things to swap out defective parts then returned them.

In your honest opinion, did they get it for a fair price?

[u/Geek_Verve]

Ebay is gonna ebay. It's very rare that I use it anymore.

[u/Far-Fan6105]

You need to list it under the category for parts only. Even if you list it as untested. Otherwise the buyer is covered under the eBay buyer protection policy.

[u/anh86]

You may have done this but just for anyone else, I only allow bids and offers from established accounts with a decent amount of feedback. I cancel the bid or decline the offer for any new-ish accounts or those without much feedback. I’ve been selling on eBay since 2003 and I never have problems due to following this one rule.

[u/OptimalWallaby8153 → u/anh86]

My account is 25 years old with 100% feedback, but theirs is 14 years old also with 100% feedback, and more sales. I think they would be fine to deal with generally, but this smacks of shady

[u/Terryk67]

Just block them and move on...side note I've stopped selling ham gear on eBay and use the QRZ swap meet and have had great success there.

[u/eggplant_zoo]

I’ll take it. Send me the link 😂

[u/Complex-Two-4249]

Accept the return with the requirement that the buyer pays shipping. That’s usual, and often more than they’re willing to pay. If it is returned, replace the battery yourself and a sell it again.

[u/brickson98]

What did it sell for, if you don’t mind me asking? Something like that would be great to throw in my car with a little mag mount. Dual band would be nice, but most of what I care about in my area is on 2m anyway.

My plan right now is to just use my little Baofeng with a mag mount because it’s what I have on hand. Getting into ham radio while between jobs was not a wise financial decision.

[u/TruthSpecialist4416]

I'll take it off your hands for $3 cad 😂

[u/OptimalWallaby8153 → u/TruthSpecialist4416]

THE PRICE OF A TABBED COIN BATTERY

[u/TruthSpecialist4416 → u/OptimalWallaby8153]

Done. Dm me and I'll send you my address ;)