Gumtree - Buyer Claiming RAM Is Faulty and Wants a Refund

chinospot on 18/12/2020 - 22:42
Last edited 19/12/2020 - 09:46 by 1 other user

Hi Guys.

Just wanting some quick advice on a recent Gumtree sale.

Upgraded my PC a month or so ago to 32gb RAM thanks to a deal on here, and thus didn't have use for 2 8gb sticks of DDR4 RAM, so I popped them up on Gumtree. Buyer agreed to a price and came and picked the parts up, seemed like a nice guy.

Next day I checked my account and saw there was a message stating that one of the sticks were dead and they wanted to return both sticks.

I asked what specifically the issue was, and was told one stick was just completely dead and not working at all.
Now I've seen plenty of these issues arise on other posts with scams like switching a new PS4 for a dead one or Air Pods for fake air pods. It's pretty unlikely he had the exact ram on hand that was dead and was trying to swap it for working ram, but i also don't know what happened to it after it was picked up, as i never had an issue with it for 3 years.

The particular ram brand has a lifetime warranty for all its RAM, and so I guess I have two choices moving forward.
Either accept the refund and try and send it back under warranty, and hope it hasn't been misused while the buyer has had it, or tell the buyer that it was bought as is and it was working when I last tested it, however he could do a warranty claim for them through the manufacturers website. What would you do?

TL:DR. Sold RAM on Gumtree, buyer went home and then messaged back the next day that one stick is dead and wants to return/refund. The RAM would be covered under the manufacturers lifetime warranty assuming no misuse.

Thanks

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Comments

  • SF3 on 18/12/2020 - 22:47
    +3

    he could do a warranty claim for them through the manufacturers website

    If that is the case, the buyer to deal with it…

  • saltysalt on 18/12/2020 - 23:00

    Do you have a way to check a serial number if you take it back? Maybe do the warranty claim and get the new one sent directly to him?

    • chinospot on 18/12/2020 - 23:04

      I think i only took one photo and it was with the model no facing down, thus i probably dont have the serial.

  • garetz on 18/12/2020 - 23:00
    +7

    All sales are final, once it leaves your hands you have no control over what the buyer has done with it, they could of put it on a faulty board and it killed the ram. Even in the unlikely event that it was working for you, then died in the time it took for the new owner to install the ram, not your problem.

    If i was you i would tell them the ram is still under warranty, and offer to send them the receipt so they can claim warranty themselves.

    • chinospot on 18/12/2020 - 23:16

      Yeah that was my thought process as well, there's so many things that could have happened to it after it left my possession, and ram very rarely dies by itself, hence the lifetime warranties.

      • TilacVIP on 19/12/2020 - 09:47

        The warranty will only apply if you still have the original sales invoice, hopefully you do, problem solved.

        At a guess, if they are both working, its likely he may have put two sticks in, system didn't boot, tried on at a time, and it only booted of one of the sticks, deeming the other one dead. What happens quite often with RAM is, a different set of RAM "may" need to be inserted one module at a time. Get him to insert the working stick, boot up, shutdown, then insert the one he claims is dead. If they are both fine, system should boot up. I've ha this happen to me several times.

        Other than that, he is either trying to pull one over you, not sure why, other than swap out his dead set for your working set [serials on the sticker should match] or one stick really is dead.

  • Simoneee on 18/12/2020 - 23:12

    Buyer has no grounds on Gumtree

  • keejoonc on 18/12/2020 - 23:20

    Too bad so sad. When you buy used goods on gumtree what makes this self entitled idiot think he can choose to return it? Tell him to get lost.

  • Kais3r on 18/12/2020 - 23:22
    +2

    It’s buyer beware with any private sale, if they want a guarantee it’s working they need to test it prior to purchase, not always practical though.
    Also a good idea to test right before selling so you know it worked and have confidence in what you sold.
    I would work with them to get it replaced under warranty without doing a refund, it’s unfortunate but happens sometimes so it ends up being a wait for the buyer, though likely they damaged it anyway, knowingly or not.
    You could also test the sticks again yourself and it may just be their board slot that’s causing the issue not the stick.

  • outlander on 18/12/2020 - 23:33
    +9

    What did you make, like $20?
    My opinion is that it's not worth making enemies over such a trifling amount. Maybe he's concocted some intricate scam to get you. Maybe global warming is a scam and hillary clinton is a lizard person.

    Me, I'd take the reasonable approach, and assume that maybe, just maybe, the stick had got damaged when I removed it. Sucks but it happens.
    He did reply the next day yeah? Bit different if it was a month down the track. I'd just refund it. Rather err on the side of getting scammed than be the scumbag seller who sold broken parts as working.

    • Kais3r on 18/12/2020 - 23:49
      +2

      That’s assuming the seller is at fault, neither of them know who is at fault, assume one you have to assume both, anyone who just points the finger without considering themselves at fault is going to live a hard life with that attitude even if they did win a few, but the rules and the law is if you buy it you own it, so he should help remedy but that’s all.
      As I said if you buy something privately you need to test it or cop it. Also why you don’t bring people to your house to sell, too many still don’t know basic rules and laws.

      • ln28909 on 19/12/2020 - 10:34

        are you willing to risk your reputation on amount that small? I wouldn't

        • Ughhh on 19/12/2020 - 11:34
          +1

          Unless you're famous or looking for repeat business , why the f would you care.

          • ln28909 on 19/12/2020 - 11:43
            +5

            @Ughhh: my word is my bond, I care even if it is 50c

            once you ignore the small things, they become habit and it is harder to change that.

            • Ughhh on 19/12/2020 - 12:00

              @ln28909: In this scenario, it's a very he said she said thing. Do you provide no questions asked refunds to your gt buyers?
              If you want a reputation of easily bending over..

              • ln28909 on 19/12/2020 - 13:09

                @Ughhh: Yes it's called goodwill

                The most expensive 16gb ram that people would buy is $200, and for $200, it is highly unlikely worth to scam someone

                Also it is the seller fault for not doing the proper due diligence and take a photo of the serial number, sometimes you have to pay for your mistake so you don't make them again

                • Ughhh on 19/12/2020 - 13:48

                  @ln28909:

                  The most expensive 16gb ram that people would buy is $200, and for $200, it is highly unlikely worth to scam someone

                  People steal $2 items all the time at stores. $200 x number of people, thats some good money.

                  Also it is the seller fault for not doing the proper due diligence and take a photo of the serial number, sometimes you have to pay for your mistake so you don't make them again

                  It's also the buyers fault not doing due diligence. Since its a private transaction, buyer has greater responsibility to conduct due diligence. Sometimes you have to pay for your mistake so you don't make them again.

                  • ln28909 on 19/12/2020 - 13:54

                    @Ughhh: You would know when you talk to them whether they are the type that'll do that

                    And I don't think we should do business together with your attitude

                    • Ughhh on 21/12/2020 - 09:30

                      @ln28909:

                      You would know when you talk to them whether they are the type that'll do that

                      Yes, everyone who has gotten scammed thought the scammer was obviously a scammer, that's why they handed over the money /product and fell for it…

                      I merely replaced seller with buyer. Both are capable of being scammers. Don't be unfair.

      • Ughhh on 19/12/2020 - 11:33

        Also why you don’t bring people to your house to sell, too many still don’t know basic rules and laws

        This!

    • saltysalt on 19/12/2020 - 00:20
      +2

      This. I agree it's worth being a decent person especially if the buyer didn't have a reasonable way to check the goods at the time of purchase. For such a low ticket item do the right thing and feel good about it. Not worth the bad jew jew.

      • terrys on 19/12/2020 - 08:47

        <Ahem> - it's spelt Ju-Ju. Not a biggie but out of all the things that trigger toll/flame wars, you may have inadvertantly tickled one with an understandable back story :-/

        For the money tho, it might cost more in time and petrol than it's worth for both parties if the manufacturer will send out a nice new one…

        • TilacVIP on 19/12/2020 - 09:37

          Some sets of 2 x 8GB DDR4 sells for between 80 - $150. These are not a $10 item.

  • Cave Fire on 19/12/2020 - 00:26
    +1

    it's an electrical component… static is a thing lol + easy to damage them. Heck, he could even have hardware issues. People look for ads with no serials to try this stuff (according to ebay). Also, it may be tempting with these trades to get them done quickly, but it's best to show the item is working for a few minutes. The warranty is technically valid for the original buyer AFAIK. And there are fake ram out there as well…

  • AustriaBargain on 19/12/2020 - 00:45
    +1

    How long did you have them laying around before you sold them? Is there any chance that you killed it accidentally between taking it out and selling it.

    • chinospot on 19/12/2020 - 01:17

      Maybe around a month, popped them in the packaging of the new ram. There's always a small chance i killed it, but im pretty experienced with taking parts out/putting in new ones.

      • TilacVIP on 19/12/2020 - 09:27
        +2

        So you didn't test them on the day or day before or after listing to make sure they're OK??

        Yeah we sellers like to sell something on Gumtree then wash our hands after the buyer has paid if the item wasn't tested or is faulty. BTW.. I'm not saying you sold something faulty, but responding to some of the comments here about buying off gumtree.

        Having said that, I always take a photo of the product and serial numbers before sending [eBay sales] or buyers picking & always test again on the day. Most importantly where possible I like to show it working and them give it to them.

        Looks like there are 2 things you neglected to do here.

        • chinospot on 19/12/2020 - 12:12

          No, last time they were tested was when they came out of my pc around a month ago. An oversight on my part. I also did mention to him the last time i tested them was a month ago. The buyer came and picked them up within 10 mins, i probably didn't even have time to drag my pc out swap rams and retest.
          I agree that i should have taken a picture of the serial as well, i actually have no idea why i didnt.
          Some good advice for the future though.

  • theguru1 on 19/12/2020 - 07:21
    +1

    If he expected a warranty he should have bought at a store.

    • TilacVIP on 19/12/2020 - 09:39

      I take it you've never bought a second-hand item?

  • terrys on 19/12/2020 - 08:54
    +1

    I've only ever killed one RAM module in fourty years of tinkering - and it was also the only time I'd worn an earth strap, as in those days the power switch was just that, rather than a request signaller, so you could leave the cord in and earth yourself on the case before commencing.

    I was wearing polyester with cotton socks on a woollen carpet tho - maybe the slide across the floor to the workbench didn't help.

    It was only a little spark…

  • dscott85 on 19/12/2020 - 09:33
    +1

    I would do the refund & seek a return yourself. Especially since from your post it seems like the buyer visited you at home? People can be unreasonable, you don’t want someone turning up irate at 1am in the morning or something.

  • Stephen2 on 19/12/2020 - 10:02
    +2

    I would take the item back. Imagine buying a RAM from someone and then it doesn't work, and they won't take it back. That's not fair.

    Don't be unfair.

    • Ughhh on 21/12/2020 - 09:24
      +1

      Imagine if it was due to buyers mishandling that caused the fault, and buyer demands seller to take it back. That's not fair.

  • AndyC1 on 19/12/2020 - 10:09

    Buyer should have asked to see it working before paying. If it's covered by warranty then the buyer can chase it up.
    Gumtree sales do not include any warranty, unless you are buying from a shop.

  • Waltervp on 19/12/2020 - 10:16
    +1

    Not worth the argument. I suggest refund and move on, chances are it's user error, but whatever …. you don't want stupid people in your life… Next buyer show them it works, take out of system and tell them no refund.

  • OzHunterNSW on 19/12/2020 - 11:06

    Just do it

  • kaos on 19/12/2020 - 14:59

    most likely issue is that either the buyer screwed the RAM or he bought the wrong type.

    Nevertheless, if it has a lifetime warranty- that applies only to the original purchaser

    So here's what you should do
    - get the RAM back
    - claim warranty on it

    If it's faulty you can give the buyer back working RAM
    if it's not faulty you can tell him to go away, but wave nicely
    if he bought the wrong RAM he may not want to give it back for testing

    and in future put 'no returns' on your ads

  • 82norm on 19/12/2020 - 18:25
    -1

    To the buyer, too bad too sad.

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