hiya ps'ers;
i've encountered a bit of a problem. about a month ago or so, i purchased a charcoal framed sketch of a very desirable canadian artist at a local auction...it was sold to me framed and sealed and the sketch was signed. i sold it on ebay shortley after for a good sum, which was expected for this artist.
two days ago, i received an email from the buyer (who, by the way, purchases LOTS of high end artwork from ebay), claiming he had taken the piece to his regular framing store to have the sketch removed from the original frame and reframed. he said when they removed the sketch, they discovered it was merely a photocopy...a print...a repro of the original, and wanted all his money back...700cdn!!!:O needless to say, i was a little nauseous... i didn't have a clue! one of this artist's sketches was purchased two weeks before mine at the exact same auction place and sold on ebay for 800us...
after getting over my shock, i started to think of what to do. i'm the type of person where i need a good day/night sleep to think over big decisions, but my first reaction (of course) was that he bid on the item, i didn't guarantee it to be original with any certificates (in fact, i showed a pic of the back of the frame that was blank and had no sticker of authenticity), and i also stated it was purchased at an auction, and not from an artdealer, so there's always that risk of the unknown..i also stated in my auction that i hadn't removed it from the frame, which i hadn't.
i replied to him saying i thought it was unfair to expect all his money back since i didn't guarantee its authenticity. he replied back a little angry (obviously) stating he would go through ebay/paypal disputes to resolve this.
shortly after, i had decided (not because of his threat, or fearing a negetive) that i should probably reimburse him the money...since it WAS my product, genuine or not.
(even though i believe some responsibility should lay with the buyer in asking the right questions...had he emailed me before bidding and asked if there was a certificate of authenticity, i would have told him no).
i wonder if anyone knows what ebay WOULD do in a case like this should i had decided not to reimburse him...i guess they take it on a case by case basis?
also, wondering what you would do, and if i am in fact making the right decision? i just want a second opinion...as it is alot of money:-(
Kat
