There are two distinct consumer rights issues here; (1) the right to return goods which are defective/not as described etc. and (2) the right to return goods bought online etc.
The law is a bit complicated but the Money Saving Expert guidance is as good as any and well worth getting familiar with.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/consumer-rights-refunds-exchange#must
In a nutshell, “Buy it now” purchases on the Bay of E from business sellers are treated as any other online purchase (I’m not sure whether this also applies to “casual” sellers using the “Buy it now” feature) and subject to a few exceptions, the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 give purchasers an absolute right to cancel the contract within 14 days of receipt and return them for a refund.
So, despite what I said in my earlier post, there is an element of “try before you buy” but if the goods are not returned in the same condition the seller is entitled to deduct from the refund.
Although the listing for the parachute I bought says “no returns”, it also says elsewhere on the listing that it can be returned within 14 days but the buyer pays postage - which reflects the legal position.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Parachute-Canopy-With-Lines-/122715911589?hash=item1c927035a5:m:m4SNVLrZIJ1In8ckXaaWmOQ
So, if the OP is happy to be saddled with the cost of returning the ‘chute, they will be able to have a look at the goods before deciding but if all the ‘chutes sold are in the same condition as the one I received (i.e. cosmetically “as new”
, any mud, snags or smoke added during any trial would be very obvious.
FWIW, the seller SES appear to actually be in the business of selling and servicing aircraft safety kit rather than just hawking ex-MOD kit.
https://ses-safety.com/
As others have said, in addition to the statutory consumer rights, the Bay of E and P@ypal do give buyers a fair bit of clout if goods are faulty or not as described etc.
I’m sure this can be abused by unscrupulous buyers but I was very glad of this protection a few weeks ago when I bought a secondhand chainsaw with a glowing description (freshly cleaned, serviced, bar dressed etc. and in near “show” condition) from a seller with very good feedback. The first sign that all was not well was when a rather grumpy postie handed me a box reeking of petrol and I took plenty of pictures as I unpacked a chainsaw still half full of fuel and oil in a filthy condition that I would be embarrassed putting away after a days use let alone trying to sell as a pristine saw, with a bar that had clearly been run with no oil and a sparkplug fitted by a gorilla.
After some acrimonious correspondence through the Bay of E dispute system (despite the pictures, the seller denied everything and accused me of just wanting free hire of a saw!), I returned the saw (minus fuel, oil and a lot of sawdust!) and the seller coughed a full refund (inc postage both ways), the day before I assume that the Bay of E admins would have done it anyway - a reasoned and reasonable complaint backed with plenty of pictures vs stupid denials and wild allegations. Fortunately, I didn't have to test which way the Bay of E admins lean if the evidence is less clearcut but suspect that C_Claycombe is probably correct in suggesting that they err in favour of the buyer. A satisfactory outcome to an unnecessarily acrimonious transaction - being charitable, I assume that the previous good feedback was legit. but the seller had got lazy or had left someone else in charge of the "shop". Despite all this, I took a chance on another saw and have had my faith in human nature restored.
Lesson from all this - "know your rights" - the inter web is full of useful guidance on consumer protection, take pictures and record other evidence, be prepared to stand your ground without trying to exploit minor issues - if only because karma can be a b!tch!
Back to the OP (welcome to the forum BTW) - you have had several ringing endorsements for a 28' parachute with lines attached and if you really want one, you could probably burn through the tenner or so in petrol that it would cost to return it, trying to find a decent one in a surplus shop.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
