'Yixing' Warning

[MarshalN]

What grounds do you have for a refund?

Indeed... the seller doesn't actually have anything in there saying it's perfect for brewing or anything.

[gingkoseto]

If you file a refund case, ebay will approve it no matter what. Ebay's policies lean toward buyers.
But indeed I agree with what yanom said.
On the other hand, the seller won't lose much except for the shipping anyway. Maybe he can learn a few things through this and then it's his tuition pot too

[jayinhk]

What grounds do you have for a refund?

It's obviously not a YiXing clay teapot as advertised. I get a full refund including shipping. I just have to cover return shipping. I've had a buyer from Russia do that to me on eBay for an item he used (and damaged). Complained to eBay and they gave me a 15% clothing discount coupon I used on a fancy Arc'Teryx GoreTex jacket I got for a steal, which definitely helped me get over the return.

[MarshalN]

If you file a refund case, ebay will approve it no matter what. Ebay's policies lean toward buyers.
But indeed I agree with what yanom said.
On the other hand, the seller won't lose much except for the shipping anyway. Maybe he can learn a few things through this and then it's his tuition pot too

The seller will lose the amount he was paid, I believe.

[jayinhk]

The seller will lose the amount he was paid, I believe.

She gets her teapot back too.

[yanom]

It's obviously not a YiXing clay teapot as advertised.

Well, it was advertised as used, for display, but not for brewing tea.

[jayinhk]

It's obviously not a YiXing clay teapot as advertised.

Well, it was advertised as used, for display, but not for brewing tea.

It was advertised as unused and that it had only been displayed. No mention of worthiness for brewing tea.

Even if it had been described as only for display (I obviously wouldn't have purchased it), it's not a genuine Yixing, and at this time, eBay always sides with the buyer. It wasn't always that way.

[MarshalN]

Yeah, it's a stupid policy. I don't understand why eBay tries to be amazon, when it's really not. Oh well, that's another topic

[yanom]

yeah sorry my post was ambiguous: I meant the description highlighted that it hadn't been used for making tea, only for display.
Maybe they used crap clay from Yixing!
Or: what is an "Yixing teapot" anyway? is there a real definition? I mean, Champagne must come from Champagne, unless you're in the US, where I've got a feeling it's allowed to come from anywhere. Is an "Yixing teapot" different from an "Yixing clay teapot".
If I buy some LBZ off ebay and drink a bit and decide it's not real LBZ, or not 100% LBZ, do I get a refund from ebay?
Anyway I appreciate these questions are irrelevant to your actually getting your money back.

[Neist]

I can't answer your question about eBay in specifics, but as someone who's done well over a thousand transactions on eBay over the last 10 years, I can say with some assurance that their current stance is nearly always to side with the buyer over the seller.

If you really want a refund, I bet you could get one. It might get kind of ugly, but I bet you could get one.

[wyardley]

Yeah, I don't think it's been proved categorically that it's not a Yixing pot; just that it's not very good.

I'm sure you'd be able to get a refund, but seems a bit unethical to me. The pictures of the pot were fairly detailed. For $50, you should just take your lumps, and be glad that you didn't pay more. If you are going to get into buying Yixing, get used to making mistakes and paying tuition.

[jayinhk]

Or get used to returning pots!

I would expect a Yixing to be made with clay from around Yixing: if it isn't, it's not a Yixing. If it has a nasty odor and turns water yellow, it's not much of a teapot either.

I already initiated the refund claim. I've been eBaying since I was a college freshman in '98 and have done well over a 1,000 transactions myself.

[wyardley]

Do you think you're in the position to judge the provenance of the raw material (or the seller, for that matter)? And just because it's a crappy pot doesn't mean it's not genuine.

The color you're seeing in the water could be related to something that was coating the pot, not entirely uncommon with pots intended for decorative use.

Again, as others have said, you will probably prevail if you file a claim. I just think it's a little bit unfair, since it doesn't appear that you were mislead by the seller.

[jayinhk]

The pot has been boiled twice, for an hour at a time. I really doubt it's any sort of exterior coating.

I feel bad about it too, since she was exceptionally helpful throughout the purchasing process. I sense she knew she had a dud and wanted to offload it. Either way, the seller gets her pot back, and when you sell on the 'bay today you have to accept buyers will return items if they're not happy with them. You have the right to 'cancel' the transaction (eBay's words, not mine). As an eBay seller, I have to live with the rules too.

If it makes you feel any better, the head and tongue don't move when steaming as described in the auction. They stay put until the pot is tilted to pour.

[gingkoseto]

I think ebay policies suck. That's why many good sellers have left ebay, and many sellers choose not to sell internationally. But ebay is a private business and whoever goes to it has to follow its rules, or choose to leave. For tea ware like this case and other yard sale items, it's no big deal. And at least tea item buyers are usually kind enough to actually return the item. I know quite a few photography lovers who stopped selling on ebay long time ago, as sometimes it could turn into sellers' nightmare