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What Do You Think Of This?

I sold a Magnum Dynalab MD100 tuner here on Saturday.  I used it daily for almost 3 years and right up to the day I shipped it to its new owner.  There was never a problem with it, it always worked perfectly.  The gentleman received the tuner yesterday and complained to me that the tuner is broken.  He said that when the tuner is off, the meters still work.  I pointed out to him that it is the way the tuner is designed.  I have had 3 different Magnum Dynalab tuners and all 3 have been that way.  He also said the signal strength meter moves wildly and that he is getting a loud hiss.  I explained to him that it sounds like poor reception.

He wants his money back and I told him I would cheerfully refund him the money via PayPal once I receive the tuner back.  I stated I would refund him the 400.00 that he paid.  He then complained he wanted his return shipping back because I sent him a "broken" tuner and that I stated in my ad that it worked flawlessly (which it did).   I sent him another email which he has yet to respond to that I will cover his return shipping, and that as soon as I get the tuner back I will refund him the 400.00 plus the return shipping.

I am quite annoyed because He lowballed me down to 400 as I was asking 475.00 and this tuner went for 1970.00 new.  I also ate the PayPal fees plus had to purchase a shipping carton as well.  I am positive the tuner is fine and that he just has poor reception.  People here need to realize that we who are selling are not a store, this isn't try and return if you don't like or if the problem is bad reception.

At any rate, I am just going to refund him everything as I have flawless feedback and that means more to me than the money.  Whats your take on this?

128x128stereo5
simao's avatar
simao
1,819 posts
 
I think he's being unreasonable and you're being more than generous, considering the relative Audiogon longevity of you both. He's also accusing you of dishonesty without offering any evidence. I would refund him the money when you get the tuner back if it does exhibit those symptoms, but not the return shipping.

swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
+1 simao.  However, he probably has you over a barrel having used paypal.  As far as I can tell, paypal usually sides with the buyer in these types of disputes.  One option would be to suggest that you two file an Audiogon dispute, which is more likely to result in a similar result to what simao suggested.  As far as I can tell, many/most on-line businesses require buyer to pay for return shipping.  BTW, ST-2 antenna is directional if placed horizontally.  Perhaps that is part of his problem. 
stereo5's avatar
stereo5 OP
6,388 posts
 
Considering the language barrier, that path wouldn't be doable.  I am so angry as I know there is nothing wrong with the Tuner, it gave me 3 years of immense pleasure and I used it daily, 8 hours a day as it was set up in my office.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
What you may hear next from this fella is that sending it back is too big a PIA and he is willing to accept a further discount on the initial price and just keep it. Or not.....:-)
minorl
1,016 posts
 

What probably happened was that the buyer wasn't sure how it would sound and bought it before knowing.  When it arrived, he/she didn't like it and wanted a return. Like a store.   another reason why I really like buyers to pick the unit up personally.  That way, they would hear it work perfectly and can't complain later.  Another is don't accept paypal.  Paypal protects the buyer only.  I never eat the paypal fee and if buyers insist on using paypal, they must add in the paypal fee.  buyer is also responsible for shipping fees.

I sold a Mark Levinson ML3 amp a year or so ago.  The was repaired and also modified with upgraded output transistors and worked and sounded wonderful.  It was advertised as repaired and modified and very detail in the description.  The buyer came to my house, and listened to the amp play for over an hour.  It was great.  I still regret selling this amp. 

The buyer was a "dealer" which I didn't know and shipped the amp overseas to a new buyer.  They proceeded to take the amp apart and then called me complaining that the amp didn't work correctly.  I told him to bring it back to my house and we could connect it like before and listen. I said that if it didn't work, then there was nothing I could do because they damaged the unit.  They (the new owner) could have very easily shorted the outputs and damaged the amp.  hard to do on this one because it is a monster.  I'm absolutely certain the new "owner" damaged the amp either in shipping overseas or when they tried to connect it and operate it. 

I would not take back something that worked when I shipped it and they buyer damaged it.  This is why paypal is not cool.

I understand that buyers want protection, but so do sellers.  tough call here.

If the tuner works as before, then maybe give the buyer their money back and move on.  but, if that tuner no longer works, then well, we have a problem.  they (the buyer) broke it.  More likely tho, the buyer simply didn't like the sound and considers you to be a retail store and want a return.

sorry for the problem.

enjoy the music

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