Counterfeit goods via paypal

phantom177

I bought an item off F/B via PayPal In January from augusta USA heard nothing for two weeks so emailed them reply it's in transit in USA then week later it's at customs, cleared customs then nothing contacted them again it's in transit, then cleared uk customs then nothing emailed them again in transit to Manchester emailed 4 days later their reply it's in transit I was starting to think it's a con so opened a dispute with PayPal two days later it arrived after checking realised it was a copy of what I was looking for so escalated dispute with PayPal for a refund PayPal contacted them, to get a refund I am required to return the item within 10 days to wuhan China what are my options.

I found the company that make the original they confirmed with photos it's a copy of their item.

Aylesbury_Duck

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6656190/counterfeit-goods-via-paypal

Very limited. Buying things off Facebook is a minefield - why not just buy the genuine article from a proper supplier?

Your options are to retain the item and see what partial refund you can leverage from the seller (they often offer one as a 'go away' solution), or to send the item back. I wouldn't do the latter, it will just be more money thrown away, the item will never arrive and you still won't get a refund.

Are you likely to get stung with a customs charge at some later point, as well? Whichever courier acted for you (and you are the importer in this case) will have paid any customs charges due and will then invoice you for those plus an administrative fee.

born_again

Technically it is illegal to send counterfeit goods in the post.

As such it is one where on a chargeback with proof of CF goods, no return is required.

If PP are saying for a refund, then that is their process. Which could mean that cost of return is more than item cost.

phantom177

Hi born_again are you saying to contact my bank for charge back

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892455#Comment_81892455

No.

You need to go via paypal.

How is funds taken from your bank account, if via DD than bank has nothing to do with this.

pinkshoes

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6656190/counterfeit-goods-via-paypal

I suggest phoning PayPal and ask them what to do, but ultimately, then YES you will need to send the item back tracked. You bought it from China so you need to return it to China.

Does the advert actually say it is genuine? How much cheaper was it than if you'd bought direct from the genuine seller?

Buying from Facebook and expecting something to be genuine is somewhat of an oxymoron… How much verification of the company did you do before purchasing? Were you aware it was a Chinese company or did they portray to be a UK company (e.g. UK address and landline number)?

soolin

This is becoming one of the most common scenarios here on MSE, dodgy goods from the Far East being advertised on social media. Unfortunately I suspect you are unlikely to recover all your money, and I echo one of the other suggestions to try and negotiate as large a goodwill gesture you can get out of the company. Some people are managing to get up to 30% .

FB as well as other social media are rife with these dodgy companies, either branded goods that are fake, often a small spelling mistake which they think gets them out of trouble ,‘Sketchers ‘ used to be popular and for a while recently there were quite a few ‘Ninga’ items being sold. As well as that there are just substandard goods, embroidered jeans which turn out to be printed leggings, there are even YouTubers out there now making money buying these items to show you the original photos and what they actually receive.

born_again

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892552#Comment_81892552

Not come across counterfeit goods for a long time. To easy to get moeny back by chargeback. Always used to say two doors on factory where goods were made, genuine & fake.

They seem to focus now on poor quality goods under their own brands. Meaning no hope of money back.

Totally agree on Social media, if only someone would use their clout to try & educate people about it..😶‍🌫️

phantom177

Thanks all contacted PayPal they cannot help so decided to keep even though it's completely useless my reckoning if I sent back it would disappear and I would be out of pocket twice, placed in the bin and cancelled PayPal account their loss I'm going to be more vigilant infuture

LightFlare

For me it would depend on how much the item was,what it was and if the fact that it wasnt genuine affected in anyway it’s function

Some battles are worth fighting - other times you take it on the chin and lesson leanrt

MyRealNameToo

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81892498#Comment_81892498

As has already been said it's illegal in the UK to post counterfeit goods, it's also a prohibited item with Royal Mail and all other carriers so there is no legitimate way to send it back. Its why its a separate category that doesnt require a return for chargeback.

My approach in a similar situation was to get them to put in writing that they are asking me to break the law at which point they agreed to refund as a gesture of goodwill.