eBay SNAD. Should I request a chargeback?

rapoot6 on 17/07/2014 - 22:47
Last edited 17/07/2014 - 23:26

Hey guys,

I recently bought a laptop from the US and it was marked as new but open box: Seller thought 17' screen was too big for him. I thought fair enough and bought it for $500 and paid $30 for shipping. I have received it this week and dell has confirmed that the item is actually a refurbished model (has a few scratches at the side aluminium panel). I am very disappointed with this and contacted the seller and he basically denied it and told me to get stuffed. I requested a small adjustment in price to make up for the incorrect condition description but he replied "Stupid question". If I open a SNAD via paypal, it will cost me approx. $200 to return it to him which is too much to lose, especially to such a rude inconsiderate seller. I am now considering requesting a chargeback but feel quite bad as he will then lose all his money and the laptop. What should I do? Would the bank ask me to ship it back?

Thanks!

Financial

Comments

  • BringAPlate on 17/07/2014 - 22:56
    +7

    Chargeback!
    He took you for a ride. Now he has to pay the consequences, its as straigh forward as that.

    If a legitimate business did this and responded the same way you would complain to the ACCC.
    Think of a chargeback as taking him to the ACCC of ebay, if it helps you sleep at night.

    Keep in mind the guy told you to get stuffed, so fairs fair IMHO.

    • rapoot6 on 17/07/2014 - 23:24

      Thanks for your advice. Is there a possibility that the bank would ask me to ship it back? sorry but i've never done a chargeback before.

      • hj0809 on 18/07/2014 - 00:22
        +1

        As per visa guidelines yes you will need to return the item to the seller, if the seller requests it (at your own cost). If the seller ignores the chargeback request then you don't need to return it.

        Edit: Visa will contact the merchant in this case Paypal. paypal will create a chargeback case and give the seller some time to respond. If they do, you have to return the item. If they don't, PP will assess and see if they have a case or not. More often than not, you will win the chargeback if the seller doesn't respond to PP within 2 weeks (iirc) and you don't need to return the item

        • rapoot6 on 18/07/2014 - 00:28

          So I will be in the same boat were I to go through paypal? What about my $200 lost in postage? I read somewhere that paypal has no say in the decision, it is up to mastercard/ Westpac (my bank) as they are disputing the transaction on my behalf.

        • hj0809 on 18/07/2014 - 00:31
          +2

          @rapoot6: I suggest you in order of priority
          1) Use scare tactics on the seller to pay for return shipping
          2) Create PP dispute if you're not happy with result above
          3) Escalate with your credit card company as a last resort, if you don't want to go through Paypal (eg: if they require you to do something outrageous/impossible like getting a police report for SNAD), or lose the dispute.

          Use chargeback as last resort as once you initiate one, your PP dispute will be closed.

          Good luck.

        • rapoot6 on 18/07/2014 - 00:33

          @hj0809: Wasn't aware of that. Thanks! Does it make a difference I am with westpac, hence a mastercard not visa?

        • hj0809 on 18/07/2014 - 00:34
          +1

          @rapoot6: Paypal is the merchant, basically like an agent for your ebay seller. If your ebay seller says he wants the item back, PP will tell your bank and you'll have to return the item

          If your ebay seller doesn't respond, neither does Paypal. Then, you have to wait approximately 45 business days before you win the chargeback by default.

        • hj0809 on 18/07/2014 - 00:36
          +1

          @rapoot6: Some banks are better than others, but iirc mastercard/visa both have ~45 days wait for response from merchant before you win by default (+ on top of any processing times by the bank, which I find varies quite a lot)

          Some banks place a hold on the transaction so you don't acquire interest.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/07/2014 - 02:48
          +3

          @rapoot6: Regarding the $200 return postage, that's something to keep in mind when you buy stuff from overseas. It might be cheaper to buy, but if something goes wrong it can be expensive to send back for refund or warranty claim.

    • Boshait on 17/07/2014 - 23:53

      How would you do a chargeback? AFAIK banks' credit card T&Cs typically don't give you the automatic right to take money back after receiving goods.

      • rapoot6 on 18/07/2014 - 00:26

        I have never done one of these before so I dont know but Westpac Chargeback page says it can be opened for "goods not as described"

  • TheAviator on 18/07/2014 - 00:17
    +2

    Don't feel sorry for him, he's scammed you. Wouldn't be surprised if he's done it plenty of times to others.

    Do whatever you think is right. Is it true you have to send items back for Paypal? I thought they just got you to destroy them. Have a look into it. Otherwise, go for chargeback I guess.

    • rapoot6 on 18/07/2014 - 00:24

      They definitely ask you to post it back but with fake items, they ask you to destroy it as it is illegal to post them. Thanks for your advice, it seems he buys used items and sells them as a day old etc..

  • [Deactivated] on 18/07/2014 - 07:53

    Don't trust PayPal. I returned an eBay purchase from overseas following all of PayPal's instructions. After I had sent the item back, PayPal asked for a postage receipt that showed the return address. I didn't have it because PayPal didn't specify this requirement before I posted the item. I lost the item ($200) plus the return postage costs ($50). Expensive lesson to learn.

    • rapoot6 on 18/07/2014 - 08:34

      Will keep that in mind. Thanks!

      • BobD on 18/07/2014 - 09:18

        It's important to read the Terms and Conditions of all of the players very carefully else you can get shafted.

    • [Deactivated] on 18/07/2014 - 10:09

      I still have the PayPal emails.
      This is part of the PayPal email for the return:

      1. Return the item. Please ship the item in the same condition as it was received to the seller at the following address: (removed)

      2. Provide us with online tracking. Ship the item using any shipping service that provides online tracking.

      Here's how to provide your tracking information:

      1. Log in to your PayPal account.
      2. Click "Resolution Centre" near the top of the page.
      3. Click "Respond" in the Action column for this transaction.
      4. Click "Provide Tracking Information".
      5. Enter your tracking information.
      6. Click "Submit Tracking Info".

      Note:
      - We need your shipping information within 10 days of receiving this email.
      If you can't provide the shipping information within this timeframe, you will not receive a refund.
      - If your transaction was $250.00 or more, we require online proof of delivery from the shipping service in the form of a signature from the recipient.
      - You are responsible for the shipping costs to return the item to the seller.

      I did exactly as asked and provided the online tracking.
      Then I received the following email:

      Thank you for providing the online tracking information for the item being returned. The tracking information has been also sent to the seller. Once delivery of the item is confirmed, a refund will be issued.

      Thank you for your cooperation.

      Sincerely,

      Protection Services Department

      Then I received this email:

      Before we can issue you a refund, we need to confirm you returned the item to your seller. Unfortunately, we are having trouble confirming that you returned the item and cannot issue you a refund until we receive proof of shipment clearly showing the address where the package was shipped.

      Please keep in mind that proof of shipment is documentation or online verification from your shipping company showing a status of shipped, the shipping date, the address to which the package was sent, and official acceptance from the shipping company (for example, a postmark). Proof of shipment doesn't need to be available online. The most commonly accepted proof of shipment is a copy of your shipping label that shows the postmark.

      I never got a shipping label and the receipt I had from Australia Post had tracking details but not the shipping address and since the item was already sent, I couldn't get any proof of the shipping address.

      If I had known this, I would have taken a photo of the stamped shipping label at the post office when I sent it as evidence.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join