Damaged item

[*little*lisa*]

Hi,

Re: Item no. 400524905858

I'm after some advise please.

I purchased a jacket from a seller in Canada. As the item I was buying was a gift, I requested that the seller thoroughly check the jacket for any defects/damage before sending it. 

I have now received the jacket and it has a hole in it.  very frustrating considering my intial request...

I have contacted the seller and sent her photos as proof of damage. (It certainly didn't happen during transit as there is no damage to the packaging. It seems to have been packaged that way).

She has agreed to give me a full refund and pay for the return shipping cost, but only when the item arrives back to her.

Return Registered Post will cost me $34.90 and is only trackable within Australia, once it leaves our shores it is non-traceable.

She wants me to return the item via standard airmail only and I'm concerned that I will be outlaying even more money for return postal costs and it may not ever arrive as there is no guarantee once it leaves Australia.

I have tried to explain this to the seller and suggested another solution such as a partial refund to have the jacket mended by a tailor ($22.50), which is a cheaper option than returning the item as it will save both of us money but she has flatly refused. 

I've been trying my **bleep** hardest to reach an amicable solution with this seller and yet to open a Paypal case as from my understanding Ebay encourages buyers and sellers to try and work it out prior to doing so.

Could you offer any suggestions please. 

Thanks for your time. 

[*sparklz*]

If you open a dispute via paypal for item not as described and put in detail what you have here about the question before purchasing  and get her to say in writing there what she has said in the messages then escalate to a claim.

When paypal ask you to return it call them and advise the costs of return postage via trackable method is not a viable option and explain the costs to them.

Sometimes they will refund without returning the item.

Tell them you have photos to prove the seller was not honest in her replies to you and you purchased only because they said there is no damage after specifically being asked if any.

[*little*lisa*]

Thanks for your reply *sparklz*. In retrospect, I shouldn't have trusted this seller when she said the item was in perfect condition, and yet won't provide proof of this as I have done.

What prompted me to ask a number her a times that it be thoroughly check for any defects/damage was all the previous neg/neutral feedback from other buyers. But stupid me, gave this seller the benefit of the doubt and trusted her word.

The tailor also stated that the damage wasn't done recently as the fibers around the hole are frayed, therefore showing signs that it was done some time ago.

I have everything in emails, so i'm hoping that some good can come of this. 

Thanks heaps for your time.

[*sparklz*]

Go the dispute for your protection and IF you have to return it do NOT send without some form of proof of lodgement to the PO.

[phorum_junkie*]

You lost all credibility as far as I am concerned when you ignored the existing negs, neuts and withdrawn feedback and bought a reasonably expensive and costly to return item anyway.

The seller is obviously dishonest so no way would I pay for a return on the promise of them covering the cost especially if you bought with ebay buyer protection rather than Paypal's which means you will have to be able to prove delivery not just posting as you do with Au Paypal. I also would not return it unless it was through the dispute process as only then will you have any way of proving you have posted to a valid address.

I would just leave them another neg to add to their collection and move on.

[*little*lisa*]

Thanks for your reply phorum_junkie. 

I did actually pay with Paypal and have opened a dispute and since escalated it to a claim as I have made sooo many attempts to resolve this with the seller.

I'm only attempting to retrieve some sort of cost to have the jacket mended (cheaper option than return postal costs) and yes you are completely right, I don't trust this seller to be honest with admitting the item has been received in return.

Australia Post has also advised me that 'signature upon delivery' cards rarely get returned to the sender when parcels are being sent internationally and registered post is only traceable within Australia, so I have absolutely no way of proving that the delivery has even been made. 

This has definitely been a lesson well learnt, I should have gone with my gut feeling! 

Thanks for your time.