Dear Eric >> I bought a used bike from a social media “market” site that was advertised “like new.” I went to the seller’s home nearby to test ride the bike. The tires were flat, so my partner put air in them so I could ride the bike around the block. It shifted stiffly but I attributed that to the fact it had not been ridden in a while.

I paid the asking price. The next day, my partner was changing the front tube and saw that the primary middle derailleur hub had about three sheared-through and bent teeth.

The damage was extreme and would cost as much to replace as I paid for the bike.

I texted the seller, showed them pictures, and they apologized and said they would not have advertised it as new if they had seen the damage. I asked, how would they have advertised it then, and how much would they have charged if they knew? They said that was not relevant. I said if our places were switched, I would be offering the buyer some money back.

I told the seller I found them to be unethical. That was the end of the conversation, and they offered nothing.

Should the seller have admitted their error and refunded some of the purchase price (the price I paid was set for a “like new” bike), as an ethical matter? I am aware that as a legal matter I might not have a leg to stand on under a “buyer beware” approach.

— Left Holding the Bag

Dear Bag >> We can all agree the bike was not “like new.” While many people have great experiences buying things online, we need to have a national conversation about the umbrella term “like new.” Personally, I think the issue is the word “like.” Could mean anything! I’m “like” a billionaire. See how easy that was to say? And how false.

In your case, I suspect the seller was aware that they were stretching the meaning of “like new” and you were correct to point out their unethical behavior. Or maybe we could say what they did was “like ethical.”

When buying things online, it’s best practice to use a site that has some sort of moderation or buyer protection that would allow the site to refund you the money and return the product if you’re not happy. These kinds of protections also make it easier for the sites to spot and block sellers who aren’t on the up and up. Now, this isn’t always possible and there are plenty of “actually ethical” people out there with “actually like new” goods to sell. But, as you noted, buyers should be cautious and take all the time they need to inspect a product before paying.

Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at eric@askingeric.com