Hi all. Maybe someone has experienced a similar situation and has some tips on how-to proceed further.
I recently bought an electronics device on Ricardo for almost CHF 400. The box arrived intact (no shipping damages) however the device itself is dead/unusable, completely borked. I immediatelly contacted the seller. He says, ok, ship it back, a refund will follow. I ship it back but the seller never collects the item. Claims he never received a collection note which is not true since I see on Swis Post website that a collection note has been issued. Now the shipment has been returned to me for additional CHF 10.50.
I can understand that things can go wrong even in Switzerland and Swiss Post screwed up. But I am suspicious about what the seller is saying. I provided the parcel number and a re-delivery could be easily arranged when the box was still sitting in the local post office. But the seller did not show any interest in doing that.
I can ship the box again hoping that if it was Swiss Post's failure then this time there's chance that my shipment will go through as expected. However if the seller is playing tricks and has no genuine interest doing a refund then I am just losing time and money.
To be honest I do not think The Post has done anything wrong. They issued the collection note and the guy has never picked the package. A collection note is usually left in the mailbox. After a certain period the Post sends the package back…that is normal.
As the article points out, apart from contacting a lawyer, there's little recourse.
Ricardo certainly won't help you and don't want anything to do with it - their role ends after they facilitated the contact between seller and buyer (in their view at least...).
If you have legal insurance, contact them (as Ricardo points out...).
I would ask the seller if you can bring the item personally. If he agrees and doesn't show up, I'd simply file a criminal complaint (and inform Ricardo that you did this and suspect the account has been hijacked and the seller does not live at the address relayed by Ricardo - usually a course for termination of the account), with all the mails and documentation you have.
In any case, I would assume the 400 CHFs to be lost, as well as any money you will further pour into this.
As rainerD has pointed out, you have found a problem seller. And potentially lost your purchase money.
I would continue to pursue ricardo, and the seller gently. And then report the matter to the police, if you get no response at all, or find the address is incorrect. At least then the account will be closed and the seller could get notified to the police.
I have bought quite a few items through ricardo, but have not payed online or transferred any purchase costs for expensive items. You can always get a GA tageskarte and collect items thoughout Switzerland, meet the seller, confirm that the item is functionable as bought, and then pay cash or twint directly. Or for local items, then collect by car.
It is always a risk when you bid online, but I have had few problems by trying to buy from private, rather than pro sellers, and sellers in my vicinity.
At the end, ricardo is a good marketplace to find new homes for unwanted goods, rather than the rubbish tip. I have bought a small carpet from a local guy, and we took nearly 2 months after the auction end, with holidays, busy weekends, work and family commitments before we found a mutual afternoon to collect, check the carpet AND pay. No stress for either of us.
I don’t see what option you have now except to try sending it back again. The seller agreed for you to send it back so try a second time before escalating further. Did you pay via credit card?
Actually the seller is listed as PRO (enterprise). Luckily I managed to go to the seller's office and confront him there and got most of my money back. The seller refesed to refund any expenses that were paid for shipping. But OK, I can swallow it. It's better to recever most of the sum that none of it.
So far I've never had any negative experience buying things off of Ricardo. But looks like it's time to start doing more scrupulous background checks and prefer self-pickup whenever possible.