topic Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool? in Buying

Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

12407622 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 11:43:29 GMT

I bought a low value item, and for the second time was sent the wrong product.

I've been in contact with the seller every day for a week, some days several times.

I'm being played for a sucker - "You can have refund'...next day..."where we send"...next day..."you sure we get feedback good"...next day..."you sure you not rob me"...next day..."to you paypal then?"...next day..."you can have refund".

For a couple of dollars, this seller is going to put off actually issuing the due refund, and frustrate me daily, until I simply give up and let them steal my payment.

The seller knows that it's a low value item, and that I won't start a dispute, because that would mean I have to send the wrongly supplied item back to China, at many times it's original cost.

I've completely lost confidence in buying through EBay. As I said, this was the second time I had been sent the identically wrong item, and ran into the same protracted argument over an infinitely delayed refund.

EBAY AREN'T POLICING THESE PETTY THIEF SELLERS, AND IT WILL BE TO THEIR DETRIMENT.

What can I do?

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

kopenhagen5 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 10:10:02 GMT

BTW, just don't buy from Asian sellers or sellers with many negs and neuts.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

12407622 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 10:13:47 GMT

Bit of a long way around, but it enables me to fruitfully make a claim, and it's one more option where previously I had none.

Thanks very much, kopenhagen5.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

davewil1964 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 10:20:55 GMT

eBay's MBG provides for the seller being required to provide return shipping if they want the item back.

However, your complaint seems to be about non-receipt, so I'm not sure why a return would be required.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

gutterpunkz05 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 10:24:45 GMT

If the item you have been sent is not as described, the return postage is at the sellers expense, So no reason not to open a dispute

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

kopenhagen5 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 10:35:53 GMT

@gutterpunkz05 wrote:
If the item you have been sent is not as described, the return postage is at the sellers expense, So no reason not to open a dispute

Yes, but seller is in China so they cannot provide a label and OP would need to outlay tracked post for a risk of not getting it reimbursed.

dave, OP appears to have received the wrong item twice.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

imastawka — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 12:11:41 GMT

Most Chinese sellers refund without a return.

They just don't want another neg.

From the listing that the OP bought -

Protect your precious computer motherboard! Don't be penny wise and pound foolish! USB's burned out Amoy friend's sad reminder, he knows, you also need to understand... Don't let yourself regret it.

All this angst for $2.55

OP, try reading the feedback of these sellers before you buy in future.

Or just don't buy Chinese.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

12407622 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 12:30:02 GMT

Yes, $2.55 happens to be a lot for me.

98.8% seller, gone feral.

Deals from some Chinese sellers turn out to be good value, if you can wait.

Thx.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

lyndal1838 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 13:17:25 GMT

I don't know about gone feral.......98.8% is a terrible rating, even for a Chinese seller.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

countessalmirena — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 13:22:29 GMT

You ask "What can I do?"

You can start a dispute under the eBay Money Back Guarantee. (For the future; you can't do this now as you've let the timeframe for opening an eBay dispute lapse. As kopenhagen has said, open a PayPal dispute for this current $2.55 transaction.)

You will not be out of pocket for the return postage under eBay's MBG.

❝When an item isn't significantly as described

[...]

The cost of return postage is the seller's responsibility.

[...]

After confirming that the item was returned to the seller, we will refund the full cost of the item and original postage to the buyer. If the seller hasn't facilitated the return – for example by providing a return postage label – we will also refund any reasonable return postage costs.

[...]

In some instances, we may not require that an item be returned to the seller. For example, we may refund the buyer and seek reimbursement from the seller if:

The seller chooses not to accept a return request for a not as described item
The item location was misrepresented
It's hazardous to send back the item
The item no longer has a value.❞

A good way to handle a situation of this sort is to contact eBay via its "Have us call you" option. (Emails are useless, for a number of reasons, but primarily because the responses, when they are finally sent, are bot-generated.)

eBay say: We'll call you at the phone number registered to your account, or you can enter a different number.

We’re available from 8am to 10pm AET, 7 days a week.

Do this within the timeframe for an eBay dispute. Politely tell the CS rep that the item received is significantly not as described, being the wrong item entirely. Say that the cost of postage back to the seller in China would be [$xx.xx] - you should be able to check the price of international fully tracked postage for the item on the AP site. Politely point out that the cost of return postage is prohibitive in comparison with the item price, and ask if it would be possible to have the refund actioned without having to return the item which you promise to destroy.

If you're well prepared, and polite, it's likely that you will be successful.

(Tracked international standard satchel to China may be the best option. 500g satchel is $20.80; 1kg satchel is $33.10; 2kg satchel is $56.25. These are fully tracked. If you need to ensure the item gets there more quickly than 6+ days, opt for the express international satchel, starting at $38.10 for 500g satchel.)

If you do have to return the item, inform the seller in the dispute of the cost of return postage, and point out that the seller is responsible for tracked return postage under the eBay Money Back Guarantee which applies as you purchased on eBay.com.au. (I can't tell for certain if purchases made from ebay.cn are covered because the eBay 買家保障 applies; however, at the very least "eBay可能会就一项投诉做出对你不利的裁定。在这种情况下，eBay针对符合条件的投诉会退款给买家，并要求卖家补偿eBay的退款。")

If the seller is aware of the cost, and accepts the return, they are in effect accepting that they will be responsible for the cost of the return postage. But ALWAYS confirm this by phone with eBay, and have the CS rep email you with a confirmation that the return postage amount that you have quoted will be refunded to you, because it's not quite as straightforward as when one returns an item with an eBay return label.

Once the tracking shows that the item's been returned, you upload that information (or contact eBay via Have us call you to be sure that it goes smoothly, and provide the tracking number over the phone to prove that it's been returned). eBay should then refund you in full. eBay obtain the full payment from the seller.

Just to reiterate: it is likely (but not guaranteed) that you won't have to return a relatively low-cost item to China if it's significantly not as described, as long as you contact eBay via Have us call you. You are likely (but not guaranteed) to have the CS rep assist you by opening the dispute for you and closing it automatically in your favour. But don't absolutely count on this. What you can count on is that you should not be out the cost of return postage for a case of Significantly Not As Described.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

12407622 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 14:59:45 GMT

That's awesome advice, and offers an angle I can present to the seller, which I'm sure they will see the logic in.

Hopefully this will help avoid the dispute and costly mis-supplied item return.

Thx, countessalmirena.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

springyzone — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 19:51:30 GMT

@12407622 wrote:

The seller knows that it's a low value item, and that I won't start a dispute, because that would mean I have to send the wrongly supplied item back to China, at many times it's original cost.

I've completely lost confidence in buying through EBay. As I said, this was the second time I had been sent the identically wrong item, and ran into the same protracted argument over an infinitely delayed refund.

EBAY AREN'T POLICING THESE PETTY THIEF SELLERS, AND IT WILL BE TO THEIR DETRIMENT.

What can I do?

Ebay can't police them if they don't know there is anything wrong.

I think the key words in there were 'won't open a dispute'. That's your mistake.

You need to do as countessa says & when something like this happens, don't let it drag on, Ring ebay & see how you go. You can't actually end up any worse off and it may well turn out in your favour, with a refund and no need to pay to post it back. You won't know till you try.

For me, the value of the item isn't the main point. The point is, whatever is sold should be fit for purpose & should at least be as described.

But the trouble with some items (often depending on what sort of item) from China is you're likely to be disappointed. When you know that in advance, you can make a decision as to whether it is worth the potential bother if something ends up being sub standard. Often it just isn't. And there is the risk you might end up out of pocket.

So even though you are trying to be economical, it might be worth saving a little extra sometimes to buy locally

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

12407622 — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 22:54:18 GMT

Rang eBay as advised, got an almost instant refund.

Thanks peeps. 🙂

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

imastawka — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 23:26:56 GMT

Angst over........til next time.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

fixnwear — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 02:17:53 GMT

Hello Op,

so relieved to see that you have got your refund!

Mainly - if the $2.25 is too much for you to loose - you must be in a dire straights in general - very serious situation.

But you are not the only one! Many people are struggling - and to add to it all - this year won't be easy for anyone, according to all estimates in the finnace sector.

But stuff from China - what else is new?

I am sure that the whole world is struggling to buy something that is not made in China, 3/4 of the population at the very least, especially in the lower price brackets - which means most of us.

Someone here said that low price has got nothing to do with it!

Very delusional - it has everything to do with it.

What makes anyone think if we find item for 2 bucks it'll do the same job as the same thing for few hundred dollars. If stuff like that exists it must be very rare - I have never seen one. If that was the case what mug would spend all that money for something just as good they can get for $2?

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

springyzone — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 03:53:52 GMT

I don't know if you meant me or not when you said the person who said low price has got nothing to do with it was wrong.

but if so, I suspect you misinterpreted my meaning.

I am not saying price does not matter. I know you often get what you pay for.

I was simply saying that the price of an item should have nothing to do with whether you open an ebay claim or not.

Even if an item is cheap, you should expect to get what was described in the ad & if it is not as described or broken when you get it, you are still entitled to open an ebay claim.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

fixnwear — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 04:16:17 GMT

springyzone,

Please accept my apology - for being an idiot who should learn how to read!

And not keeping my mind on the job at hand rather that doing 50 other things at the same time.

And of course, you are totally right, opening a dispute regardless of the value, on Ebay it's easy, click of a button - but if one had to get in the car and drive some distance, find a parking, shlep all the way to the store - for 2 bucks - I don't think so!

I have lost count of how many times I came home with avocadoes that were totaly rotten and black inside, once you cut them is when you find out - and couldn't be bothered walking across the road to Coles to show them. Just chuck them out - much quicker.

You stay well - and please don't mind me - the idiot who can't read!

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

shoppingbag* — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 05:15:37 GMT

Just open a dispute for "item not as described" and r equest a refund.

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

davewil1964 — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 05:57:44 GMT

Already has -

Rang eBay as advised, got an almost instant refund.

Thanks peeps. 🙂

Re: Seller Playing Me For A Fool?

springyzone — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 23:27:26 GMT

You're not an idiot, fixnwear, just busy.

I only replied above as I thought I had better clarify what i meant. I'd hate people to think I didn't realise you often do get what you pay for.

As to the bother of changing items or being reimbursed at real life shops, I think you are 100% correct.

On the weekend, my granddaughter showed me her new shoes, they were sort of like plastic clogs but fancy. She's only 4. I admired them, as you do, but then when she got in the car to go home, we noticed part of the plastic strip on top was detaching from the clog. It doesn't affect the wear as it is a decorative bit just glued on top, but it was happening on both shoes & it was only her second (light) wear.

I say light wear as she never wears her shoes, she kicks them off and they are left lying on the floor 99% of the time so wearing time is minimal.

Now me, I'd take them back to K mart & exchange but my daughter just said-they were only $7, can't be bothered. I think she feels it looks bad to worry if something is cheap. me, I think it comes down to how much it would put you out too with travel etc.

Definitely easier on ebay I imagine, from the comfort of home.