Bought fake Slendertone on ebay - what should I do?

I4bargains

The other day we bid on a brand new Slendertone on ebay and paid for it straight away. That night I just got really worried about whether it would be real (I just had a really bad feeling about it) and the next morning checked more into the sellers feedback and searched online for tips. Got so stressed out about it that we wrote to the seller with an excuse and asked if we could have the sale cancelled. This was before the post offices would be open. She sent it anyway!

So we got it and we rang up Slendertone and they confirmed it was fake. Don't really know what to do now. This whole situation has been really stressful - I feel like I never want to buy on ebay again!

slkh

Firstly contact the seller and explain you would like a full refund due to the fact the item is not as described stating you have proof from the manufacturer to confirm that, if they agree make sure you send it back tracked so you have proof you sent it back to her. Should the seller not respond or refuse to refund you can open an 'item not as described' dispute with ebay and explaining you would like a full refund then she will have to anyway.

mikey72

Just for once, open the dispute on ebay, not paypal.
Ebay disputes are supposed to be better for fake items.

hermum

You can open a dispute on ebay saying that the item is fake, they expect the seller to prove authenticity of an item. Paypal would expect you to have written confirmation from the maker that the item's fake.
Usually with fakes you don't have to send it back.
Did the seller get back to you after she'd sent it?

I4bargains

Yes she wrote back saying that it was too late she had already posted it but that if we sent it back unopened she would refund but without the postage.

When we got it though I opened it anyway because if it was real then I would have liked to keep it. I had just had such a bad feeling about it. Good job too as it wasn't real. Slendertone said it was really dangerous to use a fake one and it could leave you paralised!!! Scary!

I am just worried about sending back. If I do she will just resell to some other poor sucker!!

hermum

Is she a business a seller or private?
I have no idea about the claims that slendertone make but I would have thought that if fake ones can paralyze you then slendertone would be trawling ebay to ensure there are no listings for fake items.

mikey72

I4bargains wrote: »

Yes she wrote back saying that it was too late she had already posted it but that if we sent it back unopened she would refund but without the postage.

When we got it though I opened it anyway because if it was real then I would have liked to keep it. I had just had such a bad feeling about it. Good job too as it wasn't real. Slendertone said it was really dangerous to use a fake one and it could leave you paralised!!! Scary!

I am just worried about sending back. If I do she will just resell to some other poor sucker!!

So, selling fakes, and offering refunds and keeping the postage.
Don't send it back, open a dispute with ebay.
I'd report her to ebay, slendertone, and if it's a business seller, trading standards as well.
You might see it again on the news as they drive a road roller over it.

pinkshoes

Definitely open an Ebay dispute stating that it's fake, and then the seller will have to prove that it's not. If you win the dispute (very likely if it's a fake) you will then get to destroy it rather than sending it back, as it's illegal to send fakes in the post!

I4bargains

Thanks so much for your replies and advice. And so quickly too.

I have just opened a case on ebay (is that the right thing to do?) saying that I want a refund and that it is fake........ so I guess I will see what they say. I hope we get the money back.

slkh

Yes definetly the right thing to do! She will also have to pay you back the original postage you paid aswell to receive it.

debbied3012

I bought what I thought was a genuine slendertone through Amazon, it was fine for the first 2 months, although if it came disconnected at all, it would send a shock through your system that was very scary. I changed the replacement pads that came with it a week and a half ago and am now disfigured on my torso with cell death blisters and spots. I contacted slendertone, to be told it was a fake and am now taking legal steps to stop this happening to anyone else.