Stolen Goods... Help....

[dwj100]

Hi All,

 

I really could do with some help.

 

A while ago I purchased some items from a Boot Sale to sell on ebay. I usually stick to clothing, but this time I tried with some electronic equipment.

 

I paid in cash and came home and listed the items on eBay. As with all my auctions, I stated that the unit was sold as is, with no warranty.

 

I sold the item and thought all was well and good. A week after selling the unit the buyer contacted me to tell me that the unit was not working and wanted a refund. I told him that the item was sold as is, as stated in the auction. I didn't hear any more from him.

 

Three months later I received an email from him saying that the item is apparently stolen goods. He tells me that he has resold this item on eBay and the person that he has resold it too has apparently found it to be stolen and has sent it back to the original owner, after informing the Police and Paypal.

 

Paypal have since refunded his money and the person that I sold the unit to is now out of pocket. They are demanding that I refund their money.

 

I am reluctant to do this as it seems like I am admitting some sort of guilt, but I really don't want any trouble and have no idea what to do! The other issue is that the other items that I purchased from this seller may have been stolen, but I have no way of finding this out!

 

Please could someone offer some advice on what I should do as this situation has really got me concerned.

 

Thank you for your time,

 

D

[labrat]

ask for proof!

 

important first step, i could just say the same to any item.

 

it seems odd that hes sent the item back to the origional owner as there would be no way for him to obtain their details, if he had contacted the police it would have been returned directly to them. and ussually if the persons insurance had already paid out the item would then be returned to the insurance company or auctioned by the police

 

incidently it may be a good idea to have a peek at the police auctions and see if its been up their i tend to get alot off there and its amazing what range of goods appear

[Conniff]

Yep as above - ask him for the crime number and at what police station it was reported. That will shut him up.

[Mossycat]

How do you know that the item he sold was the item you sold him?

 

Mossy

[ashmk]

Sounds like a [problem] to me.

 

I agree with whats already be said. Ask for proof and the crime ref number and issuing police station name.

[my-spirit-soars-free]

There are ways of finding out the original owner. The OP has not mentioned what the item is, but many electronic items have their warranties registered with the manufacturer? If you therefore contact the manufacturer, and explain you bought the thing on ebay, and can you get it fixed, the manufacturer can check the items warranty, the manufacturer can contact the original owner, and could well pass details on, if the real owner is cool with that.

 

OP, you are acting as a business seller, you are buying with the intention of reselling. That means you have to comply with the Sale of Goods act, as it applies to traders, and you cannot just say you don't provide a warranty.

[Kraken1]

I paid in cash and came home and listed the items on eBay. As with all my auctions, I stated that the unit was sold as is, with no warranty.

 

You don't need to offer a warranty, but as noted above, the SoGA applies and this means that the goods need to be of satisfactory quality considering the price paid and the nature of the goods/sale.