topic Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return? in Computers & Electronics

Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

jdwellington711 — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 12:14:09 GMT

I bought a bathroom item and it has an EU plug on it with one of those gray AU adapters. Online they're listed as illegal to use and sell in Australia as they have started fires and are electrically unsafe. I suspect that the seller who listed the location of the item in Australia actually got it from China, as they only lodged the tracking number with australia post and it didn't actually get posted for another week. The seller denied doing this. Do I report the listing or open a return? There's no category for returning due to electrically unsafe.

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

gutterpunkz05 — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:29:55 GMT

You can buy legal power adapters in Australia

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

*casey* — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:43:04 GMT

" Online they're listed as illegal to use and sell in Australia as they have started fires and are electrically unsafe"

There's a couple of Chinese sellers in your feedback who are obviously dropshipping.

If you've received an item that doesn't meet Australia Mandatory Safety Standards, open an 'item not as described" case through eBay's MBG

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy/ebay-money-back-guarantee-policy?id=4210

Quote eBay's Policy as the reason

The following types of items are not allowed:

Products where the sale of the product is prohibited by law or regulation, including products failing to comply with Australian Mandatory Safety Standards

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/policies/prohibited-restricted-items/product-safety-policy?id=4300&srsltid=AfmBOopr47za25dSwk-Na1ZCASo5NBJQ5KlxXW_B76ZpArpiSOZ20oiP

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

jdwellington711 — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:07:53 GMT

Thanks, how do you identify drop shippers? I mean it's obvious once I have a problem with an item... I get things like "I'll refund you 10% if you don't report to ebay" or "Please sir, I cannot afford to refund this item, I only have a small business".

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

*casey* — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:25:02 GMT

"Thanks, how do you identify drop shippers? "

As a general comment , one thing common to them is that they use images copied from other sites.

In your case, the sellers are registered in China. It's shown on their Feedback and About pages

They use dropshipping warehouses in Australia and that's why the location and postage is in Australia.

Open the dispute and don't listen to any nonsense from the seller.

The seller will have to supply you with a return label for tracked postage.

You can ask eBay to step in after 3 days if necessary.

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

*casey* — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 14:40:54 GMT

Sorry, posted too soon.

If the Chinese sellers , who usually have poor feedback, don't have stock in dropshipping warehouses in Australia, they LIE about the item location and say that it is.

They'll have longer delivery dates too.

They usually have numerous accounts and lie and cheat their way to the top of the seach pages, pushing our Australian sellers lower down the page

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

sandypebbles — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 23:00:14 GMT

The listings stick out like you know what

Phots lifted from other sites

'Odd' prices

Feedback left for them

It says they are registered in China

Those things show for the seller you left the neg for, says they are in China, their feedback is terrible and the photos are poor, and copied from other websites

Red flags a plenty

But at the end of the day. it is NOT the kind of thing to buy from some random on eBay anyway

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

jdwellington711 — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 07:22:03 GMT

Is there any point in opening a return based on electrical hazard if they aren't allowed to resell it? I mean, is there any point in them getting the item back.

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

lezned-toycollector — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:03:57 GMT

@jdwellington711 wrote:
Is there any point in opening a return based on electrical hazard if they aren't allowed to resell it? I mean, is there any point in them getting the item back.

Of course there is. You want your money back don't you? If you don't open and follow through with a request, you aren't covered by the MBG.

Being in China, the seller won't issue you with a return label.

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

repentatleisure1952 — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:05:27 GMT

If you would like a refund then open a return for Item Not As Described & follow all the steps.

The seller will not be able to provide you with a label so they will not be "getting the item back".

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

*casey* — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 08:42:10 GMT

@jdwellington711 wrote:
"Is there any point in opening a return based on electrical hazard if they aren't allowed to resell it? I mean, is there any point in them getting the item back"

The seller won't be able to send you a label unless the item was dropshipped from a warehouse in Australia. If that was the case, that's where the item will need to be returned.

There's always a point to opening a case. The more cases shonky Chinese sellers of these dangerous items have filed against them, the better.

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

*casey* — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 09:02:40 GMT

"If that was the case, that's where the item will generally need to be returned"

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

jdwellington711 — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:23:34 GMT

I put defective, now I'm being asked to post it back to a nsw address? Also ebay is asking me to pay return postage.

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

jdwellington711 — Wed, 06 Aug 2025 15:24:53 GMT

They accepted the return, gave me a NSW address and it seems it's up to me to pay the postage. I listed it is defective and not as described by mistake, could that be why this has happened?

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

davewil1964 — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:18:52 GMT

Did you actually open a 'not as described' case?

Re: Reporting electrically unsafe item (Unsafe adapter) - report or request return?

countessalmirena — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 10:59:56 GMT

If you opened a return request for Item Not As Described, you would not be required to pay return postage.

Did you open the wrong type of return request?