Fake goods and best approach for a refund without paying return postage

dutchie

Does anyone know what the best way to handle the receipt of fake goods is, and how to avoid having to pay for the return postage?

The seller is based in China, and has admitted by Ebay message that the goods are made in China. They didnt use the words fake or copy though, just saying that their goods are made in China.

The auction passed the goods off as genuine, and used photos from the copied manufacturer's website.

Will Ebay refund me in if I open a case in the Resolution Centre without me having to post the items back?

I could take the hit on posting back, but in this case, to post back to China with recorded signed for delivery, would cost about £30 due to the item weighing 2.2kg. And I am also reluctant to send them back, only for them to dupe someone else.

Cheers,
Dutchie

theonlywayisup

Have you contact the seller? Do that first and guage their response.

Ebay resolutions on fakes state the onus is on the seller to prove they are bonafide. Paypal on the other hand ask the buyer to prove it is a fake, you only have 10 days from the case opening to do this.

So, seller, then Ebay resolution.

lovinituk

I doubt very much that you will get back return costs and a lot of the China sellers know this. At best I would have thought you will get back what you paid but ebay/paypal may insist on you returning the item first. The China based sellers trade with a certain amount of impunity unfortunately.

theonlywayisup

lovinituk wrote: »

I doubt very much that you will get back return costs and a lot of the China sellers know this. At best I would have thought you will get back what you paid but ebay/paypal may insist on you returning the item first. The China based sellers trade with a certain amount of impunity unfortunately.

If the buyers does a Paypal claim for fake goods, he must prove so within 10 days, but not EVER in my experience have these goods have been anything other than disposed of.

The only way they would be forced to return is if they SNAD, which is not the same as fake.

lovinituk

What if they raise the case via ebay? The seller has already admitted they are not genuine so will ebay side with the buyer and force a refund without return of goods? Would be a great ouctome if its possible.

dutchie

Yes, I contacted the seller. Basically their line was "we are in china. so all of our produce was made in china." They have offered a refund on return. I have asked if they will pay my return postage, but not yet had a reply. I doubt they will offer to do that though. I would prefer to do it in such a way that it will avoid them scamming someone else, so Ebay resolution centre sounds like the best way.

hermum

If the seller can't prove that the goods are genuine then ebay will ask the buyer to destroy it.

theonlywayisup

It couldn't be much clearer.

lovinituk

I wonder how many buyers keep the goods rather than destroy them

dutchie

Thanks for the advice. I will use the Ebay resolution centre. Even if I had to prove the goods are fake, I'd rather post them to the real manufacturer in Italy for proof, then send them back to the seller.

olias

Not being funny OP, but if you know the item is manufactured in Italy, by an Italian company presumably, then why buy from an ebay seller in China in the first place?

Olias