Selling Free Samples on eBay - not happy with purchase

drunkenmunky

I recently purchased 3 tubes of Lacoste Facial Scrubs from eBay. They arrived today with the words "Free Sample. Not for Sale" on the back.
I wasn't aware that I was buying free samples and nowhere in the description does it state "free sample". If I had known about this then I would never have bought them. The description actually says, "THIS RETAILS FOR AROUND £27 IN THE MAJOR STORES". Surely that is false advertising as "THIS" clearly is not worth 1p as it is a free sample.

I read the sellers feedback before buying, other buyers who have bought the same item seem to be happy with their purchase but I'm not at all happy.
Is this even legal? The seller is clearly making a profit from these companies who give out free samples, why should I have to pay for them?

I'm not sure what action to take, if any. Should I contact the seller first and tell him I'm not happy or should I contact eBay?

toonfish

how much did you pay for them?

frivolous_fay

Lacoste might be pretty annoyed about this.

kriss_boy

drunkenmunky wrote: »

I recently purchased 3 tubes of Lacoste Facial Scrubs from eBay. They arrived today with the words "Free Sample. Not for Sale" on the back.
I wasn't aware that I was buying free samples and nowhere in the description does it state "free sample". If I had known about this then I would never have bought them. The description actually says, "THIS RETAILS FOR AROUND £27 IN THE MAJOR STORES". Surely that is false advertising as "THIS" clearly is not worth 1p as it is a free sample.

It was free for the seller... perhaps as a promotion or though buying stock.

I dont see the problem.... you just seem annoyed someone made money out of you... whats the big deal?

Tonnes of items are not permitted to be resold but everyone does it. I dont see how its immoral to sell something which has monetary value...

Short answer is yes you could probably ban him from ebay if you feel he/she deserves it.

reehsetin

at the end of the day you wanted the tubes, you got the tubes, it would have been nice for the person to say they were free samples but you paid for what you wanted
if you dont like it that much ask the seller for a refund

Hintza

You are buying on ebay not from a retailer. You got what you purchased, it just sounds a bit like sour grapes to me.

Why have you not picked up any free samples? Ebay serves a function of providing goods and services that others can't get, can't find, can't be bothered searching for etc....

This person has found a source and is making a turn, that is how the world works I'm afraid.

You could always report them to the manufacturer but I think that would be petty.

kriss_boy

Were the tubes big? or just small sample ones?

I often get free samples form sites n stuff but its all jus small sachets, not big tubes!

aqueoushumour01

if it contains the same amount as you expected then surely whether it was a free sample or not makes no difference. They are still lacoste facial scrubs. It is not of inferiour quality just becuase it's free!!

If I buy a book and it's the one advertised, why I should care whether the seller paid £15, £2 at a boot fair or got it for free from a friend????

smartie1976

Surely there is an ethical issue here regarding the seller not stating they were free samples (because he knew he'd get less money for them).

What if the OP had bought them as a gift or something?
Lets not lambast him for the fun of it - that's hardly constructive.

Additionally, free samples may be promotional or a trial, and thus not quite the same as a product usually may be. The fact the pack clearly states "not for sale" is a reportable offence.

Well worded feedback may make the seller think twice about omitting such information in the future.

melliott1963

Question: If the tubes didn't have 'free sample' written on them, would you have been happy with the purchase?

If the answer to this is 'yes', then I really don't see what your problem is. You decided you wanted the Facial Scrubs, you paid what, I assume, you felt was a good price for them, and they have arrived safely.

Surely this is the whole point of ebay? People obtain items (cheaply, free or unwanted) and then try to sell them on at a profit.

Maybe if you were buying them as gifts for people (which you don't say you were) I could understand you being upset because you wouldn't want them to think that you were being a cheapskate giving them free samples. But this would be the only reason I can think of to make you feel this way.

mishkanorman

the description stated they were worth / selling for £27

that is deliberately mis-leading the buyer into thinking they were getting more than they received, as the particular item could have no way retailed for £27 !!

mishka