What are my options if I buy a perfume that turns out to be fake from a no-return seller?

[noodleincident]

There are several deals I'm eyeing on perfumes that are at the local mall, so I can smell authentic samples. If I buy something from a seller that doesn't allow returns, and I strongly believe it's fake, does ebay have any protections to force a return or something?

[lady_madonna]

@noodleincident 

Ebay's 30 day Money Back Guarantee overrides a seller's "No returns" policy so you would be able to file a Return Request if the item is fake/not as described.

[gosimus]

@noodleincident 

< a seller that doesn't allow returns, and I strongly believe it's fake, does ebay have any protections to force a return >    

Regardless of a seller's return policy, or no return policy, when a buyer receives an item that is Not As Described, eBay will compel the seller either to accept a return for refund or to issue the refund without a return.  A perfume being fake would qualify as NAD.  It might get a little ambiguous when the buyer believes it's fake, if you catch the distinction.  

[noodleincident]

Thanks! That's what I'm wondering about, if ebay just accepts my word that it doesn't smell like the stuff in the mall.

I recently bought a perfume (Dior Homme) from a seller that did accept returns, so when they sent the wrong thing (Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia), I messaged them to return it and send the right one. I guess they didn't have another Homme so they wanted me to accept $15 to keep the item. I went and got a sample and my mom liked it, so I was inclined to keep it, but something was niggling at me so I checked their reviews and some other people mentioned getting fake perfumes or the wrong item and a $15 offer. I said "no thanks, I'd rather return it" and they upped their offer to $30 to keep it. That means they'd be making maybe $35 minus shipping on a perfume that retails for $165, so I was even more convinced it was fake. (It didn't have a barcode lol). I was able to return that without issue, but I've never even tried to do a return from a no-returns seller so I was nervous.

[gosimus]

@noodleincident 

< That's what I'm wondering about, if ebay just accepts my word >    

In a Not As Described claim, eBay sides with the buyer 99.99% of the time.  That statistic is not scientifically derived ... I just made it up.  What I mean is that NAD claims are initially handled by the computer program that eBay is, and the computer automatically finds in the buyer's favor.  I know of zero instances in which an appeal was won by the seller, but I sometimes distrust absolutes so I gave myself a nominal margin by saying 99.99% instead of 100%.  Put simply, yes, eBay just accepts your word.