Fake pearls being sold as genuine

[wanl-caro]

I made three separate orders for pearls. I have received two which were described as perfect  huge South Sea pearls. Both are in fact plastic beads with a pearlised covering. I have not yet received the third one. I have sent three emails re this but no response. My card provider have registered a visa dispute. 

This vendor needs to be removed by Ebay 

[*vyolla*]

I would never go straight to a card dispute, there are only so many chargebacks you can issue before raising a red flag with your card provider.

eBay offer a 30 day money back guarantee/buyer protection and you can return your not as described item for free (seller pays for the return postage cost). 

PayPal also offer 30 day Buyer Protection. 

Genuine huge pearls are incredibly expensive, and should be bought from a reputable seller.

[jckl1957]

You should have returned the items using the Ebay Money Back Guarantee.

That way, Ebay are aware of the issue and the seller has to pay for the items to be returned.

If the seller gets lots of returns and a high proportion of negative feedback, then eventually Ebay will take action.

They are unlikely to act on one complaint.

[tressygirl]

If you were within 30 days of the item's last estimated date for delivery,  the correct first steps were not to go to your card provider for help,  but to notify eBay of this, and this is done by opening a return case for item not as described.

If enough cases are opened for the same reason, it raises red flags to eBay,  eBay investigate,  and can take steps to give the seller selling restrictions ,and even total selling bans.

You cannot open a case now if  your card provider is dealing with the refund,  as it can look like you are after 2 refunds.

Next time,  ( hopefully there won't be one ! ) , always open that eBay case first, it is in its way,  that message to eBay,  that they perhaps need to watch this seller !

@wanl-caro 

[plpmr]

"Genuine huge pearls are incredibly expensive, and should be bought from a reputable seller."

Indeed a genuine large pearl on a 14k gold chain for c£20 should have rang alarm bells from Chinese sellers.

[wanl-caro]

23.99 is a lot to pay for a plastic bead

[john1297576]

“This vendor needs to be removed by Ebay”

Not the way to get this to happen!

I do not know what procedure is for a chargeback using credit card company, but you could be required to return at Your expense, before a refund will be made, if so that could prove expensive.

When ebay  has  link to Money Back Guarantee on every item, it was not wise to not use it.  Costs nothing and if seller wants item back they have to pay cost of returns.

[red_magpie]

This vendor needs to be removed by Ebay

The heading was certainly misleading, but when buying from sellers in China you do need to read the description very carefully.

It does admit that these "pearls" are actually man-made from pearl powder - which as you have discovered means plastic beads with a pearlised covering. I imagine that the "14k gold" fittings are also just plated.

Without defending the seller, do remember that the user agreement warns buyers that eBay does not guarantee that descriptions will be truthful or accurate or that items will be safe, legal - or even exist. Would you have bought these from a shop that stated this? Buying here can be risky. eBay is a jungle.

[wanl-caro]

Thankyou for your email.
The answer is"No" l would not buy them from a shop because l would have
seen they were fake.
I haven't had a reply from the vendor nor my card provider.
Can l still go through the ebay guarantee route please?

[tressygirl]

No,  you cannot now open an eBay case,  as you have opened one with your card provider, and it will look like you are after 2 refunds,  both Companies,  could cancel your request.

Payment providers do take longer to refund,  as they delve into the case in more detail,  you will need to wait and see what Visa come up with.

@wanl-caro