Dear all OzBargainers, some story here, some lessons learnt, and some advice needed.
So I'm in Adelaide, bought 2 secondhand nintendo switches from a seller, for a total of $600, seller said condition for both units are good, no issue, I said no problem please charge them before I pick up so I can run some test when I get there.
Took me a 40mins drive to get there, the seller and her partner brought up 2 units, but both on flat battery, said they forgot to charge, sorry. I took a look on the outside, both look pretty new so I let my guard down and ask if I take them home and found any issues can I let them know, the seller said yes yes of course of course, if there's any issue just bring them back.
The night I got home, I charged up a little and switched them on and found no issue, 2 days later I fully charged them and 1 day after I found one unit has full battery and the other unit has flat battery, I fully charged it again and found battery gone at a speed of 15%/hr on sleep mode - clearly there's a battery issue. So this is the third day after the handover, I messaged the seller and told her about the situation, she asked me nicely what I want to do would I like a refund? I said yes please, then the next message I receive is this:
"Hi it’s xxxx, xxxx’s partner, both switches were in great working condition when we had them and can not return the switch for a refund. We can’t guarantee that the switch hasn’t been tampered with while you’ve had it and again, it was working fine when we had it."
I replied and said "I asked them to be charged and they weren't, I asked if I can take them home and test and you said of course, that's the condition I agreed to buy them on that day." And of course, they stopped replying my message.
To summary:
- I know the seller's full name on Facebook
- I know the seller's address
- I have most messages on facebook messenger but unfortunately not the verbal part they said I can take them home and test
I mean, $300 is ok with me, money is lesser of the issue here but I'm feeling angry because I was trying to be nice and fair and I trust people who later on lied and disrespected me, I feel like I'm taken advantage by the dishonest people and I want them to get the punishment they deserve.
Could the good people here suggest what I can do (except get the bikies involved please) to deal with this issue? Would tribunal work? Is the unfortunate bit that I didn't have their verbal promise on record make this impossible?
Thanks in advance.
Rule 1 - FB MP and Gumtree sales are Always Cash and Pick up.
Rule 2 - 32 - See Rule 1.
Rule 33 -FB MP and Gumtree sales are final upon exchange of payment.