Ordering from China

[ray_farrugia]

The last two purchases I have made from sellers in China have resulted in me being sent a totally incorrect item, then being offered a refund a week later.

I am getting the feeling that somehow money is being moved around to make a quick profit.

Is anyone else experiencing this type of activity.

[2106greencat]

Not too sure how to answer, other than to encourage you and other Oz eBayers to buy locally where possible.

If you have received refunds without having to return the item, then the seller has done well, it is when you are required to 'return' the item at your expense (as per paypal rules) that most buyers realise that buying frm China is not really the cheapest way to go.

[go-tazz]

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@ray_farrugia wrote:

The last two purchases I have made from sellers in China have resulted in me being sent a totally incorrect item, then being offered a refund a week later.

I was only buying stuff from China for the novelty value and out of 10 transaction in total,four where

refunded,(completely wrong size),three where partial refunds,(items where still usable in a limited

capacity,golf tees that where shorter then listed),and the other three where actually as described,

Is anyone else experiencing this type of activity.

Most searches now I exclude the Chinese sellers,(saves the hassles)

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Eventually members might learn that quality and China don't go together and they are better of buying from

other sellers,

[buyelzebub]

I buy regularly from Chineses sellers.

Sure, there are occasional instances of incorrect items being sent, but when it has happened the sellers have asked me to send a photo of the item I received, then offered me the choice of a refund or being sent a replacement. Not once have I been asked to return the incorrect item.

I buy locally too, but when faced with the choice between buying from China or paying ten times (yes, really!) the price for exactly the same item, which the local seller has bought from China anyway, the choice is obvious. 

[annies_fancy_dress]

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@buyelzebub wrote:

I buy regularly from Chineses sellers.

Sure, there are occasional instances of incorrect items being sent, but when it has happened the sellers have asked me to send a photo of the item I received, then offered me the choice of a refund or being sent a replacement. Not once have I been asked to return the incorrect item.

I buy locally too, but when faced with the choice between buying from China or paying ten times (yes, really!) the price for exactly the same item, which the local seller has bought from China anyway, the choice is obvious. 

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That is your option, buy from China directly and take the chance OR

buy from the Aussie seller who bought the item from China and will give a proper description, service etc.

Sellers most likely get  exactly what you would buy, then they have to put a markup price on the item to cover fees, expenses, packaging costs like envelopes, sticky tape etc. AND the cost of throwing away 5% of the stock that will be not made correctly(it always happens).

Then there is the built in cost of having to discount the last 10-30% below cost just to get rid of it next season.

And you have to cover the cost of 1 in 10 (or so) products being totally unusable for the purpose or just plain not ending up being sold at all. It's always a risk in getting a product and not having anyone wanting it even though you thought they would.

If you buy from China yourself it's caveat emptor! As a seller it's a risky business out there.

[shoppingbag*]

I buy quite a few things from China, despite the usually high bad feedback and simply hope for the best.  They do seem to have trouble getting their orders straight and some don't ever arrive.  I have been lucky to get refunds each time things haven't arrived without any hassle. I haven't yet got the wrong item.  Sometimes they are the only ones selling what you want, so you have to just take a chance and hope for the best.  I think it is probably a co-incidence that you have gotten the wrong item more than once. I suspect some of them sell so much (high volume sales) that they may rely on staff or a third party to fulfill the orders, and that is where it goes wrong. Smaller volume sellers are often more reliable. In the end you have to decide if you want to take the chance. In my case, the majority of times there are no problems, despite the large number of negative feedbacks. Hope this helps.

[Anonymous]

Hi I have noticed that there are a number of new EBay members located in China offering large quantities of LEDs for sale. I was, I believe, the first buyer in two auctions won from different sellers paying over $550.00. Both these appear to be scams. Neither of the sellers has advised the date that the shipments were made. One seller just did not reply to any messages. The second only stating (twice)  that it would take 20 to 30 days to reach me without saying when the shipment was made ( if at all!). I have received a full refund via Pay Pal for the first auction. The second is still in the process of being resolved. However in the meantime I have been without the use of my funds which were tied up in these two transactions for which I may never get what I thought I was buying.