Fake item, what to do about returning

[MsFanackerPants]

Hello

I bought some make up on ebay and when I received it I've realised it is a counterfeit item (Urban Decay). The fake is the same as the one shown here imgur.com/a/4Is5R . I checked because I got a message today from Ebay telling me they had removed the listing, which is usually done after a Vero report.

I've messaged the seller who has agreed to refund if I return it. But I'm going to be out of pocket if I do this and she is stating it is not counterfeit (well, she would wouldn't she).

Ebay is a right old mess in this situation, because they've removed the listing they can't process a return, but they say to contact the seller.

What do I do, just wait for ebay customer services, press the seller to refund my postal costs. I really do not want to return a fake item to be sold on again!

[Twinklebells]

tell the seller to refund you the postage costs too and then you will return it (tracked) - and if they get arsey just say you will go to trading standards.

You could also try eBay live chat.

[LittleMissRayofHope]

I've been I this exact situation. Bought fake Levi's and returned them. At my own cost.

There really isn't much you can do. Ebay won't force the seller to refund your return postage cost and they won't force a refund until you have returned the item.
Classic ebay closing the listing after it was finished.
Unfortunately you either return the item and take the refund for the original amount - but your still out of pocket for the return postage and you can leave negative feedback.
Or you take the loss and keep the fake and leave negative feedback.

Possibly ask the seller to give you a partial refund? That way you don't have to post back. Some will do this.

Trading standards is only really useful if the seller is set up properly as a retailer. If it's a small time selling on eBay operation from home to make extra cash, then TS won't do anything anyway.

Ebay sucks these days. Really does my head in. I used to buy and sell lots and now it's just too much fake, too much not being posted and too much headache

[Twinklebells]

Can't leave feedback because the listing isn't there any more.

[MrBisinbother]

I recently sold a pair of shoes I found in a charity shop on ebay. Think red sole shoes the shoes were extremely well made so I assumed they were geniuine.I put a buy it now of 150 pounds on them. Shoes sold within a couple of hours and ebay removed the listing afterwards. Absolutely crazy in my opinion as it left the buyer with no ebay protection and 150 pounds down. It was a genuine mistake and once I realised yes they were fake (passed all tests except one) I refunded the money by paypal. Ebay dont protect the buyers by cancelling the listings. Very unfair.

[MrBisinbother]

once the listing is removed, alll traces of buyers names, sellers names are removed so no feedback can be left .I could only contact the buyer with the paypal details . It means this seller who sold the urban decay set probably wont care about the outcome

[WeAreEternal]

Forgo eBay and open a dispute in PayPal.

I bought some opi nail polishes on eBay a while ago and they were fake, when I reported it to eBay they deleted the item and told me to sort it out with the seller, who denied they were fake.
In the end I just went to PayPal and opened a dispute. I got all my money back.

Good luck.

[MsFanackerPants]

Thanks for the replies. It's infuriating that ebay have basically acknowledged it's fake by cancelling and yet the make it near impossible to use their money back guarantee. In over a decade of eBay I've never had issued like this!

[Twinklebells]

Have you spoken to live chat yet?

[19lottie82]

OK, this is how it works. Basically it's illegal to return counterfeit goods, BUT you need proof that they are just that. eBay won't rely on your verbal claim alone and let you destroy then and keep your cash. If they did this would open all sorts of floodgates for scammers buying genuine articles.

You will need some sort of confirmation from the manufacturer in writing, that the article you purchased from ebay is indeed counterfeit.

If you open a case with ebay and provide this evidence, then you shouldn't have to return it for your refund.

It may be worth communicating to the buyer that if she is insisting on a return you will be doing this, and if the item is proved to be a fake (which you suspect it is) then you will also be reporting to her to trading standards. My guess is she will then back down.