Beware of returns to China

[canuck279]

To make a long story short, I bought two phone watches from Chinese vendors.  After waiting the customary 4-6 weeks to get my items, the first phone watch was defective, and the second was next to useless in North America.

Both vendors were pleasant enough though, encouraging me to send the items back for a replacement, which I agreed to do.  As it would happen, the cost to ship anything back to China with a tracking number was much more than the value of the phone watches themselves.  Therefore I opted to use standard shipping, which still cost me $30 for both items.

Four weeks (an item I sent expedited, 7-10 business days) and 7 weeks (an item that should have been delivered in 4-6 weeks), both vendors claim they have received nothing.  Something tells me that the watches will NEVER find their way back, and ultimately I will be out the cost of the watches AND return shipping.

All this said, beware when 1) buying anything from a Chinese vendor and 2) when it turns our to be defective or useless, accepting the offer to return the item.  In the end, if you "got what you paid for", cut your losses and dispose of the useless item.

[Anonymous]

Since it is no fault of yours that they are defective, you should ask the seller to pay for the return shipping.

I did asked a few sellers and they were willing enough to do so and even put $$$ that include with a tracking number upfront to me before I returned the items with a tracking number.

I felt that any items that turn out to be defective or wrong, the buyers shouldn't have to pay for the return shipping.  Why should we have to pay for the return shipping when it is no fault of ours??  The good/honest sellers would agree to that and provide $$$ upfront before we ship them back, that is how I felt that it should be deal in that way as not to be duped by so many sellers which is now to seems to becoming a trend and we must stop it before it is becoming an "acceptable" method to dupe buyers regardless of what.

eBay/PayPal need to look at this area and change their insane policies.

If any sellers refused to do so, then I would open the dispute against them.  Again, why should we have to pay for the return shipping when it is no fault of ours. 

[dipmicro]

Chinese products on Ebay are deceptive. There is entire industry creating worthless nonworking products that can be sold to westerners. If you want good stuff from China, buy from importers, large retailers or buy locally in China.

One example for many - 3000mAh NiMH AA cells. It's physically impossible: AA size is 14.5 × 50.5 = 8.33 mL. NiMH energy density is 140-300 Wh/L. Maximum energy storable in AA sized NiMH should be 2500mAh (and top brands do get there, e.g. Sanyo Eneloop XX). I got few of these Chinese "supercells" out of curiosity and they measured as 300mAh in BC-700 battery charger.The best part? People actually keep buying these fakes and keep leaving positive feedback.

Two cultures that lived one beside another for millenia, while "Made in Japan" represents top quality and workmanship, "Made in China" is of mediocre quality to utter garbage here on Ebay.

[femmefan1946]

I opted to use standard shipping,

My emphasis, your error.

The reason why buyers are required to return unwanted merchandise is to protect honest sellers against scamming buyers and 'buyer's remorse'. It costs them money and that discourages the scams.

The reason for Delivery Confirmation is to prevent cases of 'he said/she said'. PP must be able to see that the seller has both the item and the money, before they can set about refunding the unhappy buyer.

China is a nation with no Rule of Law. While there are many fine people, honest businesses and excellent craftsmen, there are also no effecive controls on scoundrels, cheats and purveyors of carp.

It's the Wild Wild West, and Dr. Arliss Lovelace is winning.

If you made your payment with a credit card processed by Paypal, you can phone the 1-800 number on the card and ask the customer service rep about a chargeback. Have your dates, transaction numbers and prices (including the cost of shipping to and from China) at hand to help her process a refund.

Credit cards have longer deadlines than PP, but they do have deadlines, so act immediately.