Fradulent Chinese Deals

[ziggs_ott]

 Well, I got burnt on a couple of Chinese deals. I thought I was protected by Paypal. Was for a cheap hard drive and camera. I received a copy of a coin and a cheap 50 cent bracelet. Before Paypal will issue me a refund, I must send the items back with a tracking number. From Canada to China, this will cost me almost as much as I had lost. So as a warning, do not order anything that seems to good to be true. It will cost you.

[toby_le_pue]

Have you left the appropriate feedback for these sellers.

[brandeentertainment]

this is almost a theme now ..Sorry to hear

[frances74915]

I usually find my competitors from China with an impossible cheap price...

[ziggs_ott]

No. Ebay removed the listings and seller as well as sent me an email indicating that if I hadn't paid yet, I was not obligated to. Problem was I already did the checkout with Paypal. I also thought that Paypal was protecting me in case of fraud. Boy was I wrong. Once you have received the "package", it is up to you to return it to the seller with a tracking number and you then give Paypal the tracking number. Problem is from Canada, it will cost $45.00 to return the package. These sellers are keeping the amount of sale under $30.00. Kind of silly to spend $45.00 to recover $30.00? Its a Paypal loophole that the Chinese sellers are exploiting knowing damn well that we won't be pursuing this. The only reason that I actually did the purchase(s) is that I thought Paypal would cover me for the loss.

[ziggs_ott]

An update.

I phoned Paypal as was suggested by other members. Spoke with a rep and explained the situation as well as the shipping costs involved in having the "dollar store" items returned. The CSR was very helpful and reversed the charges and gave me full credit back for these items. I am very happy with the outcome.

Lesson learned! Be aware, there are a few scammers that promise great products at a low ball price. If you decide to buy, don't do an instant payment. Wait a couple of days first to see if Ebay sends you an email to inform you whether its fraudulent . These cheap deals are happening in computer equipment, unlocked cell phones and video camera's. These sellers have found a loophole that if a sale is less than $35.00 and that they actually send you a package with a cheap trinket enclosed that you sign for, you are on the hook to return this and from Canada the charge for returning with tracking is about $45.00. How may buyers will incur these charges to return and item that was purchased for under $40.00?

Moral, if price is too good to be true, it probably is.

[femmefan1946]

This is where the obnoxious 21 Day Hold comes in handy.

Although it penalizes honest new sellers, the Hold means that crooks like those described above are not being paid and PP and the buyer can stop the fraud.

Of course, it means that defrauded buyers have to act promptly and make their complaints about Item Not As Described or claim against a seller who is Not A Registered User, since PP will not reverse a payment without a request.

The defrauded posters may be pleased to know that the crooked seller probably never saw the money and are out the miniscule cost of the goods (bads?) sent, the subsidized postage, and their low wage labour.

[thebarterersdog]

the lessons the hardest to accept are sometimes the easiest scams to fall for... we did the same... found these collector items (of course later found out they were reproductions) and bid on the low listings and low and behold won.  Great!... no

the invoice comes in and I nearly had a coronary there and then... 4.99 for items, 74$ for shipping... what were they coming in a gold box???

I was livid and immediately told the seller to cancel the purchase, I would NOT pay that for items small and light (there were two).... the seller comes back and says his profit is so low that he has to charge this in order to make up for the low amounts I won the bids for...

Went right to ebay and quoted all the policies this transaction breaks if allowed... they weren't going to help. Hung up, called back, no help, hung up, called back, no help, hung up and called back... get a fellow who was shocked at the shipping, it should have been no more than 10 to 15$ depending on how it was sent, remember items were small... Even agreed with me about the policies the seller was breaking, yet, wouldn't help...

I went back to the seller and said cancel it, the shipping was too high or charge me what I should be charged and I would buy it. Refused. A couple days later, came back and said he would cancel transaction. Week later, he had the nerve to send me an email about his "deals" he had listed.

persist, persist, persist