Connterfeit goods received

[cgeorge1405]

I have received conterfeit goods from a seller and want to send them to trading standards, but eBay want me to return the goods before I get a refund, what can I do? 

[redwick1]

You have to return them to the seller for a full refund

If you pass them onto trading standards then you would not get a refund

Your choice

You open a dispute for not as described

The seller sends a pre paid label for the return and once they have the item back then they refund in full

That is ebay policy

[cgeorge1405]

So knowing that the goods are counterfeit, I have no recourse from a unscrupulous seller, I am unable to prove my claim without me the purchaser being ‘out of pocket’, what an absolutely appalling system, no wonder eBay has lost it popularity ! 

[*vyolla*]

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@cgeorge1405 wrote:

So knowing that the goods are counterfeit, I have no recourse from a unscrupulous seller, I am unable to prove my claim without me the purchaser being ‘out of pocket’, what an absolutely appalling system, no wonder eBay has lost it popularity ! 

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If buyers weren't required to return good in order to get a refund, it would be a free for all eBay! The system can only work by requiring the return of an item.

[papso22]

You don't have to prove anything, you return the goods at the seller's expense for a full refund.

You won't be out of pocket either.

[arkwebus]

You do not have to "prove" that the goods are counterfeit [or indeed anything].  To get a refund if you "think" that something is not as described you open the case and the seller sends a label, you return and they refund.  EBay does not see anything and neither does anyone else. The system is weighted to buyers.  Sellers get very little time to respond.  EBay may simply say "we never see what was sent".

There is no "investigation" by anyone.  Depending on your view as to the amount involved you could involve "Trading Standards" although I doubt they will be interested for single items on the grounds of lack of resources.    If you send it to them then as others say you will have perhaps helped others but at a cost to yourself as no refund through eBay.     @cgeorge1405 

[cgeorge1405]

Missing the point completely!

But thank you for you comment 🤷‍♀️

[tobiasd4]

Only way to get ebay refund is to open case and return item to seller. 

If you want to report items to trading standards, ebay won't get involved with that. 

You are still covered by consumer rights if it was UK business. 

[red_magpie]

There is a rarely used clause in eBay's money back guarantee policy that:

• When there are strong indicators that the buyer received a counterfeit item, the buyer must cooperate with us to ensure proper disposal of the item, and must not sell the item on eBay or elsewhere

I have to say that I don't recall a case where this was done being reported here.

The point to remember is that eBay isn't a law enforcing authority and can't deprive sellers of their property just because a buyer claims an item is not authentic. So basically, if the buyer claims a refund eBay will support them but the item normally has to be returned to the seller.

It's so simple for buyers to get a refund, even based on their own opinion, whilst the procedure for the item to be disposed of is so unclear - not to mention largely unknown! - that unsurprisingly it's seldom if ever used.

You could if you wish contact eBay customer support to ask about this. If you do, do please update your question to let us know what they suggest.

[cgeorge1405]

Wow, thank you so much! That is really helpful.

I will try and contact them as I feel so strongly about this, using the product the seller has sent me, could result in me being rushed/admitted to hospital, they have offered me a partial refund today, and told me it is a new version, but the product was discontinued 2 years ago so this is untrue as well.

I will see what I can do with eBay again as soon as farther have not been at all helpful!
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