eBay: Sending something back to China... any advice?

porto_bello

Simply put, I've bought something on eBay from a genuine (long-term, high feedback) Chinese seller, which though it isn't broken as such, is certainly damaged and is crudely made. In short, it is nothing like the item represented in the photo, but a naively built item that resembles something you'd expect from a GCSE Woodwork lesson.

Typically, about half the value of the transaction (£45 in total) was shipping costs. I suspect (if I did successfully return the item), the seller may attempt to withhold shipping and just refund the item price, so my method of thinking is that I should launch a Paypal case for the entire value of the transaction ... would that be the logical way to go?

With regard to returning the item (neither large, nor heavy - the size and weight of half a dozen DVDs in their cases), I'll obviously need some kind of trackable/signed for service. For China, I've a feeling there might be limited options ... is there an inexpensive postal option for China, that requires tracking/a signature?

PS As yet, I've done nothing - I thought someone else might have been down this route before. In fairness, my prior experiences of purchasing from China on eBay had been positive and saved me quite a bit of cash on useful items - digital scales for £3 incl. shipping were just about my best eBay buy ever!!!.

forgotmyname

I only buy items i will throw away if its rubbish.

I worked out some items would cost more to send it back than i paid in the 1st place. Item + postage = less than the return postage price.

Dont forget it needs to be tracked.

hiccup123

2 years ago i ordered 4 bracelets from china. they weren't like the ones in the picture. I opened a case and was told to retund for a full refund. I used tracking.

unfortunately the tracking number never confirmed delivery so paypal didn't refund me...i was really annoyed. Anyway a whole month later the item was returned to me because no one signed for it. So i ended up paying an extra £10 to retun it and still ended up with it.

I would have ordered more from the seller and claimed INR but they stopped selling on that account. I will only buy something from china now if it is really cheap

porto_bello

forgotmyname wrote: »

Dont forget it needs to be tracked.

hiccup123 wrote: »

I opened a case and was told to retund for a full refund. I used tracking.

OK, it would seem I'm on the right lines to launch a SNAD via paypal.

And use tracking/signed for to return it - but specifically which service? Can anyone advise?

hiccup123 wrote: »

unfortunately the tracking number never confirmed delivery so paypal didn't refund me...i was really annoyed.

As far as I'm aware, currently, to win the case, I merely have to show attempted delivery and a seller can no longer win cases simply by refusing to accept their items being returned. Can anyone confirm?

hiccup123

My item was returned to China and no signature was obtained. So paypal didn't refund....but over here RM would mention if delivery was attempted...in china nothing showed at all when tracking number was entered.

RFW

hiccup123 wrote: »

but over here RM would mention if delivery was attempted

If you're lucky, it depends how they treat the transaction, some tracked items we receive from overseas come through as recorded delivery, others as special delivery. Recorded ones often don't get a signature.

As for the OP, contact the seller, if they're a big seller they won't want any hassle. Big Chinese sellers often fall over themselves to keep a good star rating, they may just refund you. If not you may be stuck, you're also coming up for Chinese holidays (later this week I think) so could end up with more delays from that.

porto_bello

RFW wrote: »

As for the OP, contact the seller, if they're a big seller they won't want any hassle. Big Chinese sellers often fall over themselves to keep a good star rating, they may just refund you. If not you may be stuck, you're also coming up for Chinese holidays (later this week I think) so could end up with more delays from that.

Thank you, I have followed the approach you suggested, deliberately keeping the language simple:

1. The item is damaged.
2. The item received is not the item in the photo.
3. I wish to receive a refund for GBP £45.55

Please tell me where to return the item for refund of GBP £45.55

...we'll see what happens...

forgotmyname

I wouldnt put please tell me where to return it.

I would say i have received the item and am very unhappy with the item.

Faulty and not as described.

See what they reply to that. If its not a refund asking for its return. Say it will cost more than you paid to return it. And you wont do that.

Personally i wouldnt return it. Just leave a Negative Naming the item if their listing is private. and saying its junk.

Some seem to get around negatives by making it private and you cannot see what the feedback was for.

Dont mention that your going to leave negative feedback though.

porto_bello

I have had a reply from the seller. They want the item back and will provide a full refund (so they say). I'm prepared to invest £10 to regain £45. [Presumably if they try to short-change me and provide a partial refund, I can launch a SNAD?]

I have been given a return address in English - but not in Chinese/Cantonese, so I have asked for this in addition, as a jpeg or similar. [It occurred to me that with just a return address in English, there is every chance - as well as an ideal excuse that it won't reach it's Chinese destination].

I have not mentioned feedback, though it should be pretty obvious that if I don't get a full refund, I'm going to be rather honest about my dissatisfaction.

Another potential problem is timings - I bought the item 19 days ago, so it may take 2-3 weeks to arrive back in China. Will this be too late to launch a SNAD, if the seller simply keeps the item and refuses to refund?

hiccup123

if you are sending the item with tracking then it shouldn't take longer than 10 days i think to reach any overseas destination. Check on RM website. In the past whenever I have used airsure or international signed for the items have taken 3-7 days to reach the destined country (inc australia)....standard airmail has taken upto 3 weeks.

So if you use tracking you should hopefully have time to open a case