Ebay buyer says my DB9 supersports is illegal, wants refund
Discussion
ASTON MARTIN DB9 SUPERSPORT lightweight exhaust - rear box
I've had this exhaust on my car for years. It was fitted by HMW Aston Martin.
I have always had the original back box and recently decided to switch back to the factory version.
I sold the Supersports exhaust on an auction site. The buyer says they want a full refund as they say it sounds horrendous and is illegal.
The car has passed every MOT since 2009 with this exhaust in place, so it's unlikely to be illegal.
I've loved the sound for years.
My listing said no refunds.
Any advice from other owners who might have some relevant experience please?
I've had this exhaust on my car for years. It was fitted by HMW Aston Martin.
I have always had the original back box and recently decided to switch back to the factory version.
I sold the Supersports exhaust on an auction site. The buyer says they want a full refund as they say it sounds horrendous and is illegal.
The car has passed every MOT since 2009 with this exhaust in place, so it's unlikely to be illegal.
I've loved the sound for years.
My listing said no refunds.
Any advice from other owners who might have some relevant experience please?
Not sure if the rules differ from automotive sales on eBay to household items however, we had a sofa for sale, 6 months old, nothing wrong with it, gave all the relevant dimensions, answered a lot of questions from the eventual buyer etc. They arranged collection which all went smoothly ... until they got it home and found it to be too low for them in the seat base.
All this data was in the advert and it was something they asked during the many questions we had but they still bought it and we had a 'no refunds' policy. They tried taking it to eBay who came to us with questions, we showed them the advert and additional info sent to questions raised.
Buyer had no leg to stand on.
On any second hand sale surely the phrase 'buyer beware' is key.
All this data was in the advert and it was something they asked during the many questions we had but they still bought it and we had a 'no refunds' policy. They tried taking it to eBay who came to us with questions, we showed them the advert and additional info sent to questions raised.
Buyer had no leg to stand on.
On any second hand sale surely the phrase 'buyer beware' is key.
The UK MOT does not include an actual noise measurement, but does ask the tester to make a subjective judgement
Is your "Supersport" exhaust the one from Quicksilver, as advertised by Nicholas Mee here?
https://www.astonstore.co.uk/product/aston-martin-...
Because if it is you could ask them whether they have any noise testing done against the UK Construction and Use regulations
The danger is with your buyer claiming "illegality" the next thing you're going to find is he files a dispute - which eBay will probably support.
Is your "Supersport" exhaust the one from Quicksilver, as advertised by Nicholas Mee here?
https://www.astonstore.co.uk/product/aston-martin-...
Because if it is you could ask them whether they have any noise testing done against the UK Construction and Use regulations
The danger is with your buyer claiming "illegality" the next thing you're going to find is he files a dispute - which eBay will probably support.
I have a 2014 DB9
I had the quicksilver secondary de cat pipes fitted then found a quicksilver supersports exhaust for sale and had both for 2 years drove to Monaco in it also sounded great
Passed MOT with works AM who just noted it was loud
Not a fail
I have now removed the de cats as think the supersports exhaust is loud enough
Very loud on start up if In a garage but at 70mph you can have a conversation ok
I have had Covettes in the passed with Borla stinger systems that are very loud and a little over the top
I think it’s more they just don’t like it on start up
I had the quicksilver secondary de cat pipes fitted then found a quicksilver supersports exhaust for sale and had both for 2 years drove to Monaco in it also sounded great
Passed MOT with works AM who just noted it was loud
Not a fail
I have now removed the de cats as think the supersports exhaust is loud enough
Very loud on start up if In a garage but at 70mph you can have a conversation ok
I have had Covettes in the passed with Borla stinger systems that are very loud and a little over the top
I think it’s more they just don’t like it on start up
Stick Legs said:
Do you have the bill of sale for the exhaust from HWM?
If so politely and firmly reply the exhaust was purchased by you, from them, bought and sold in the UK and as such is legal for use in the UK, as demonstrated by you MOT passes.
Yes. I have the invoice from HWM. If so politely and firmly reply the exhaust was purchased by you, from them, bought and sold in the UK and as such is legal for use in the UK, as demonstrated by you MOT passes.
But I worry that ebay won’t be able to ‘compute’ the intricacies.
I don’t want to have the exhaust back just because the buyer didn’t do his research. Also, he’s now had the exhaust fitted to his car. Who knows which mate fitted it.
The stated reason for return is ‘Doesn’t match description or photos”. Of course it matches the description and photos. The photos are of the actual exhaust before posting and the description is taken from the HWM invoice.
belfry said:
Stick Legs said:
Do you have the bill of sale for the exhaust from HWM?
If so politely and firmly reply the exhaust was purchased by you, from them, bought and sold in the UK and as such is legal for use in the UK, as demonstrated by you MOT passes.
Yes. I have the invoice from HWM. If so politely and firmly reply the exhaust was purchased by you, from them, bought and sold in the UK and as such is legal for use in the UK, as demonstrated by you MOT passes.
But I worry that ebay won’t be able to ‘compute’ the intricacies.
I don’t want to have the exhaust back just because the buyer didn’t do his research. Also, he’s now had the exhaust fitted to his car. Who knows which mate fitted it.
The stated reason for return is ‘Doesn’t match description or photos”. Of course it matches the description and photos. The photos are of the actual exhaust before posting and the description is taken from the HWM invoice.
I had a chap try it on over a bike frame I sold, no returns.
He claimed it was cracked, I knew it wasn't. He escalated, eBay didn't come at me.
I had made my description fairly and had no returns. Not much they can do.
I suspect if you stick to your guns you'll be okay.
lol, his ears are probably ringing, not from the exhaust but from his wife 😂
I can’t see eBay supporting him on this, especially will with who you purchased the exhaust from and previous MOT’s etc. it’s not for you to prove its legal, but rather for him to prove it’s not!
I hope it’s a win for you.
John
I can’t see eBay supporting him on this, especially will with who you purchased the exhaust from and previous MOT’s etc. it’s not for you to prove its legal, but rather for him to prove it’s not!
I hope it’s a win for you.
John
Just got this from Ebay.
I told them my posting said no refunds. I have the invoice from the Aston Martin main dealer for the exhaust.
Does not feel fair.
Thanks for your patience. We know returns can be inconvenient, so please know we appreciate your understanding.
We had a chance to review the buyer’s return request and decided to ask them to return the item. There’s nothing you need to do at this time.
For next steps, we’ll track the buyer’s return to you and then deduct the refund and original postage amount from your funds once it’s delivered. If the buyer doesn’t send their return by 23 May, 2025, we’ll close their case, and you won’t have to pay for a refund.
If there’s anything wrong with the item once you receive it, we’re here to help.
I told them my posting said no refunds. I have the invoice from the Aston Martin main dealer for the exhaust.
Does not feel fair.
Thanks for your patience. We know returns can be inconvenient, so please know we appreciate your understanding.
We had a chance to review the buyer’s return request and decided to ask them to return the item. There’s nothing you need to do at this time.
For next steps, we’ll track the buyer’s return to you and then deduct the refund and original postage amount from your funds once it’s delivered. If the buyer doesn’t send their return by 23 May, 2025, we’ll close their case, and you won’t have to pay for a refund.
If there’s anything wrong with the item once you receive it, we’re here to help.
belfry said:
Just got this from Ebay.
I told them my posting said no refunds. I have the invoice from the Aston Martin main dealer for the exhaust.
Does not feel fair.
Thanks for your patience. We know returns can be inconvenient, so please know we appreciate your understanding.
We had a chance to review the buyer’s return request and decided to ask them to return the item. There’s nothing you need to do at this time.
For next steps, we’ll track the buyer’s return to you and then deduct the refund and original postage amount from your funds once it’s delivered. If the buyer doesn’t send their return by 23 May, 2025, we’ll close their case, and you won’t have to pay for a refund.
If there’s anything wrong with the item once you receive it, we’re here to help.
This very thing happened to me with Ebay. Not a car but an electrical item for several hundred USD. The "buyer" decided he didn't want it so he pulled the fuse shorted it out then reported to Ebay it was a defective item. I KNOW/KNEW the item was not defective, I had my Ebay marked NO REFUNDS/NO RETURNS. I told them my posting said no refunds. I have the invoice from the Aston Martin main dealer for the exhaust.
Does not feel fair.
Thanks for your patience. We know returns can be inconvenient, so please know we appreciate your understanding.
We had a chance to review the buyer’s return request and decided to ask them to return the item. There’s nothing you need to do at this time.
For next steps, we’ll track the buyer’s return to you and then deduct the refund and original postage amount from your funds once it’s delivered. If the buyer doesn’t send their return by 23 May, 2025, we’ll close their case, and you won’t have to pay for a refund.
If there’s anything wrong with the item once you receive it, we’re here to help.
Yet Ebay decided I would take the item back and they would deduct funds from my account including shipping back to me. I reported the buyer as a fraud. When I received the item back I replaced the fuse and the device worked fine. I documented all of this on Ebay. Didn't make any difference to Ebay.
I was a 20+ year Ebayer (since 2002) with several hundred FBs 100%. After this transaction I tried to remove my financial data from Ebay. You CANNOT do that. Ebay will only let you replace one account with another not delete it. So, then I proceeded to close my account. WAIT until you try that! It took me 6 months...6 MONTHS to get it closed so my financial accounts were out of Ebays hands.
About 18 months ago I opened a new Ebay account just to buy. I will never sell on Ebay again and entrust my bank account and CC to them.
Caslad said:
belfry you have my sympathies. If you want guarantees, refund policies, faultless items etc then buy new and pay full price. If you buy second hand the price is lower for a reason. Whatever happened to caveat emptor?
Caveat Emptor is a warning to the buyer. In this case, Belfry is the seller. belfry said:
I told them my posting said no refunds.
I don't think you can say no refunds. You can say no returns and there a field for that in the listing, but if the item is not as described, or various other things probably including not being consistent with their t&cs, then the buyer can get a refund.It does seem to me, though, that the buyer may be not be entitled to eBay buyer protection in this case as it doesn't sound like your exhaust is illegal.
It's a pity eBay has decided to become so buyer biased, I have had it the other way around, where I bought things that were clearly misdescribed and didn't get my money back, so they have obviously tried to find a balance and struck it wrong this time.
I do feel sorry for your situation & hopefully you'll find a buyer for it.
I do feel sorry for your situation & hopefully you'll find a buyer for it.
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