hazardous lipo batterys.

[Anonymous]

i have been asked by the seller to return 2 unstable out of balance powerful lipo batterys, that may ignite at any time. how am i to post these hazardous goods in the mail.

[pennyforum14 · Accepted solution]

In short, you can't, it is illegal.  I assume you have opened a SNAD case for the faulty batteries?   You can get a quote from a carrier with a Dangerous Goods License and send it to the seller and ask them if they are willing to pay for the return of the items.  If they are not responsive, call Paypal and explain that you cannot return the goods by post because they are not permitted to be posted without a DGL and that the seller is not inclined to pay for a carrier, and ask them what you should do.   They may instruct the seller to refund without requiring return of the goods, depending on the cost.

[*tippy*toes*]

As Penny said, if you haven't already opened a not as described dispute, do so now using the eBay Money Back Guarantee. I am concerned about the sellers return conditions, which is why it's important that the dispute is opened through eBay and not PayPal. I don't like how they say you have to send a message for a return address, it's not the address that was on the package. Reading their terms, I am concerned they are going to give you a return address for China or somewhere overseas.

2. Before return, please check twice to confirm the item not work and contact our customer service firstly, let us know the detailed problem or send us some pictures for confirmation. Then get a unique address for return.

3.We can't receive the packages if buyer return by yourselves according to the address on shipping package. We won't solve such case and buyer should responsible for the consequences.

4.If item need to be returned for exchange because of quality problem,the return shipping cost will be paid by buyer, resend shipping cost will be paid by us.
If item need to be returned for refund because of quality problem, we will share the return shipping cost with buyer.
After receiving the returned item,we will resend the item or make a refund according to the condition of the returned item within 1-3 working days.

I am suspicious why it would be a "unique" address, which leads me to believe it will be an overseas address, which means you can't legally post the items due to a number of factors. That's why it's important the dispute is open through eBay as they will more than likely say you don't need to pay them back. They will also force the seller to refund.

It's up to the seller to pay return costs if the item is faulty. A buyer should only have to pay return costs if it is for change of mind.

There is no sharing costs about it. The seller pays the costs, period. As the item was sent with "free" postage, they must refund the full amount. They can't deduct a shipping cost because you didn't pay one.

[pennyforum14]

tippy said - I am suspicious why it would be a "unique" address, which leads me to believe it will be an overseas address, which means you can't legally post the items due to a number of factors. That's why it's important the dispute is open through eBay as they will more than likely say you don't need to pay them back. They will also force the seller to refund.

That may just mean that the buyer will be given a unique return authority number which must be displayed on the shipping label to show it is an authorised return.  It's a common practice and allowed under the consumer laws, sellers can stipulate how returns are handled and do not have to accept unauuthorised returns.  No RA number and they refuse the parcel. 

Having said that though, I tend to agree that in this case the return address will probably be one in China.

The reason I suggested going through Paypal is that in the case of goods which cannot reasonably be returned, (counterfeit or dangerous goods or those where the cost of return is not economically viable) Paypal tend to force a refund and NOT require return of the goods.  eBay on the other hand may well decide otherwise.

[*tippy*toes*]

Thanks for clearing that up Penny, I actually thought it was the other way around with the refunds! Especially given the fact that so many sellers complain of the buyer being refunded without returning the item when they ask ebay to step in and help.

That's what I love about this place, you're always learning something new!

[phorum_junkie*]

Under the MBG the seller has to provide an address which is in the country they claim the goods are in when it was listed so if they gave the item location as Australia and then gave a Chinese return address that would not be allowed.

As long as you open the dispute through ebay you should be OK, as long as there is proof the item is not as described then the seller has to pay the return costs. You have the seller's message saying the goods have been recalled which should be more than enough proof.

Just don't be talked into doing anything by the seller, come back here every step of the way so you can find out what to do next in order to win.