This is a brief guide to help you the consumer when buying on eBay.

When you buy from a business on eBay you are protected under consumer law the same as you would be if you bought from any other online retailer.  Below are a few points worth remembering.

Business sellers HAVE TO offer a 14 day no quibble return on any 'buy it now' item.

Business sellers HAVE TO display their registered place of business and contact details, somewhere easily accessible to the consumer. 

Business Sellers CAN NOT charge a restocking fee, surcharge or deduction of any kind for goods returned as unwanted within 7 days.  By this I mean you have to inform them that you are going to return it within the first 7 days, you have a further 7 days to return it for a FULL refund.

Under the 'Sales of Goods Act'  customers who find that a product is faulty may return it to the retailer and, in the first 6 months, it is up to the retailer to prove that was not inherently faulty.  Don't let them fob you off by saying you have to return it to the manufacturer - this is nonsense, your contract is with them not the manufacturer, it is up to the retailer to sort it.

The consumer does not have to use the sellers own courier service if the charge could be considered exorbitant. Charges for initial delivery MUST also be REFUNDED by the seller.

Don't let them fob you off!

I will aim to update this as I come accross more useful laws that protect us the consumer.