mis described item, now i have to post it to china?

[davidpurdie]

I have bought a reflector for the back of my car. Turns out it came from China

It is a piece of plastic that looks quite like a normal reflector for a car but it’s not reflective at all. As this was only a £17 purchase I’ve now been asked to arrange pay for And shipping to China for a refund. As the original listing is effectively fraudulent and describes this as a reflector I don’t see why I should go through such expensive and difficult process to return the item. I’m suspicious that they may never 'receive' this or not refund this even if I did send it they seem to be relying on it being too difficult for people to organise.

The item I’ve been sold is illegal to use in the UK on my own a car as it is not a reflector. Despite eBay assertions that we can contact them any time on the phone I can’t see a phone number anywhere so the buyer protection doesn’t really seem to be helping. The chat bot thing of theirs seems to be useless and gets stuck on saying I am expected to return the item. This seems deeply unfair given that I was sold an item wrongly described can anyone help me resolve this?

Photo of it not reflecting, bottom right of the rear bumper. Working reflector bottom left. 

[tressygirl · Accepted solution]

Look again at the listing, does the listing location state UK ?  Then,  don't be fobbed off that it has to go back to China.  The seller may be in China,  but many use a UK forwarding depot for a quicker delivery,  and it is back there , the item needs posting,  and if not as described ,  it's at the seller's expense.

Listen no more to the seller's excuses but proceed this way:

If you are still within 30 days of the item's last estimated date for delivery you are guaranteed a full refund,  under eBay's 30 day MBG,  Money Back Guarantee policy.

Just proceed this way:

You have received an item not as described,  go right of the item in your Purchase History and from More Actions select... Return this item selecting the reason Item Does Not Match Description or Photos.

The seller needs to accept this case within 3 days and refund,  if they want their item back first , they need to pay for that fully tracked return postage, then on receipt of their item they have 48 hours to refund you.  If they don't ,  need to escalate the case,  ask eBay to step in, and they'll force the refund.

Never listen to any excuse or promise from the seller to close the case early,  and do not forget to escalate.

Should the seller and I had this happen give an address which is not valid, just contact eBay Customer Services explain what has happened they may just force a refund without the item being sent back.

If you need to,  this is the easiest and quickest way to contact eBay Customer Services, for a Call Back option.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/eua?id=5275&mkevt=1&mkpid

Lines open 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. on weekdays

9 a.m. - 6 p.m. on weekends.

Automated agents will be available on chat outside of the above hours.

I recommend contacting CS first thing in the morning as there's more chance of Dublin answering.

@davidpurdie 

[davidpurdie]

Hi Thanks that's really helpful. I think it was listed as being in China, I didn't think throught the possibility of having to return it, seemed like a simple purchase. Clearly only simple if they are honest with the listing. Thanks again. 

[papso22]

Ah, if the location of the item was shown as China, that's where it needs to go back.  Better just to write it off.