@meoldnick,
I realise that the temptation of the low price ($23.59) is tempting. However, while you're saying to yourself, "$23.59? That's nothing. I can afford to risk losing that if it's a dud!", what you're doing is reinforcing Chinese stereotypes about greedy foolish westerners (esp. Australians) who will go for the low price in our thousands upon thousands, even when the price is far far far too good to be true. Most of the purchasers won't even notice that there's a problem; studies show that many consumers buy upon the promise of certain specifications without having any idea about using or even confirming those specifications.
- The title of the listing states "GoPro", but the listing specifics state that the brand is "HAPPY".
- Member since: 22-Apr-16 in China. 98.4% feedback score. (Far far too low for a high-volume seller. I use 95.5% as my cut-off point for a high-volume seller, as a general rule.)
Two negatives specific to this very item that you bought:
Faulty product. Offered $5 of $23.59. Gave us run around. Buyer Beware. Buyer: o***9 ( 401
) My item is detective I opened it turned it in and the screen is green Buyer: f***l ( 1 ) The sort of camera you want is probably around the $900 mark. I'd imagine that the GoPro Fusion would be exactly the sort of thing that you'd absolutely love! But while shopping around may get you something of a bargain (e.g., Cameras Direct for $828, and this would include a proper warranty), you're never going to get the genuine article for the price of two cups of coffee and some croissants.
If I were after one of these, I'd do my research beforehand, work out how much it would cost me, and if I could afford it (and only then) I'd get the best deal I could, with genuine warranty, from an Australian business. If I couldn't afford it, and really wanted it, I would save up until I had the spare money for it without leaving myself short. I eschew both the "irresistible" low price of fakes, and the temptation to buy goods on credit.
I wish I could properly express just how damaging it is to buy from the worst of the Chinese eBay sellers, who see us as mugs whose loss of face in being prepared to buy fakes for low prices gives them increased face in business. When we complain about cheap rubbish on eBay and a proliferation of Chinese sellers on eBay, why do you think that is? We're all but standing there on the tracks, saying, "Run us over!" We can do much better with good Chinese sellers by demonstrating knowledge of Chinese business and culture, and refusing to play the fool while respecting our Chinese business partners in the way that Chinese culture engenders respect. But the "it's only $xx, so it's worth a punt" approach perpetuates the damaging cycle of cheap fakes flooding into Australia and foolish buyers being fooled. We're all capable of being foolish, so I don't mean to denigrate you. It's human nature.
Buy Australian for this sort of item. There are genuine Chinese sellers out there, but the enormous risk on eBay is that one doesn't see them selling here (as a rule) - certainly not the sort of items you're buying. Electronic and electrical goods, and brand name goods, are best bought from authorised sellers. Sometimes it's worth going the "grey goods" route, but sometimes it is definitely not. Electronic items come into my "definitely not" category.
I hope you follow through with opening a dispute, refusing a partial refund, and refusing to post back to a Chinese address because the item listing does actually state that item location is Chullora, NSW.
Just a follow-on note: Chullora (along with some other Australian locations) is frequently stated in Chinese listings as the item location. There are warehouses, Chinese logistics companies, delivery black holes there. If the seller is Chinese (which you can see in their feedback profile page), assume the item is coming from China, no matter what the item location says.
