Received a Fake Watch When Paid for New on eBay. I Wanna Get My Refund but Take The Watch to Police to Stop Scams

Lk90210 on 21/07/2017 - 15:35
Last edited 22/07/2017 - 10:58 by 1 other user

Hi I bought a Michael Kors watch on ebay, the seller has sent me a fake watch.

I can tell because the booklet has misprints and the watch is too light, the back case is misaligned. To an untrained eye, it would look genuine. I confronted the seller and she is saying it is genuine and she imported from USA. I want to take this matter to police as this is the third time in 3 years I have had fake watches delivered. I got the moneyback and returned their fakes but the time and effort is all gone to waste.

I want to teach the seller a lesson by giving it to police so that they can't keep claiming it is a genuine when they are selling fakes and wasting everybody's time.

What do you guys think?

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Comments

  • scrimshaw on 21/07/2017 - 15:46
    +33

    The police generally won't take action unless there's a huge payoff and is local (e.g the seller has a known presence in Australia and has a shop or warehouse full of fakes)

    It is unlikely they will take action if your seller is overseas, like some store based on HK or Singapore, since it's out of their jurisdiction. Reporting to eBay or Paypal is more likely to get the result you want. There's also an eBay community forum for that kind of thing.

  • bobbified on 21/07/2017 - 15:49
    +64

    Put your claim in through EBay or Paypal and just get your money back. I highly doubt the cops are going to care.

    this is the third time in 3 years I have had fake watches delivered. I got the money back and returned their fakes but the time and effort is all gone to waste.

    This is your third time - when are you going to learn your lesson?

    • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 18:59
      +4

      well I have been buying on ebay since 2008 and have bought around 15 watches for friends and family. So yeah this is the third fake but my point is why ebay doesn't take any action against such sellers? I will definitely get my money back but I want there to be some form of deterrence in selling pirated goods for a seller who has over 40 listings and conning decent buyers.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/07/2017 - 19:12
        +22

        Honestly the police won't do much.
        If you want to dob the seller in, send photos, a copy of the listed (pdf it) to the actually company they're ripping off. Also ask if they could tell you any outcomes & offer some advice on what to do with the fake (they may want it as evidence).

        Chances are the company has access to a floor full of lawyers who will not only give the seller what for, but also eBay (who do listen to lawyers).

        I have no idea what/who MK is, but is it Michael Kors?
        If so, their contract Us form has a drop down option in Reason For Contact of Counterfeit so if it's them, then it sounds like they'd love to hear from you :-)
        https://www.michaelkors.com/contact-us

        • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 19:17
          +1

          Thank you I have just done that.

        • [Deactivated] on 21/07/2017 - 19:26
          +1

          @k90210: good, I hope when you confronted the seller it was via ebay messages, so there's a record if/when you ask for a refund.

          good luck I'd (& I'm sure others) will be interested how you get on (especially the response from MK).

        • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 19:30
          +1

          @supabrudda:

          Yes I did communicate via ebay message. The MK 'contact us' page led me to registeration page but only had US or Canada as choice of country option. So did a bit of research and found this email [email protected]. I have emailed them, sent the pictures and link to the ebay seller, hope they get back to me. Will keep you guys updated.

      • GregMonarch on 23/07/2017 - 16:21
        +1

        The deterrent is to buy watches from them and continually return each one, which I believe they pay for return shipping? When they ban your username, get family and friends to do the same. When they all get banned, come and post it here, along with a how-to guide to definitely win a dispute so we can all have some entertainment too. Make sure every person leaves scathing feedback to warn others away as well… and they'll eventually get it through their thick skull.

      • abb on 25/07/2017 - 08:49

        why ebay doesn't take any action against such sellers?

        ebay receives a commission for each item sold.

        Don't return the counterfeit. ebay should give you a refund and allow you to keep it. That way at least the fake seller can't sell it to someone else (who might be fooled).

  • dogboy on 21/07/2017 - 16:09
    +4

    This will go straight into the too hard basket for the police.

    • TheCutter on 23/07/2017 - 14:19
      -7

      Eh?
      Why should our taxpayers money - ie police time - be wasted on this tightwads adventures on ebay.

      Buyer beware!

      I sold a fake rolex once on ebay - making clear it was fake but not saying those exact words….

      so the bids are rolling along at 40 bucks which is fair and then some naive greedy american rolled in with a $100 bid - seriously thinking shes getting a rolex for 100 bucks , so i send her it and she reports me to ebay for it being fake and i got thrown off.

      This was about 15 years ago - still hurts… :(

      • ashanrath on 23/07/2017 - 18:11
        +6

        I sold a fake rolex once on ebay - making clear it was fake but not saying those exact words…

        How exactly did you make it clear it was a fake without saying it was a fake? If you misrepresent what you're selling what do you think is going to happen?

        • AsSeenOnTv on 23/07/2017 - 20:35
          +4

          Up for sale my favorite 'Rollex'.

        • 2023 on 23/07/2017 - 21:31

          Genuine replica?

        • [Deactivated] on 24/07/2017 - 04:21

          Genuine fake.

        • John Kimble on 24/07/2017 - 09:09
          +1

          "Alternative genuine"?

        • [Deactivated] on 24/07/2017 - 11:10
          +1

          Legitimate reproduction

        • TheCutter on 24/07/2017 - 12:47

          "For sale my mothers "Rolex" watch from Thailand.
          Looks genuine but I cannot vouch for it and have no papers."

          Obvious enough?

        • gummibear on 24/07/2017 - 16:44
          +3

          @TheCutter:

          I think you are putting the responsibility on the buyer to interpret your statement

          If you suspected a counterfeit then it would have been more transparent to say 'probably fake' which sounds different to 'possibly real'

        • altomic on 25/07/2017 - 07:55
          +1

          Homage

        • MementoMori on 25/07/2017 - 11:48
          +1

          Rolexxx

          Folex

          Essence of Rolex

          Inspired by Rolex

          The list goes on…

        • PAXA359 on 25/07/2017 - 14:56

          "Like Genuine - Buy if you dare!"

      • abb on 25/07/2017 - 08:50

        I sold a fake rolex once on ebay

        It's illegal to sell counterfeit goods on ebay, or anywhere else in Australia…

  • altomic on 21/07/2017 - 16:57

    Are they selling lots of these? Or was it a one off? Has the seller been duped by the seller she Bought from?

    Not enough info.

  • JetLi on 21/07/2017 - 16:57
    +11

    If you stop buying fakes, you'll stop receiving fakes, buy from reputable sellers.

    • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 19:39
      +9

      Not all reputable sellers carry all the models. I specifically chose an Australian seller which has 100s of goods online and over 40 MK watches, 99% satisfaction rating.So you see I did my homework, I even paid higher amount to buy in Australia as some seller were selling it for $20 cheaper but things happen aye, you can't always get what you want.

  • chrisd262 on 21/07/2017 - 17:07
    +3

    How much did you pay?

  • KaTst3R on 21/07/2017 - 17:07
    -1

    Maybe your seller bought a fake off ebay and she sold you the fake she received so now you have effectively just bought the fake from the original seller. Maybe the original seller bought the fake from another seller and now everyone is passing the fake watch around.

  • John Kimble on 21/07/2017 - 17:17
    +3

    this is the third time

    Nice pun

    • alxr0101 on 22/07/2017 - 18:12
      +1

      and a turd time result.

  • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 17:25
    +2

    Well the price I paid is 170$,I bought from her because she was Australia based seller and I needed it quicker. The seller has other 40 or so watches still on sale for ebay. I know I will get my money back as has happened on the previous 2 occasions but I wanted to teach the seller a lesson for not keep doing it. I thought here in oz we want to strike hard against piracy. Also I am a watch lover I have 10 in my collection, and I generally gift watches and this was supposed to be a gift. So I basically wanted to get opinions on taking it to police will get the seller a warning or something, just anything to demotivate them from keep doing it.

    • NuclearWessels on 21/07/2017 - 17:26

      What was the model?

    • rump parliament on 25/07/2017 - 12:52

      we want to strike hard against piracy

      Why? Australian consumers get shafted by regional pricing and poor availability. Cracking down on piracy is about protecting the profits of multinational corporations not getting a fair go for some mythical sector of our economy.

  • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 17:30

    Mk6238, still being sold from 160 to 200 on various eBay stores.

    • YellowDieselGolf on 26/07/2017 - 20:08

      Not to be cynical but why would anyone go to the effort of counterfeiting a watch that sells for $200?

      Are you sure it's not just a genuine $200 watch?

  • FSTB on 21/07/2017 - 17:34
    +4

    Takes fake watch to police station "Ahh yes thank you sir. Fake watches are a serious threat to this community. Hold on a moment here while I go and get one of our fake watch specialist officers who can identify the fake immediately."

    Seriously what do you expect the police to do? Press charges?

    • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 18:39
      +7

      well if no one does nothing then you can't expect things to change. Piracy is a big issue in our economy. Police could at least check the other 40 listings and even if they ask the seller to take the listings down or send a warning letter that if the seller continues, she could be charged. Like I said the watch is an excellent replica and many of them wouldn't even know after buying it and they are being duped by this seller. So was just trying to do the right thing so that others might not have to go through the same thing.

    • alxr0101 on 22/07/2017 - 18:12
      +6

      Arrest you for fashion sense.

    • picklewizard on 22/07/2017 - 22:24
      +1

      That's precisely what I'd expect them to do, yes - uphold the law by prosecuting people committing illegal activity.

      • T1OOO on 23/07/2017 - 18:53
        -2

        It's a civil matter, what's ur proof ?

        • picklewizard on 23/07/2017 - 18:57
          +2

          Huh? Someone is selling counterfeit goods, I'm not sure you understand what 'civil matter' means.

        • random110 on 23/07/2017 - 19:43
          +2

          Last time I checked, fraud was a criminal offence

        • whooah1979 on 23/07/2017 - 21:47

          @random110:

          Last time I checked, fraud was a criminal offence

          counterfeit goods as i understand isn't fraud, it comes under the trade marks act 1995.

          it applies to both civil and criminal offences.

        • whooah1979 on 23/07/2017 - 21:48

          It's a civil matter,

          a trade mark infringement is both a civil and criminal matter.

        • picklewizard on 24/07/2017 - 13:14
          +1

          @whooah1979: The act of counterfeiting would not be fraud, to present and sell the item as genuine surely would be?

        • random110 on 24/07/2017 - 13:54

          @whooah1979: I agree that counterfeiting by itself would not be fraud. But selling the item as a genuine item to someone, when it is counterfeit, would be fraud.

        • whooah1979 on 24/07/2017 - 14:10

          @picklewizard:
          The trade mark act 1995 section 148 covers this.

        • whooah1979 on 24/07/2017 - 14:10

          @random110:
          See the section 148.

    • MrTweek on 23/07/2017 - 12:13
      +1

      Are you guessing that this is what's going to happen or do you have any actual experience with something like this?

      I'd be surprised if they won't do anything at all.

    • benbarren on 23/07/2017 - 15:49
      +1

      i would assume they will start a federal taskforce, and once they have taken down the faux-fashion-watch-cartel-inc they will bring out the allegedly fake MK discount ebay make-an-offer timepiece, introducing Captain Koons played by Christopher Walken who will repeat his monologue:

      "The way your dad looked at it, this watch was your birthright. He'd be damned if any s**** gonna put their greasy y***** hands on his boy's birthright, so he hid it, in the one place he knew he could hide something: his a**. Five long years, he wore this watch up his a**. Then when he died of dysentery, he gave me the watch. I hid this uncomfortable piece of metal up my a** for two years. Then, after seven years, I was sent home to my family. And now, little man, I give the watch to you." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVxl__61vKI

    • bdl on 25/07/2017 - 18:17

      They'd probably just take their time

  • s313 on 21/07/2017 - 17:43
    -4

    You shouldnt be buying online when you already had bad experiences.

    • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 19:34
      +1

      I buy most of my stuffs online be it myer or david jones, dan murphy or woolies…over 250 items bought on ebay over the years, but that is just meh …to each their own, I guess.

    • ashanrath on 23/07/2017 - 18:17
      +4

      I've had bad experiences in bricks and mortar stores, should I stop shopping in those?

      • abb on 25/07/2017 - 08:53
        +1

        I had a bad experience drinking water once. Am now dying of dehydration. FML.

  • PVA on 21/07/2017 - 17:45
    +6

    Report it to Michael Kors as well. They may likely do something.

    • Kangal on 21/07/2017 - 18:18
      +12

      And the fashion police… cause it looks quite fugly

    • k90210 on 21/07/2017 - 18:42

      I will definitely do that. Thanks.

  • John Kimble on 21/07/2017 - 18:39

    i before e except after c.

    • Rumbaar on 21/07/2017 - 19:03
      +7

      Except for the 105 exceptions to that rule!!!

      height, efficient, protein, weird …

      • mooboy on 24/07/2017 - 15:35
        +2

        Efficient threw me for a few seconds…

    • fruit on 22/07/2017 - 22:25
      +1

      it's I before E except after C when the sound is Eee

      • DS41766 on 22/07/2017 - 23:51
        +2

        Pronounced proteeen, still spelt protein.

      • abb on 25/07/2017 - 08:54

        fiend ?

  • [Deactivated] on 21/07/2017 - 19:54

    “i before e, except after w, or e or at the beginning of the word”

    http://www.nathancunn.com/2017-06-26-i-before-e-except-after…

  • SBOB on 21/07/2017 - 20:30
    +4

    im more surprised that any maker would bother making a fake of that watch

    You sure its not just a factory-seconds or something?

    • kerfuffle on 21/07/2017 - 22:23
      +1

      I'm surprised that fake Michael Kors bags exist considering they're on the lower end of the designer handbags market …

      • SBOB on 21/07/2017 - 22:50
        +1

        doesnt seem worth the effort
        Takes the same time/$/effort to make a replica omega/rolex/panerai than it does a Michael Kor. Why would you bother making a fake Michael Kor.

        • John Kimble on 21/07/2017 - 23:27
          +2

          They make fake branded everything (Nike t-shirts and socks as a purely random example). As long as profit can be made, it's worth it.

        • greatlamp on 22/07/2017 - 22:16

          If it costs $2 to make, you would make one of every brand and fully stock your bali market stall.

      • Sensiekatie on 22/07/2017 - 10:55

        In the lower end - and the higher end at times, the manufacturer (especially Asian countries) make more than required and sell them themselves. These are usually a good buy when you find them and you cannot tell the difference, as theyarein fact the same thing.

        however, watches especially are being made in China/Hong Kong. There is a huge variation in quality within the ame run. No quality control unless the designer or owner of brand listens has a representative on site.

        Buying at what you think is a reputable seller is no guarantee. My husband is a watchmaker, and he sees the good and the bad. He has had a few knock offs that were really good and only his ecoert eye could tell the difference … at times not until he opens the watch.

        • [Deactivated] on 25/07/2017 - 09:23

          In the lower end, most probably. In the higher end, ie coach bags (yeah yeah, not that high end), the materials are tightly controlled. Essentially, approximately the correct amount of material is sent to the factory and there are still several controllers who are meant to ensure excess material is destroyed/reclaimed. All material is accounted to get away with excess material, you'd have to bribe someone for very few units.

          I don't buy into these brands but I know how their manufacturing processes are. Excess stocks as "originals" is a myth (especially high value items).

  • The Danger Zone on 22/07/2017 - 09:00
    +2

    Here's an idea for a bit of vanilla vigilantism.

    1. Oz bargainers descend on the identified counterfeit seller and purchase them out.
    2. Claim refunds through PayPal. Dispose of goods/give to your local police who can donate to their wives for anniversary present (not meant to post counterfeit goods after all).
    3. Cripple the seller with negative feedback and financial consequences of lost stock which is going to be only way to curb behaviours.

    Fact is huge profits are generated by counterfeit trade and the quality is impeccable. For example, that Michael Kors watch can be bought for under $15 on aliexpress. - that's over 1000% profit margin for these sellers. The dishonest sellers flourish because people want to believe they're getting a genuine bargain - if only 1% buyers are detecting they can wear that hit with huge profits…and people actually post back the goods as well to sell again ?!?!!

    Imho eBay profit from volume of sales. They don't want to address counterfeit goods in any more than a tokenistic way.

    • abb on 25/07/2017 - 08:55

      the quality is impeccable

      You must be getting different counterfeits to me.

  • havabeer on 22/07/2017 - 16:10
    +10

    Anyone buying a MK watch is an untrained eye as far as watches are concerned.

  • azonki on 22/07/2017 - 21:38

    Regrettably, the Police do not have the resources to follow through with a fraud unless the value is over $1,000,000.00 or the person involved is high profile (read well known, notorious, or a refugee lawyer).
    From my experience, your transaction with a fake eBay seller would be treated as nothing more than stupidity deserving it's just reward.
    And let me tell you that I have been there and I have learnt my lesson.

    If it's too good to be true………….

    • pinchies on 23/07/2017 - 11:55

      The adage "if it's too good to be true, it probably is" is excellent advice.

      Unfortunately this case, the item did not seem too good to be true. When buying items at a high risk of being fake, it's so important to really check the sellers feedback as if even one person has left negative stating they received a fake item, the seller should be very very carefully scrutinised.

    • random110 on 23/07/2017 - 19:48
      +1

      $30K, but otherwise yes

  • greatlamp on 22/07/2017 - 22:13

    I bought a fake otterbox case from ebay. I emailed the company and never even got a thankyou.

    I bought a real one off amazon and posted pictures to ebay, who refunded my money, but I don't think anything happened to the seller.

    Maybe see if the Manufacturer cares and send them the details, it's in their interest to stop this.

  • El Grande on 22/07/2017 - 23:23
    +9

    Michael Kors watches are not hand made swiss stuff. Mostly they are made in china and the booklets are done by the company making the watches.

    You would be surprised to know that these manufacturers design the watch and show them to various companies and give a unit price. A company like Micheal Kors would bid how many containers they would buy at that price and they would win the rights to that design (highest bidders). Such typos are fairly common. I would compare the booklet with the one on sale at myer or someplace legit. Identify a few mistakes on yours and match them off with the one you know is genuine. Make sure when you are matching the version number of the booklets is the same. Sometimes they are revised so the errors might be fixed. This way you can confirm if its a fake or not.

  • redslert on 23/07/2017 - 03:41
    +2

    Ebay even has a website dedicated for this
    http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/How-To-Spot-A-Fake-Michael-Kors-Wa…

    So how many of these mentioned items does your watch fail?

    • Ughhh on 23/07/2017 - 10:24

      Thats a guide written by an eBay user/store/seller. Not an official guide by eBay. You could write one too.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/07/2017 - 06:51
    +1

    I have been scammed before and i report it to ebay and they have shut the account down

  • NABit on 23/07/2017 - 11:07
    +3

    It's probably real tbh, just a piece of shit watch.

  • AussieSr on 23/07/2017 - 11:40
    +2

    Hi K90210,

    You can report the scam with proofs/screenshots and everything @ https://www.acorn.gov.au/

    Also, report to ebay parallely with the complaint copy from acorn website above.

    You can put the complaint details in ebay seller review comments/product comment section . urge all victims to register in Acorn.

    I am saying this because, I faced a similar issue where I didn't receive the items for which I have paid for in one shopping site.

    And there were more complaints in ACORN about the seller. A case was registered and Police financial crime branch called me and enquired.
    Case was produced in court and seller was fined and charged . I received restitution which was approved by court.

    Only problem is it will take time. But you will get the benefit if you report. Sometimes we are not taking effort to report even if the amount is low like 50 $. Mine was 400$, I reported and got help from police.

    • Aceboy884 on 23/07/2017 - 17:17

      You taking time to do this is important for the community

      And I thank you for it

      Sellers who are offering genuine goods and competiting against fakes are also a headache

      Most people simply put it in the too hard basket

      • djkelly69 on 25/07/2017 - 16:04

        Your lack of punctuation made me think this was a poem, but not sure you can rhyme "it" and "basket"?

  • Ughhh on 23/07/2017 - 12:28
    +1

    Problem is, the police could stop the store and maybe arrest the seller (jail term is probably not very long), meanwhile another store selling the same thing pops up. The counterfeit market is so big and profitable, cops arresting a guy isn't going to make a dent. Unauthorised stores and market places like eBay are well known for fakes.

  • ectogammat on 23/07/2017 - 12:31
    +4

    Could it still be a genuine MK watch that just happens to be of poor quality?

    some people go nuts for MK watches but as far as I can tell they are just cheap Quartz watches with MK branding and often tacky designs. to each their own I guess. I much prefer my citizen and seiko watches!

    • Aceboy884 on 23/07/2017 - 17:15

      Same for every watch with a brand name slapped on it

      Better off with a swatch

  • sunnyc on 23/07/2017 - 13:02
    +1

    Police won't do anything unless its an actual emergency or to advance their career.

  • benbarren on 23/07/2017 - 15:43

    if u r worried about cheap fake fashion watches, don't buy from dodgy ebay sellers at better than expected prices. buy from the actual brand's website itself or official etailers, or reputable dealers/sellers which while not as cheap as fakes are cheaper than the manufacturer, but also genuinely made by them.
    in reality the difference between fake fashion and real fashion watches is farely low in terms of the watch movement and parts, but in areas such as watch strap they can be really bad on the fakes.
    but don't expect a real watch if u buy from a non-authorised or community-endorsed online seller of discount fashion watches.

  • Tasmaniac on 23/07/2017 - 16:27

    Claim a refund and send her back a fake, fake. That'll teach her.

  • GregMonarch on 23/07/2017 - 16:35

    Similar to my idea above, I thought of another one… As long you're SURE they're fake!

    Order 100 watches. Open dispute. Return 5 of them. In the same box (or one large enough to hold 100). ebay still gives you the refund, you have proof you mailed a box and one the right size, registered postage, etc. - and they can't prove they didn't remove 95 of them when it arrived just to get back at you. Then get someone else to do it again, then someone else… etc. They'll lose so much money they'll soon realise crime really doesn't pay.

  • Aceboy884 on 23/07/2017 - 17:13

    You are better off reorienting this to a michael kors

    And let them take action, if they choose

    eBay, PayPal and the police won't care, unfortunately

    I would recommend you initiate your claim through eBay

    And make the seller pay for the return

    I was recently gifted a fake toy that was purchased off eBay from a family friend

    Same story, same process

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 23/07/2017 - 17:31

    Police wont do s*** sorry man

  • neyo on 23/07/2017 - 18:45

    Third time and you haven't learnt your lesson? Buy from reputable dealers. Going for the cheapest price and on eBay you are basically asking for a fake

  • Mysterious Laptop on 23/07/2017 - 21:32
    -1

    this is why you never buy anything off ebay, such an absolute toss of a place

  • Geryatric on 23/07/2017 - 21:36

    I wouldn't buy a watch online period. The vast majority are not genuine unfortunately.

    • 2ndeffort on 23/07/2017 - 23:11
      +2

      Not true, there are plenty of genuine sellers on eBay. I bought a $5K Omega from a Jewellers in the USA with full factory international warranty. You just need to be careful where and who you buy from. I am currently buying a Glycine Auto from Massdrop. I have sold genuine Grey Market watches on eBay.

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