Counterfeit item -> Refund requested -> Request ignored -> eBay deleted listing

[flipmoderanger]

Hello everyone! I purchased an item that was "too good to be true" cheap but I took the chance knowing I could get a refund if it was counterfeit. Sure enough, it's a very obvious counterfeit. I requested a refund from the seller, who has ignored my request. I opened a case with eBay (Return Requested) and eBay now says they deleted the item (the seller had multiple copies for sale). Now I'm just wondering what I can expect? What if the seller refuses to respond in any way? Does eBay or Paypal refund the money? 

Seller was "ewjtech" and had 100% positive feedback.

[charity_scents]

You aren't allowed to put the seller's id in a post so moderators will take it out. 

If seller doesn't respond, then ebay will close the return case in your favor. If by chance they don't then appeal it. 

Was the purchase from overseas? If so, and if buyer wants it returned be sure that he either sends you a label or sends you the money for a label. Don't pay for postage on your own or you won't be reimbursed. 

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@flipmoderanger wrote:

Hello everyone! I purchased an item that was "too good to be true" cheap but I took the chance knowing I could get a refund if it was counterfeit.

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Stop doing that, or you'll lose your buyer protection. If it seems too good to be true, it generally is.

The money back guarantee is there to protect buyers from bad sellers and accidental damage in transit, not to protect cheap buyers from themselves.

[flipmoderanger]

Someone who sells counterfeit items would qualify as a "bad seller" I think. I'm not sure what you consider a "cheap buyer" - someone looking for a good deal? Probably everyone on eBay. But thanks for your input!

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

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Stop doing that, or you'll lose your buyer protection. If it seems too good to be true, it generally is.

The money back guarantee is there to protect buyers from bad sellers and accidental damage in transit, not to protect cheap buyers from themselves.

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[myescape]

buyer protection is not meant to replace your common sense or due diligence.ebay will not cover you if you "gamble" and lose too often

[flipmoderanger]

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@charity_scents wrote:

You aren't allowed to put the seller's id in a post so moderators will take it out. 

If seller doesn't respond, then ebay will close the return case in your favor. If by chance they don't then appeal it. 

Was the purchase from overseas? If so, and if buyer wants it returned be sure that he either sends you a label or sends you the money for a label. Don't pay for postage on your own or you won't be reimbursed. 

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eBay Moderators - my apologies for including the seller's id in my original post. It's my first here and I had no idea it was against the rules. Please remove if necessary.

I doubt the seller will respond. They have ignored me so far. If they do not respond, and eBay closes it in my favor, does eBay refund my money? Or do I just learn my lesson the hard way?

The purchase was not from overseas - it was from the mainland USA. The Paypal account was a different name (and geographical region of the USA) than the eBay id is now showing. 

[flipmoderanger]

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@myescape wrote:

buyer protection is not meant to replace your common sense or due diligence.ebay will not cover you if you "gamble" and lose too often

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The item was half the normal price. I'm not sure if that qualifies as using common sense but the seller had 100% positive feedback and had sold many copies of this item.

What do you suggest I do next time to protect myself better and not jeopardize my "money back guarantee" coverage?

Thanks in advance!

[pargran3]

Easy. Use your brain.

Radine

[melsieh67]

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@flipmoderanger wrote:

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@myescape wrote:

buyer protection is not meant to replace your common sense or due diligence.ebay will not cover you if you "gamble" and lose too often

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The item was half the normal price. I'm not sure if that qualifies as using common sense but the seller had 100% positive feedback and had sold many copies of this item.

What do you suggest I do next time to protect myself better and not jeopardize my "money back guarantee" coverage?

Thanks in advance!

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Did the seller specifically state that it was genuine? If he did then I don't see how you're really to blame here except that you were worried it might be too good to be true. But honestly if the item was stated to be genuine then you didn't have any reason to really doubt that except for the price (especially given the seller's excellent FB), and depending upon the type of item, I can say in my niche prices are all over the place, even for items of nearly identical wear/condition, age and maker.

I don't see how you're to blame here or why you'd lose your buyer protection, but I may not know all the ins-and-outs there. 

Now OTOH, if it wasn't stated as genuine and you seriously had your doubts (not just that nagging "Is something amiss here?" that could just be paranoia), sure, you probably shouldn't have taken the gamble. I don't know which it was, so if it was the latter - you really did pretty much know - then in the future, definitely not only double-check the listing but ask the seller outright for proof/verification. I've done that once or twice.

You just don't want to keep "oopsing"...once in a while, sure, it can happen, but if it's routine, personally I'd be changing my game to much more stringent investigation. JMO!

[edwedw8383]

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@flipmoderanger wrote:

The item was half the normal price. I'm not sure if that qualifies as using common sense but the seller had 100% positive feedback and had sold many copies of this item.

What do you suggest I do next time to protect myself better and not jeopardize my "money back guarantee" coverage?

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You see an item at an unbelievably good price in a newspaper, on TV, or at a website.

And you're to blame for not exercising "use-your-brain" judgement when you buy that item at that price?

[flipmoderanger]

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@melsieh67 wrote:Did the seller specifically state that it was genuine? If he did then I don't see how you're really to blame here except that you were worried it might be too good to be true. But honestly if the item was stated to be genuine then you didn't have any reason to really doubt that except for the price (especially given the seller's excellent FB), and depending upon the type of item, I can say in my niche prices are all over the place, even for items of nearly identical wear/condition, age and maker.

I don't see how you're to blame here or why you'd lose your buyer protection, but I may not know all the ins-and-outs there. 

Now OTOH, if it wasn't stated as genuine and you seriously had your doubts (not just that nagging "Is something amiss here?" that could just be paranoia), sure, you probably shouldn't have taken the gamble. I don't know which it was, so if it was the latter - you really did pretty much know - then in the future, definitely not only double-check the listing but ask the seller outright for proof/verification. I've done that once or twice.

You just don't want to keep "oopsing"...once in a while, sure, it can happen, but if it's routine, personally I'd be changing my game to much more stringent investigation. JMO!

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Appreciate the thoughtful response. I cannot say that the seller's ad said, "This is genuine authentic merchandise and not counterfeit." The ad did say it was a specific brand name and model with a photo of that specific brand name and model. And again, the price was about half what it would be normally on other online retailers new. And eBay has now removed the ad so they must have made a determination that it was fraudulent.

I'm still wondering if the seller ignores all of this process that has now started and refuses a refund - will eBay or Paypal refund my money?