Gumtree Nightmare Who's Right Here?

newbiesh on 28/01/2017 - 11:44
Last edited 28/01/2017 - 12:33 by 1 other user

So i last week i sold a laptop on gumtree the guy came in with a less money than we discussed and it was advertised and he begun saying this screen is this that so i could lower the price for him.
Since i already came home early for him didnt want to waste more time and unfortunately sold it to him. he tested it everything on the spot and was happy with it.

after one week, today he called me and I missed his call, then he messaged me "mate the laptop not working, call me i dont want to chase you up" !!! wth…

what you guys think ?

Poll Options

  • 1
    refund him
  • 131
    not refund him
  • 2
    call and figure out something
  • 6
    dont call him
General Discussion

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Comments

  • Baysew on 28/01/2017 - 12:02
    +1

    You might like to read Nightmare On Gumtree

  • JIMB0 on 28/01/2017 - 12:21
    +22

    If you do refund him make sure don't have enough cash for the full amount, I'm sure he'll understand since he did the same to you.

  • Ughhh on 28/01/2017 - 12:21
    +1

    Hopefully you didnt meet at your house, if so, just ignore.
    If you did meet at your house, consider if he's the type that could cause trouble to your home. He could force you to refund him.

    I would say if he's that desperate, let him chase you up. But I'm guessing you probably don't have his home address, so maybe text him for his home address, just in case he does decide to throw egg your house later on, you at least have some info of him.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 17:06

      Ughhh, the police will deal with matters like this and resolve any threats

      • Ughhh on 28/01/2017 - 17:18

        And what proof you have that the buyer did it? By the time the Police arrives, he's already gone and the Police can't be your personal guard. You can make a police report, and it'll just sit there forever.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 17:19
          -1

          I have CCTV cameras running when I was in a house
          Proof is with the evidence from CCTV or cameras, cheap enough to do these days and I would highly recommend people get them
          I also live in an apartment complex so selling goods on gumtree is even easier
          they get my building address and thats it
          I tend to find the gumtree messaging app is also great as my number is not exposed

        • Ughhh on 28/01/2017 - 17:30
          +2

          @shawncro 222:

          So the solution for people who want to sell stuff on gumtree is to move into an apartment complex first?

          Awesome, you live in apartment and have cameras, but you realise this case isn't about you?
          Not everyone lives in an apartment complex and it's not a practical solution for someone who lives in a regular house and who just wants to sell something on gumtree.

          Depending how smart the guy is and how much he hates you, camera's won't completely protect you, especially if he covers his face or something.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 17:32
          -2

          @Ughhh:

          Valid points, no need for the personal attack, I am raising a valid point about gumtree sales and I have sold probably 10-15k easy in the last 6 months
          I have had my fair share of "scammers" "part swappers" and "morons" but most sales have been smooth

          I have raised my points at the end of this thread

          Common sense should prevail and I never invite gumtree strangers to a house if I lived in one
          Thats asking for issues

          If the OP has honestly sold the goods in good faith the other bloke CAN be charged and will be charged
          phone number with his threats is all the police need to track him down

          Covering your face over a laptop would be pretty stupid

          The solution is for people to sell smarter, surely you would agree with that

        • Ughhh on 28/01/2017 - 17:44

          @shawncro 222:

          I don't see where the personal attack is, anyway..

          The solution is for people to sell smarter, surely you would agree with that

          Yes I agree with that. The most simple, easy and cheap way to avoid that would be not meet at your residence. I never meet buyers at my house. I have received threats before, I easily laughed it off despite being a small girl against a big guy because I know he can't get to me, he doesn't know where I live nor have my real number. I don't have to worry about him waiting for me down the street etc etc.

          The police can only do so much under the law. Unfortunately, the law does protect the bad guys. It's on you to prove he damaged your property, and to prove he's the guy hiding under his hoodie covering his face in the security cameras.

          Covering your face over a laptop would be pretty stupid

          I would think not covering your face and staring into the camera be more stupid… Some people take things too seriously and too personally. If he believes in making your life miserable to teach you a lesson and he knows he can get away with it, it wouldn't be stupid to him. Some people can be more creative than you, that can be bad sometimes.

        • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 17:47

          @Ughhh:

          You do realise this is a gumtree sale, empty threats more than anything but you do never know and I never invite people to a house
          an apartment is a lot safer as you dont need to deal with them gaining access
          I have people pull all kinds of crap with me and never had an issue
          Cameras as a deterant stop people doing stupid stuff, its not going to stop the 1% who are already known criminals but it will prevent most people with brains doing anything too stupid

          The OP should have photos and proof to back up his case
          also allowing a cheaper price would of caused alarm bells already
          gumtree is a no refund / no warranty unless expressed sale
          there is nothing more to it

  • Diji1 on 28/01/2017 - 12:23
    +18

    Block number. He already knows that you're a weak mark because you sold him the laptop for less than arranged so he's trying to get something else. You owe him nothing whatsoever. If you ever see him on your property again do not stuff about, ask him to leave once then call the police and state that you feel threatened by a stranger who will not leave your property.

  • chumlee on 28/01/2017 - 12:51
    +14

    He probably took out the parts he needs to fix his computer and now playing you.

  • jackofspade on 28/01/2017 - 13:57
    +1

    Bikies?

    • Baebs on 28/01/2017 - 14:31
      +4

      Yes, always Bikies.

  • Marcsie on 28/01/2017 - 15:01
    +1

    That's why when selling on Gumtree,we should always meet people at the local shopping centre :)

    • Kangal on 28/01/2017 - 18:22

      No, meet at a police station.
      Dare them to try to steal your goods, or mug your money, or throw a tantrum :P

      • Marcsie on 28/01/2017 - 20:19

        Or you may get a Policeman to witness you deal as well, lol

  • supnigs super skids on 28/01/2017 - 16:07
    +6

    Tell him it was working when he bought it.he broke it .If he disagrees,he can go f himself with a cactus

  • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 16:30
    -1

    always meet at a public spot..I for instance always meet at my local maccas

    Once item is sold theres no chance of refund from my side..their number is blocked

  • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 17:05
    +4

    First rules of gumtree

    • Agreed price is the SALE PRICE
    • Meet in a public location
    • Record serial numbers of the unit and take photos of the condition (laptops, phones , game consoles)
    • I do up a sheet (contract) that states, I am satisfied with the sale and agree that Gumtree sales express no warranties or refunds, if the product is covered by a balance of manufacturers warranty then any concerns should be raised with them and not me
    • Both sign the paper work and both agree the item is tested as as described

    The guy is either

    • using the machine for parts
    • found an exact model and is swapping you a dud machine (probably taken out the motherboard or something else)
    • Doing a dodgy

    Gumtree is a buyer beware market and as I learnt in high school, Caveat Emptor with second hand sales (Buyer Beware)
    All my sales are final and the agreed price is the final price
    I had some clown try this with me when I had an Iphone 6s, wanted 1200 for it, he come with 1100, I told him the messages were firm and final and either you pay the extra 100 dollars or I will sell it to the next party, he took it at the "AGREED PRICE"

    The bloke is dodgy, the sale is final, you've reduced the price already of the item when you really should not have
    Cease contact, if he continues, get the police involved, its a simple as that

    • exc3113nce on 30/01/2017 - 12:10

      This here, caveat emptor. Sales for second hand goods between non-experts don't come with any type of warranty. Assuming it was working fine for him then within a month it started playing up. This is the risk of buying second hand. Only issue would be breach of contract, or misrepresentation which would need further facts.

      Unless the laptop was very expensive a small claim would not even be worth it for him.

  • aussieprepper on 28/01/2017 - 17:40

    If the Laptop was already working i highly doubt any thing went wrong just block them!

    • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 17:42
      +1

      aussieprepper - why i always take photos and videos of anything of value
      it then proves a very clear case when they present any problems

      I ask for their email address and send photos of the presales photos used on the ad
      they soon leave me alone and don't continue to try and pull scams with me

      I record photos of the laptop
      Hardware specs of the laptop
      Hard drive size
      Operating system
      Serial number / Machine Number
      Charger serial / photos (people like to exchange faulty chargers worth up to $80)

      • altomic on 28/01/2017 - 18:53

        And mark things with a UV pen

        • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 18:54

          Good point Altomic, I remember doing this for a car service, $500 dollars they wanted for a 45k service at suzuki
          got it down to $249

          found out they didnt even change the oil filter, took it back and showed proof, had nothing to say
          ended up getting rid of the car anyway as it had cvt issues

          My advice don't buy suzuki with cvt, they are garbage jatco nonsense

  • garetz on 28/01/2017 - 19:27
    +4

    You sold an item he was happy with, there is no implied warranty on a second hand sale, even if it died the next day you have no responsibility to him or a refund. If it stopped working a week later could of been many factors at play here, he could of dropped it or could of gotten water damage, or misused it himself. That's his problem, not yours.

    • [Deactivated] on 28/01/2017 - 19:41

      correct garetz

  • altomic on 28/01/2017 - 20:11

    wait till he starts texting regularly. and then consider what to do.

    recently I sold 2 laptops at the same time (they were identical models and used - and clearly stated as ex-school laptops) on ebay. one went for $50 more than the other. strangely the guy who paid $50 more started to say that his laptop had a tracking pad issue and "what was I going to do about it?". I had thoroughly checked both laptops and reinstalled an OS so I knew they were functioning normally. I suggested some solutions- such as reinstall driver, clean track pad. he came back with he had done all that so how was i going to fix the problem. I pointed to the fact he paid with paypal so he should commence the paypal/ebay refund process and had left it at that. nothing more I can do. he can return it. follow the process that ebay and paypal have established in situations like this.

    and then I heard nothing more from him.

  • Axelstrife on 28/01/2017 - 20:55

    NO WARRANTY simple as that doesnt matter if it laster 1 month or 1 minute after he walks away with the item.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2017 - 02:11
    +4

    Driveway warranty, the second you're on my driveway with the goods, the warranty expires.

  • Brisxr6t on 29/01/2017 - 09:04
    +6

    I had a scammer like this once who claimed a portable air con had stopped working a week later…sent me pics of it leaking water and it wasnt even the same unit. I invited him to come around and get his head kicked in instead of a refund. Ain't got time for scammer scums. Never heard from him again.

  • Stevek1960 on 29/01/2017 - 09:28

    Oldest scam in the book, Buyer had the same unit that was dead so he buys yours and wait a week to complain, brings his dead one back for refund and keeps your full working unit.
    Tell him hes dreamin

  • tomsco on 29/01/2017 - 09:42

    Just out of interest OP, what was the agreed price and what was the final price paid?

  • Thenarrator on 29/01/2017 - 11:44

    Plot twist. The seller knows its a dud laptop and deliberately tried to sell an unusable laptop to scam.

    • tomsco on 29/01/2017 - 13:29

      But was lucky enough it worked when the buyer inspected it.

  • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2017 - 13:00

    Ask him what he did to it to make it stop working, then send him the address of a repair shop.
    Tell him you know he is a scammer.

  • eggles01 on 29/01/2017 - 15:35

    UNLESS YOU GAVE HIM A TRY TO BY GUANTREE HE SAW THE LAPTOP AND HE WAS SATISFIED SO HE PURCHASED IT AS IS AND WORKING SO YOU ARE UNDER ANY OBLIGATION TO REFUND OR REPAIR IT, IF HE IS THREATENING YOU DOWNLOAD THE EMAILS FROM HIM AND TAKE THEM WITH YOU TO THE POLICE,HE COULD HAVE DROPPED THE LAPTOP OR REMOVED PARTS FROM YOURS AND REPLACED THEM INTO ANOTHER UNIT HEB OWNS.GOOD LUCK

    • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2017 - 22:00
      +1

      Stop yelling!

    • exulted on 30/01/2017 - 11:52

      Relax ur caps

  • newbiesh on 29/01/2017 - 17:06

    thanks everyone he hasn't texted me since then so i think or lets hope he managed to fix it or it was just software/OS problem.

  • scrimshaw on 31/01/2017 - 15:07
    +1

    gumtree the guy came in with a less money than we discussed

    The next time you see someone do this, calmly and politely point them to a nearby Atm machine and tell them about the wonderful modern conveniences of automated banking

    Also helps if you are next to a bank. They can't use the same old shitty excuse of "lol, oops my brother/ wife / son / pet dog borrowed cash from me and this is all I'm carrying" while refusing to look you in the eyes.

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