SELLING SCAMS: Faulty goods

Anything sold online and delivered via the post is open to problems and potential scams, which can be a minefield if you are selling used parts. It’s easy for a buyer to claim that an item they have bought is faulty, which then incurs further costs to have it returned to the seller.

Selling sites such as ebay and payment systems such as Paypal try to protect both parties by having a strict policy for such disputes. Each case is recorded and any correspondence through them is collated in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

You can also protect yourself as a seller by including exclusion clauses in your advertisements. For example, if you are selling a used car part such as a sun visor or a piece of trim, be honest in the description concerning its condition, but also explain that the item is in good working order, is used and cannot be returned for a refund. Of course, this isn’t so easy if you are selling, say, a headlight unit, which could break when transported. We spoke to several secondhand spares specialists who now refuse to post headlight units because of this problem.