Problem with Ebay Purchase

[chappie]

Any ABers any advice please? I bought a woollen bedspread/blanket from Ebay, didn't think to ask if the seller lived in a pet-free home. The blanket has dog hairs ingrained into it - I cannot use it as I am allergic to animal hair and I am itching like crazy.

I contacted the seller who says it is my problem, not hers, as I should have asked the question about her home being pet-free before I bought the blanket, because of my allergy. She has suggested I wash it or get it dry-cleaned to try to correct the problem, but I really don't think that would remove the hairs completely.

Is the seller correct, is it my fault for not checking about the possibility of pet hairs on it? She has suggested I re-sell it myself, but I don't really want to do that. Any advice from ABers please!

[Oneeyedvic]

If I sold it, I would do the same. If I was in your position, i would shout and scream.

On one side it is always diffcult to put down everything - and somethings may not even occur to the seller

On the other, it could be classed as being missold. Try saying to the seller that you will suffer the postage costs and the seller also has the option of 'second chance offer' to the next highest bidder. Maybe even offer to pay the difference (won't be much).

If they refuse that, then I would suggest you leave negative feedback (trying to explain that it was missold) and complain to ebay that the item is not as described.

Good luck

[TEAK36]

I think it would be very unfair to leave negative feedback,as you will only get negative feedback in return.If the item was listed as used, then it would be upto the buyer to ask questions.As Oneeyedvic already pointed out, mentioning something like 'do not by if you are allergic to dog hairs' probably never even occurred to the seller.Personally, I would put it all down to experience and maybe try to see if the hairs came out during a dry clean.

[chappie]

Thanks for replies.

It is a good point about the seller not thinking to mention 'do not buy if you are allergic to dog hairs' but I think there's another view to this matter. I am allergic, so it's a definite problem for me, but even if I wasn't allergic to it, even if it did not make me itch like crazy, I still would not want to buy a blanket ingrained with pet hair, and would have been unhappy to receive it in that condition. I think that stating the term 'Used' in your advert to sell it, should not class the item as suitable for sale, pet hair and all, UNLESS you have mentioned the pet hair. (That's how I see it).

The seller listed the blanket as being in great condition. I don't think it is. In my opinion, a blanket soiled with pet hair is just that (soiled). If the seller had said 'It's in great condition but it is soiled with pet hair', then I agree that I would have no come-back whatsoever.

I am absolutely sure the seller did not realise the problem with the pet hair before selling the blanket, many people with pets fail to notice that sort of thing.

The seller has emailed me to say she's seeking advice from Ebay, with regard to her position, and she's going to get back to me. I think it's a grey area, maybe there isn't a right or wrong answer. I think it's a shame she didn't want to try to resolve the matter between ourselves.

PS: Anyone want to buy a hairy blanket? (Only joking!)

[chappie]

Sorry, In A Pickle, I had already posted my second comments before I read your post.

You are of course right, it was a daft thing to do. I have been naive.

I was judging people by my own standards. Personally, if I had a blanket, clothes, anything that had been in contact with my pet (and left proof of it) I would not consider it suitable for sale. For me, it would not feel completely clean with pet hair on it (sorry if that offends any ABers, offence not meant). I am sure that if the blanket had come from a pet-free home, I would have had no problems with it, but you are right, I should not have took the risk.

Fingers burned, lesson learned.

Thanks again for replies.

[peanut]

Get some duct tape and try to pull all the hair off. Or to avoid allergy problems try to get someone to do it for you.

[chappie]

Thanks for that, but the hairs have become interweaved into the wool, so I don't think it would work. Thanks anyway.