QUANDARY

[tathraman]

I'd appreciate some feedback on my dilemma. I recently bought an item which requires registration. . When I try to register, a message tells me the prouct key is not valid although I have entered it correctly. I emailed support for the product giving them the require information. Their reply:- "Based on your description, it appears that a customized version of our software, originally developed by ***********was bundled with the hardware you purchased. The included software you are referring to, has been modified by the hardware manufacturer to work with their respective hardware device. Please contact the company responsible for supporting your product, the hardware manufacturer. They should be able to provide you with the appropriate support for their hardware and its customized software. If you are unable to find the hardware manufacturer’s contact information on the hardware packaging box or documentation, you may need to contact the store of purchase and inquire with them." Hmmm. I then provided this info. to the EBay seller, who replied:- " We are sorry to hear about the unfortunate situation. I am afraid it is due to manufacturing defect or quality issue and we have alerted our product department. But please understand that sometimes these things happen and we really have no intention to upset you. We shall take full responsibility , would you like a refund no need item back ? We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused." Last but not least, please do not leave us a low score for Detailed Seller Ratings (DSR) or leave us a neutral/negative feedback and please DO NOT open an eBay or PayPal Dispute immediately. Our business depends heavily on your ratings, therefore we will do whatever necessary to earn 100% perfect "FIVE STAR" scores from you. Thank you. " While I appreciate their unconditional refund offer I suspect that they have sold me a knock-off (a software program was listed on the box as an inclusion - if it's there I can't find it) and can't deal with the technical issues presented. Despite their apparent good faith, I don't feel inclined to give positive feedback to a seller who has sold me a dodgy item. What's your view? "

[cq_tech]

Firstly, if they haven't refunded your payment in full within 42 days of the date of sale, absolutely lodge a Paypal dispute.

Secondly, you don't have to leave feedback at all if you'd prefer not to as it is voluntary, not compulsory.

[phorum_junkie*]

Just get your money back then if you wish you can leave them any feedback you want, there is no obligation on your part to leave a pos or only a single star just because they have asked you to. The people to report them to are the holders of the copyright which should be shown somewhere either on the packaging or on the disk prior to when you need to register the invalid product key.

You can also report it to the BSA software alliance.

[audistarelectronics]

Yes, it appears that feedback is becoming nothing more than a bribe and open to untruths. Many offshore sellers rely on it to make more sales, so they will bribe the buyer just to get a positive when it should be a negative in the first place. In other words, they will ask the buyer, even demand, that you leave positive feedback after you have a long drawn out dispute that may end in  the sellers favour after a paypal intervention. So really, when a prospective buyer looks at a sellers feedback history, it doesn't carry much weight when we know that it could have been given a positive just so that the buyer could get rid of a problem. I have been asked to leave positive feedback, and to not mention the negative issues with the purchase, after the seller was forced to correct things. So, feedback? keep an open mind with it.

[tathraman]

Thanks, all. An interesting sidelight - the item listing shows- Item location: Sydney, NSW, Australia and the email reply to my enquiry to the seller shows their address as Location: IL, United States Dunno what to make of that.....

[audistarelectronics · Accepted solution]

Agree, I see more often that sellers are claiming item location as ''Sydney or Melbourne'', yet if the item needs to be returned, it has to go to some address at the airport??? Also, they may just have an Aust office setup so that it can be used as a mailing decoy, when really the item is shipped from China or wherever. This is why it seems to take extended delivery times compared to locally purchased items. In other words, you purchase the item and it it leaves on the next available flight out of China. I know this is correct because I had two faulty mobile phones that had to be returned via Melbourne airport, yet they were listed as Aussie stock in Melbourne. Yes, yes, we know.  It's about time Ebay got onto this dishonest practice and stopped it, but don't hold your breath.