How to prove clothing is mislabelled?

Fuzzy_Duck

After commenting in the harsh buyers thread saying I have never had a problem with a seller I find myself in a dilemma :rolleyes: I won a size 12 coat on eBay for £20 including postage. When I took it out of the package, I realised it was huge. Sure enough upon putting it on I looked ridiculous- the arms were far too long, the chest far too wide- it was obviously a plus size coat. I measured the chest and it measured 46 inches. A quick look at some clothing catalogues and the coat was in fact a size 16/18. My plus size mum put it on to prove a point and it was really more of an 18/20 judging on how well it fit.

I message the seller thinking it must be a mistake, and they reply that it is labelled size 12 and so advertised as a size 12. I have a good hunt and finally find a tiny label with size 12 on it. I can only assume it was bought from a shop that likes to flatter it's customers. I couldn't believe that the seller couldn't see that the coat was too massive to be considered a size 12, so I opened a PayPal claim for item misdescribed. The seller had told me that it was supposed to be a 'slouchy fit'- well, I know a couple of extra inches is what you want in a winter coat, but this was ridiculous, and I pointed out that nowhere in their ad did it say it was a slouchy fit anyway. As my mum put it, I 'looked like a kid wearing mummy's clothing'. I simply can't wear it, people would mock me in the street for wearing clothes four sizes too big.

I pretty much said all of this in my dispute. The seller responded saying it was labelled size 12, and fits their wife who is a size 12 and 5 foot tall. This I refuse to believe. I am not an awkward size, I am size 10/12 and wouldn't have complained it was a little on the big size, but this is so big I could probably use it as a sleeping bag! I'm thinking perhaps their wife is a Vanessa Feltz, aka thinks they're a size 12, to everyone else is at least a size 16 but I'm obviously not going to say that.

Seller also said they provided measurements. They had replied to another person in the Q&A section, so this was not in the ad as such. The prospective buyer had asked for a chest measurement, the seller had replied with an armpit to armpit measurement. In my opinion this is a silly measurement to give as it's not really helpful. They should have measured the widest point across the chest which would have revealed the whopping 46 inches, that is NOT a size 12 in any way.

I realise this is really my word against theirs but in my opinion anyone with eyes could see the coat is too big to be considered a size 12. Especially as the measurement they gave was so vague, I suspect they may have neglected to give the true size as it's a young looking coat and they expected more size 12s would bid. This seems hugely unfair to me because any size 12 woman who bought it would have been miffed! The seller must have known and should have given a true indication of size. How do I prove this to PayPal? I have offered to provide pictures of my measurements to prove how large it is but I don't know whether it'll help. I've had to buy another coat from a high street store and am low on funds as it is, so I'll be really upset if I lose the dispute and am stuck with an unwearable coat.

Any advice?

Zazen999

I'd get a size 12 coat, and lay it on top of the ebay coat, and then put a tape measure across so that the full width is evident and take a photo for them. ie the ebay coat is a good 4 inches wider each side than a normal size 12 coat. Normal being M&S or something standard...and have the label showing.

mrcol1000

I think the seller has been a bit naughty by saying its size 12 just because its got a size 12 label but I don't think they have misold it. They obviously have brought it as a size 12 and found the same as you it doesn't fit. They really should have put a warning saying it was too big for a size 12. I would side with the seller on this one but only just.

Fuzzy_Duck

Thanks Zazen999, that's a good idea. Unfortunately I don't really have a size 12 coat to hand, which is why I bought myself one off eBay... but I might be able to borrow one off someone.

That's incredibly cheeky if that's the case! When I used to sell I was always honest, i.e. 'item labelled a size 14 but I think it is really more of a size 12, fits me as a size 30 waist' to give prospective buyers as much information as possible. You could argue I should have asked for measurements but what reason did I have to suspect it wasn't a size 12? Anyway, if that is what the seller has done they were foolish to think I wouldn't kick up a stink about it.

It's a shame as I have been buying off eBay for years and have never had a problem like this before. There's always been stuff that's a little too small or big but this really is taking the p*** in my opinion.

montyrebel

could be an american size 12 as they are really big and fat

Fuzzy_Duck

Maybe! :rotfl: I dread to think what a size 20+ looks like!!

walwin

montyrebel wrote: »

could be an american size 12

You may be right there

http://www.fashion-411.com/Size_Conversions.htm

American size 12 is a UK 16

melliott1963

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

I've had to buy another coat from a high street store and am low on funds as it is, so I'll be really upset if I lose the dispute and am stuck with an unwearable coat.

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

Unfortunately I don't really have a size 12 coat to hand, which is why I bought myself one off eBay... but I might be able to borrow one off someone.

I'm a little confused as you seem to have contradicted yourself - have you, or have you not bought another coat from a high street store?

Anyway, is there any manufacturers label, other than the size 12, which might indicate if this is indeed an American size 12?

It does sound as if this is the case and, if so, I'm sure you should be able to win your claim.

Fuzzy_Duck

Thanks both, that's very useful. Unfortunately I can't seem to add this new found knowledge to the dispute so I will have to wait until the seller comments again to point this out. The ad just says 'size 12' but seeing as I purchased it from the UK Ebay I think it was fair enough to assume I was buying a UK size.

Fuzzy_Duck

Hi melliott1963,

Sorry wasn't clear, was I? I have, but I bought it from New Look where I take a size 10 so it won't really help. Virtually everywhere else (places like Marks and Spencers included) I take a 12, especially because I like a bit of extra wriggle room in a coat.

I didn't recognise the brand but I'll give it a Google and see if that brings up anything. It looks like quite an old make so I'm not sure how successful that will be but I'll give it a whirl and post here with my findings.

durham_girl

montyrebel wrote: »

could be an american size 12 as they are really big and fat

Fuzzy_Duck wrote: »

Maybe! :rotfl: I dread to think what a size 20+ looks like!!

Bit uncalled for....