How would I handle this? Shipped counterfeit Forever stamps.

[brads_ann]

I placed an order for 5 sheets of 20 stamps of the Vintage Rose USPS Forever stamps. I had no idea when purchasing that these Rose stamps had a high rate of being fake.

I found this out after placing the order and messaged the seller to ask where they got them. The seller replied that they got them from Ebay and had them left over after doing some marketing mail outs. They claimed they worked fine for them but were selling the leftovers.

I figured instead of cancelling my order and since the pic of the stamps looked good from their item pictures, I'd go ahead and order. They had a listing and selling about 8 of what I purchased so they were selling a lot of stamps to be left over but whatever.

I got the stamps yesterday and they don't look like the pictures they had posted with the listing. The '5' in the number '2015' is different than the real stamps. The stem on all is broken when it shouldn't be on the real stamp and the stamps are pixelated (dots) and not a clear line as they are supposed to be. The number '5' is enough but along with the other discrepances, these are for sure fake.

Do I simply just ask for a return and they pay shipping? Didn't know if I should report them?  Will I have issues getting a refund if they dispute it? Anyone ever been through this....getting fake item?

Thanks.

[*eponymous*]

File a return case for "item is not as described in the listing". The seller is required to provide a return shipping label.  If the seller has a return policy, you could just claim buyer's remorse to avoid the seller claiming the stamps are genuine, but do that at your own risk.

If you lose the eBay case, file a dispute with PayPal under the same reason. You can be reimbursed by PayPal for return shipping (look on the PayPal site for the one-click "enrollment" to the no-cost return shipping program that reimburses up to $30).

Evidently, eBay is a source for a lot of counterfeit stamps.  Google counterfeit Forever stamps and click on the 3rd link (Linn's) to help you be familiar with signs to look for that indicate counterfeit.

[brads_ann]

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@*eponymous* wrote:

File a return case for "item is not as described in the listing". The seller is required to provide a return shipping label.  If the seller has a return policy, you could just claim buyer's remorse to avoid the seller claiming the stamps are genuine, but do that at your own risk.

If you lose the eBay case, file a dispute with PayPal under the same reason. You can be reimbursed by PayPal for return shipping (look on the PayPal site for the one-click "enrollment" to the no-cost return shipping program that reimburses up to $30).

Evidently, eBay is a source for a lot of counterfeit stamps.  Google counterfeit Forever stamps and click on the 3rd link (Linn's) to help you be familiar with signs to look for that indicate counterfeit.

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Thanks for the info. Yes, I saw that Linns article and had read it after the fact that I purchased them.

I will file a return. I uploaded a picture of my return options. Should I select that it doesn't seem authentic?

[victorjunkman55]

This is a Federal Crime to Counterfeit US postage stamps, While eBay seems to endorse these types of sales, and you jump through hoops to get your money back, I would have taken these stamps to the Post Master in your city and told them "I bought these on eBay" Should PO get enough complaints about these stamps, A Federal Investigation would be opened, and eBay tends to pay attention when shown a Federal badge. Good Luck to you.

[brads_ann]

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@victorjunkman55 wrote:

This is a Federal Crime to Counterfeit US postage stamps, While eBay seems to endorse these types of sales, and you jump through hoops to get your money back, I would have taken these stamps to the Post Master in your city and told them "I bought these on eBay" Should PO get enough complaints about these stamps, A Federal Investigation would be opened, and eBay tends to pay attention when shown a Federal badge. Good Luck to you.

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I agree, but I would also like to be reimbursed my 45.00 or so dollars I paid. That's why I mainly asked my question on how to handle. I'd like to report but also would like a refund from Ebay or Paypal.

[victorjunkman55]

As said, eBay is very well aware of all the Counterfeits being sold here, They collect fees on these sales, Real or not, and this is eBays only concern, Fees, The Postmaster general on the other hand would open a Federal Investigation into this to see how widespread these counterfeit stamps being sold on eBay are. If it only cost me $45 to get a Federal Investigation into eBays Counterfeit policies, while these stamps are still being sold here, I would consider this money well spent, But that's me and I understand you want your money back, but this does not stop eBay continuing to profit on these type of sales. Good Luck.

[missjen831]

If you want to turn over the fake stamps to the PO and you funded the payment with a credit card, you can forgo an eBay or PayPal case and file a chargeback. I would like to say that if you hand over the stamps to the PO and submit documentation from the PO as well as the silly reports eBay likes to make buyere file, that they will refund you without a return but there's no guarantee they will. 

[brads_ann]

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@missjen316 wrote:

If you want to turn over the fake stamps to the PO and you funded the payment with a credit card, you can forgo an eBay or PayPal case and file a chargeback. I would like to say that if you hand over the stamps to the PO and submit documentation from the PO as well as the silly reports eBay likes to make buyere file, that they will refund you without a return but there's no guarantee they will. 

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Thanks.

[hafoster]

You'll get a full refund without requiring a return --

if you provide a USPS report to your credit card issuer.

https://community.ebay.com/t5/7/9/m-p/26366156#M199959

[knode89]

Make sure file this as a SNAD and not as something else.  SNAD insures you are covered via ebay compared to a regular return which can be perceived as buyers remorse and then you loose some of your coverage.  So be sure to do SNAD because that will also hit them hard via ebay.  I might also suggest that you take them to your local post office and ask them to look at them and tell them what is going on.  They might be very interested in this as well.