Purchased fake item and can't leave feedback

[ashman30]

I purchased a small plastic/plush doll from China that was listed as New, and genuine. It came in a ziplock bag (no packaging), and is quite clearly a fake.

I contacted the seller, but predictably they didn't respond. I was planning to leave negative feedback and walk away, but it seems I can't do this. eBay says the item has been removed for a policy violation. Quite how they have worked out there is a policy violation I don't know. 

The seller is a business seller, with 100% positive feedback. Clearly, they are going to maintain this rating if their fake items are removed for policy violations, but only after they have been sold, rendering buyers unable to leave feedback.

I'm not going to return the item because its new owner loves it, but that's not really the point. I paid for an item advertised as new and genuine, and it is neither.

Thoughts anyone?

[tressygirl]

To me it seems you were not the only one receiving these fake items from this seller,  many returns resulting in refunds,  would raise red flags to eBay and yes it is a policy violation to sell fake items,  therefore those items have been removed.  Warnings / sanctions would be given to this seller.

With no item there is no place to leave feedback.

I fully understand why you do not wish to send the item back, but if you wanted a full refund this is the only way.

Hopefully,  you did not pay too much, not as much as a genuine item would cost,  cheaper versions from China are a good warning the item may not / is not the real McCoy !

@ashman30 

[ashman30]

Thanks for responding. I did take a bit of a punt in getting one from China. It didn’t cost as much as the genuine ones are going for in the UK (due to price gouging), but it was more than a fake one should be. The whole exercise cost me under £20 so I won’t starve - just a bit annoyed that I can’t put a dent in this seller’s 100% feedback rating. Guess I will just have to put it down to experience.

[tressygirl · Accepted solution]

Chinese sellers sell in such large volumes that they need more than an average number of policy strikes to count.

They may have 100%  feedback but an account strike will not show to you,  and if this item has been removed as a fake from their listings,  they will have received some black mark on their account.

You took a chance but it has resulted in a happy child  too,  so perhaps  in the end, money well spent  !  🤗

@ashman30