Returning Counterfeit Item!

[beshoshow]

I bought and received an item from top-rated seller and had feud with seller afterward about prices.

When I contacted the manufacturer for registering the product for warranty, they told me that the product does not have serial number or manufacturing date and most likely a counterfeit unless that the ebay seller can provide original purchase invoice from them, the manufacturer. ( I have email from manufacturer)

I contacted ebay through chat and they told me to return the item to the seller for refund (I have screenshots of conversation)

My question: does this suggested action from ebay representative align with ebay policy? I was expecting to be asked to forward the item to ebay office for them to destroy!

Secondly, if I return the item, how can I be sure that the seller will not deduct 50% of refund, claiming that the item is not in original condition?

Is there a way to forward the item to ebay or an escrow to avoid any future dispute with seller?

[kensgiftshop]

@beshoshow 

Go to your purchase history and click return item and select, the item doesn't match the description as the reason.
The seller will have 3 days to accept the return and pay return shipping or refund without returning.
If they don't, return to the case on day 4 and ask Ebay to step in.

[fab_finds4u]

Why were you feuding over price after you agreed on the price when you bid and won?

Manufacturer warranties are worthless for online purchases unless the seller is an authorized distributor. Sellers buy shelf pulls and pallets of new returned items to resell, and that doesn't  mean the items are counterfeit.  The manufacturer thinks they could be is why they can refuse to warranty them. 

if you want a refund you have to return it to the seller. The seller should provide the return label unless it is a seller from a different country. Those sellers can't provide a return label. They'll have to send you return money.

[kathiec]

Yes, eBay will require you to return the item to the seller before they'll force a refund. All they have is you saying "well the manufacturer said it's most likely a counterfeit" and the seller disputing that. Ebay has no idea which of you is right. 

[mudshark61369]

"I bought and received an item from top-rated seller".

Never go by a seller's Top Rated Seller badge/title or their feedback percentage alone. You have to open the feedback profile page of  any seller you consider buying from, and click on the numbers of neutral and negative feedback they have received to read only those comments.

"had feud with seller afterward about prices".

  If you had to feud with them over the price, because for example: the listing said free shipping, but the invoice had a shipping cost added, or they raised  the shipping cost, You report the seller for violating ebay policy. 

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/resolving-issues-sellers/report-issue-seller?id=4022

"I was expecting to be asked to forward the item to ebay office for them to destroy! ... Is there a way to forward the item to ebay or an escrow to avoid any future dispute with seller?"

You've been a member since `05,  when in all of that time did you ever hear of ebay having a place to send suspected counterfeit items to?  They do not have warehouses or fulfillment centers where items can be returned to.  eBay did at one time have a policy of proving you destroyed a counterfeit item with photos, to get a refund for a shot while, but had to end it because of buyer fraud.  They do have Authentication centers for a very few items, sneakers, trading cards...  Those items are sent by the seller to the centers for authentication.

Do as others have suggested and file the Not as described dispute.  If the seller tries to send a 50% refund, ask ebay to step in.   Before filing the dispute leave appropriate feedback, before you get a refund.

[ittybitnot]

...did you ever hear of ebay having a place to send suspected counterfeit items to?  They do not have warehouses or fulfillment centers where items can be returned to.

@mudshark61369 

Actually, there was such a warehouse once long  long ago.   At the time, members here coined it the "Best Little Warehouse in Texas" after the popular theatrical musical of the day.   Unfortunately, the items were not destroyed, but rather resold in pallet lots.  Itemized inventory lists of the said pallets used the original eBay item numbers.  After that discovery, the program seemed to have been removed. 

[mtgraves7984]

Secondly, if I return the item, how can I be sure that the seller will not deduct 50% of refund, claiming that the item is not in original condition?

@beshoshow 

^^^ This may be a non-issue. Only sellers who are TRS and offer 30-Day (or better) Returns or sellers who offer Free Returns can make such a deduction. What is your seller's rating and Returns policy?

[beshoshow]

Yep, seller is a Top-seller offering 30days refund!

I read some bad experiences here in the community forum with regard to this policy.

[stubbornoaf]

Have you already accused the seller of selling you a counterfeit item? If you've already gotten to this step, you've already burned all bridges of refunds, and you need to get the police involved knowing full well that nobody is getting a refund. Once you start accusing people of crimes, it's too late for diplomacy.

As for the sale and refund, it sounds like you asked them to ship you something and they did, so you should be leaving them positive feedback.

The only thing would be if the item received doesn't match the seller's pictures from the listing.

[mtgraves7984]

---

@beshoshow wrote:

Yep, seller is a Top-seller offering 30days refund!

I read some bad experiences here in the community forum with regard to this policy.

---

@beshoshow 

Well, now you need to open the SNAD Return request, citing 'Doesn't seem authentic' (or whatever the verbiage) to get your refund going. Don't worry about a short refund just yet... cross that bridge if you get to it. Life's too short...

You haven't said (and you don't have to), but you can share the listing # here, if you want us to eyeball it. 👀

[1tuna]

I am a TRS seller with 30 days free returns

rarely does anyone talk about using that tactic of with holding some money

every single return  I make I can skip the orignal shipping if I wanted to but never do

well one time I tried it out and it with held the $5 shipping

the buyer reopened the return and ebay took back that $5 and gave it back to the seller.

I think any seller can get 100% of the refund if they complain

the actual withholding of some sort of percentage is never talked about on this forum

@beshoshow 

[kelvimushong-0]

seems to me you're mixing up the terms 'buyer' and 'seller' there, making the reply a little hard to comprehend, unfortunately.

[ebooksdiva]

@kelvimushong-0 

Seems to me you dug up an ancient thread from 10/2022.

By the way many posters here mix up the terms buyer and seller. 
@1tuna  wasn't mixing anything up.

[kh-cathy]

Hi everyone,

Due to the age of this thread, it has been closed to further replies. Please feel free to start a new thread if you wish to continue to discuss this topic.

Thank you for understanding.