Fake GBA game

vandanfc

Hi

I would like your thoughts on this one please. I have recently bought a GBA game on ebay. Private UK seller, not a job lot. All seemed fine. Have played the game for a few days now and gone to import characters from gba game to ds game. No can do. Then when I go back to the gba game my save file has been deleted. These both point to it being a fake game. I have done lots of digging on the net and this type of piracy seems to be a huge business.

My query is, if I want a refund should I still return it to the seller as they can then sell it on to someone else.

Your thoughts would be welcome.

lisawood78

I believe you can report a suspected fake item to ebay/paypal. I understand that if you win you get a refund and are asked to destroy the fake item, however I think you have to prove it is a fake.
I don't know full details of this process tho, hopefully someone else will.

colony

Yeah I've had to do this with an item of clothing.
File an "Item not as described" dispute with Paypal- reason: fake or counterfeit item.

To win, you will need a reputable supplier of authentic GBA games to inspect the item and confirm it's fake. They will have to sign documentation which you then fax to Paypal. If they deem your documentation worthy, they will ask you to sign a letter saying you have destroyed the item and fax it to them. Only then will you get your money back.

It's quite long winded, but my stupid seller refused a refund, even though I offered to send the item back. Instead she ended up with no money, no item and neg feedback! Would be easier to ask seller for a refund, but if they refuse or you don't mind the hassle then it's definitely worth it.

Not sure if the process will be the same with electronic media, so might be worth checkin that. Good luck!

NeilJung

Ebay don't follow a policy of destroying fakes any more, except for certain items and I couldn't tell you what they are. In the event that they do say to destroy an item these days, it normally has to be done by an authorised dealer/person.

So basically, yes, you would have to return it. That's the current situation to the best of my knowledge.

frivolous_fay

If you persist with PP and don't take any crap from them, they will eventually admit that you're not obliged to send it back.

I refer you to a million and one of my previous 'don't send fakes back' posts in 'I was sold a fake' threads

vandanfc

I certainly do NOT wish to return. Just wondered if I would be forced to in order to get my money back.

colony

NeilJung wrote: »

Ebay don't follow a policy of destroying fakes any more, except for certain items and I couldn't tell you what they are. In the event that they do say to destroy an item these days, it normally has to be done by an authorised dealer/person.

So basically, yes, you would have to return it. That's the current situation to the best of my knowledge.

Um no, not in my case just last month. Paypal asked me to destroy the item myself and sign a document saying so, or else I wouldn't get my money back.

Didn't stop the seller emailing me repeatedly asking for her item back, now I had my "refund".

stormbreaker

Was it 'New' or 'Used'? perhaps the seller was unaware it is/may be fake?

vandanfc

It was used. I suspect they might have had a suspicion. They have recently also had an auction for a job lot of 8 pokemon games, which included 3 hacked roms being sold as legit Pokemon games. So I don't really know, if they were gullible like me and wanted rid, or new exactly what they were doing. I have emailed them. but no reply as yet.

colony

stormbreaker wrote: »

Was it 'New' or 'Used'? perhaps the seller was unaware it is/may be fake?

Even if seller is unaware, you can still win the paypal dispute, if they refuse to refund.

TurkishDelight

Ebay, sadly don't seem to care about or understand this problem.
Take this guy for instance- http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/dusnumber
Sells nothing but fake pokemon games (none of those titles were ever released) - I've reported him on several occasions, but look at his completed listings- ebay have done nothing.