Was sold a counterfeit item, requested money back, now seller unresponsive
Hello, I purchased a bag listed as a "New With Tags" Patagonia bag and when the zipper immediately failed, I sent it to Patagonia to be repaired. I was told that this is a counterfeit item and it was retained as part of a large investigation. I have asked the seller to refund me for selling a counterfeit item, as I did not get what was advertised. First, the seller asked for the order number, which I gave, then proof of counterfeit from Patagonia. Now, the seller has become non-responsive and I am still out the money I am owed.
Ideas?
8 comments
ryry-jj
·8 months agoWere you able to get this statement from Panagonia in writing/email? If so, I'd take that statement to the CS reps on social media. But you still may have needed to start this process within the 30 MBG window. Is that possible?
airsheep
·8 months agoProblem is that the buyer assumed the bag was legit, and when the zipper failed, sent it to Patagonia for repairs. According to the buyer, Patagonia (and this is odd) confiscated the bag because they said it was a fake and needed for an investigation. Buyer didn't have a bag to return and thus couldn't get a refund from the seller. I don't know how the buyer can be made whole, as the usual procedure won't work.
lecham-8728
OP8 months agoThis is correct.
Thank you all for your feedback. It seems my last-ditch effort is to contact my credit card company.
kathiec
·8 months ago@lecham-8728
EBay's Money Back Guarantee requires that you initiate an item not as described return no more than 30 days after receiving the item. It sounds like you may have missed that deadline. Even if you hadn't missed the deadline, if the seller sends a return shipping label as part of a case then eBay won't refund until tracking shows the item delivered back to the seller.
lady_madonna
·8 months agoYou will not be able to file a Return Request on Ebay if you cannot return the item to the seller.
Contact the funding source you used to pay for the bag to file a dispute. You will need proof from Patagonia that the item is counterfeit.
lecham-8728
OP8 months agoThank you. No, I was not able to file a return request as the seller did not offer this option. I was hoping eBay would step in as the sale was covered under eBay guarantee but they have not. Of course, once I asked for a refund from the seller and provided confirmation of the counterfeit, the seller stopped speaking with me and has essentially stolen my money and eBay is doing nothing about it, despite the sale being guaranteed by eBay.
soh.maryl
·8 months agoeBay's Money Back Guarantee offers good protection for buyers when they receive items that are not as described, which is evidently what happened to you.
When you received that item, you had 30 days to open an NAD case. You needed to find that item in your Purchase History and click on "want to return". Click on reason: "not as described". That opens a case. The seller has 3 days to respond. He can send you a prepaid return label and refund when he gets it back. He can refund and tell you to keep it. Or he can completely ignore your claim, in which case, on day #4, you return to the case and ask eBay to step in.
You'll be refunded by eBay from the seller's funds.
Please note: The seller's "No Returns" stance has no standing in this situation. Think about it: You could buy an expensive bag from me. You pay. I ship. When you get it, you discover it's a box of rocks and contact me. I reply: "Sorry -- the listing says No Returns". How long would eBay have been in business if sellers were allowed to routinely rip off buyers?
So, open a case. Or, if you've waited too long, do a chargeback on your card. And take a moment to read the MBG.
ETA: Sorry. Did not see that Patagonia had kept the bag. The problem here is that you have nothing to return, not that eBay is failing you. In that case, go with the chargeback on your card.
mtgraves7984
·8 months agoNo, I was not able to file a return request as the seller did not offer this option. I was hoping eBay would step in as the sale was covered under eBay guarantee but they have not.
@lecham-8728
All sellers are bound to policy regarding items arriving 'Not as described'. The seller's 'No Returns' policy is a moot point. Plus, eBay didn't know to step in since you didn't open a claim... but they would have, and you'd be whole now.
Here's the Money Back Guarantee. It's a good read for buyers. >> eBay Money Back Guarantee policy
I'd go to my CC. I'd be crushed to expect a Patagonia and to receive a knockoff. Sorry you picked a scrub seller. Good luck.