Purposely Sent Incorrect Item

So a couple of months ago I ordered an item from a Facebook ad. It was some wooden cheeseboards. The ad said buy 2, get free shipping. Looked pretty good and figured I could give the second as a present. Price was $US40.

I received a parcel on Wednesday which was two electric toothbrushes. We were confused as we had never ordered them. The following day i decided to check the tracking on the cheeseboards as they promised 2 week shipping and had been a couple or months. I found tracking showed as shipped. I realised what had happened and contacted the company. They told me I could send them back at my expense (and they would refund after) or keep the product they sent and receive a 50% refund on my purchase.

Having no need for toothbrushes or think they are worth $US20, I checked cost of postage. Was going to be $22 to ship back to China.

I then contacted the company and advised them that shipping would be $22, which in my opinion is more than the product is worth. They said yes, send them back or receive a 60% refund on the goods if I keep them.

At this point I decided to do some research and found this is a common scam and that the company has many complaints against them. At this point ive lodged a complaint with PayPal, but I've read that due to the company offering a refund with return postage (even though they will likely claim after that product was damaged) PayPal won't help you.

Anyone else had this happen to them?

Funnily enough, a friend posted on Facebook yesterday "do you like my new Cheeseboards?" With a photo of some dodgy watches.

Comments

  • +18

    why did you buy cheeseboards off facebook and with usd. sounds over priced for a few cheeseboards too lol

    • +4

      I just can't get my head around this either. Alarms bells should have been ringing.

      • +1

        Melbourne Supporters.

    • I'd just wait until we can travel to Bali again and buy some real handmade ones here.

      Pretty much the only place we buy cutting boards now.

    • Because they looked more functional than any I had seen locally.

      https://www.catalogueus.com/products/swiveling-cheese-board

  • +5

    I think PayPal covers return postage up to $45 per return. I did two returns recently.

    Thinking about it again. What do you have to pay return postage when seller admitted they sent wrong item?

  • +1
  • +1

    If you see the ad on Facebook again, report it

    • +9

      If you're slow enough to click on any Facebook ads, probably time to report yourself.

  • +4

    Surely you could find cheese boards locally?

    • +5

      But why pay in AUD when you can buy in USD from China?

      • Fair call. That nasty South Pacific peso should be banned.

    • Probably, but they looked good for a decent price. Loved the way the dips/chips sat on the board

      Dodgy owners have switched sites, but this is the one. Can't even navigate to that section of the site anymore, but comes up on search

      https://www.catalogueus.com/products/swiveling-cheese-board

      • +1

        I just got a call from 1985. They want their cheeseboard back.

  • +1

    You can activate the Paypal return protection even after placing the order, if you still haven't… Just activate, then go to your Paypal account and check if the option is there for the transaction.

    Also, you should say the name of the company so we will stay away… That's terrible returns policy to ask buyer to pay for return when they made the mistake…

    • +2

      Company was mforworld.com, looks like they have now moved to https://www.catalogueus.com/

      • +1

        Ok… Never heard, probably wouldn't buy anything from them… Have you searched them on Google? Plenty of bad reviews, definitely a scam…

        • Yeah, there is now that all the items have arrived

          • +1

            @Moventura: A lesson learnt is your reward. Once bitten, twice shye as they say.

  • +8

    Unless it's a well known company ad, ie JB Hifi etc, avoid all Facebook ads.

  • +3

    Wouldn't Wooden Cheeseboards need to pass through Customs and treated prior to import?
    Sounds expensive…

    • +6

      Much easier just to send your customers toothbrushes instead.

    • Wooden items yes you would think but coming from China and such places they dont seem to be checked by customs. Odd

      • Free Boogie Board Cover if you buy enough "Cheeseboards" perhaps…

  • +9

    wait.

    people actually click on those facebook adds?

    you're a glutton for punishment

    • +1

      And what of Ozbargain?

      I wasn't logged in the other day, and a wish.com banner ad was near the top. Clicked it, and it seems they siphoned my email from OzB somehow, as I received a spam of theirs without even joining.
      The watch ads were obviously BS too — $600 Seiko watch for $30? Sure…

      • No matter how many times I unsubscribe from that b… Wish company they dont unsubscribe me. Their site was kind OK when I first used them but now the postage on most items is ridiculous. They have their ways of drawing you back in so I never click on it again. OHHHHH the pain of it all.

      • +1

        banners?

        what are these banner ads you speak of?

        ublock origin could be helpful for you

  • +3

    Chargeback

  • +11

    I ordered an item from a Facebook ad.

    Your mistake right there.

    • -2

      I've ordered plenty of beers from Facebook ads and never had an issue

      • +2

        Did the beers also come from China?

        • Local, but these weren't advertised as coming from China. Actually from United States with 14 day worldwide shipping

  • +2

    That explains why my partner got two electric toothbrushes from china!!! She had no idea and not being that savvy on internet nor has the time couldn't easily figure out what she was missing that was as ordered. Now I think I know what happened!!!

    • My wife randomly got a fake necklace in the mail a few months ago to. Had no idea where it came from. Assumed a family member had ordered it on eBay. After this she realised it was something she ordered for the kids. Too long ago now to chase it up :'(

  • +1

    Moventura
    Send the electric toothbrushes back COD, Just tell the PO they are paying for return postage and secondly you can try your bank. Call them and put in a complaint and a request for refund. As long as you have their address etc the Bank should be able to track them and with lots of luck be able to get a refund for you. At times they MAY refund you first but doubt it. Give it a go and dont feel to bad about it all. Happened to me and I thought I was the type to never get scammed. Bought a moby phone, didnt do things it was said and they denied selling mobiles. WEIRD and had all the proof blah blah. eBay was of no help and neither was the insurance I paid on it as Moby started to play up after the 6mths. Clever vegemites eh.
    Anyway, have a good easter.

  • did someone say facebook 'Half a billion Facebook users’ personal info may have been hacked' all now in the open…

    toss in equiniti…and happy easter.

  • +1

    Send them something cheaper to post. Maybe some pens. Does matter what you send them really.

  • +2

    I recently had a similar issue.

    I lodged with PayPal and the seller said they would return after return, but after doing much research on the internet I found that even if you pay to ship the item back it is a dodgy address and they will never receive it back.

    I took numerous screenshots from others who’ve had the same problem and uploaded them to the PayPal dispute and then CALLED PayPal and asked them to assess my attachments and notes and they gave me an instant full refund. Didn’t have to return the crap they’d sent either.

    If you can find any evidence from others online take screen shots and upload them and make sure to get to the part of the claim that they offer full refund upon return of the item, then call. Hopefully it works for you.

    It was a lesson learned for me. Good luck

  • +1

    As tickle says above, if you can't put cheese on the toothbrushes, then item is not as described. Start the refund process. Be tenacious. And don't pay any more money to anyone.

  • You can send back free of charge. Enquire with eBay and Pay Pal.
    Further, ask the company for a "return pre-paid address".

    Put the onus upon them.

  • I'm in the wrong business if people are falling for this…

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