Should I return the item for a refund on principle?

[HermioneWeasley]

I stupidly fell for a FB ad for a hair styling tool (I did know it was a risk so could afford to lose the money - about £28).

It has arrived and it is 1) not what I ordered 2) a cheap/poor quality travel sized Hair straighteners. Assuming they work (haven’t switched them on yet) I could probably make use of them, but don’t need them.

PayPal have said I can have a refund, but have to return the item to China at my own expense and inconvenience- have to send it tracked, upload tracking info etc.

The cost of returning the item is likely to be at least £15, maybe £20 (it seems very expensive to send things to China rather than the other way round).

So, do I suck it up, chalk it up to experience and try and make use of the straighteners, or do I return it on principle and get a refund so at least the scammers aren’t making money out of me (even if I’m no better off)?

If the amount refunded in the end is negligible to you then I'd suck it up and move on.

Does the ‘not as described’ protection not hold the same as eBay?

Apparently not - I can have a refund but have to return it at my expense- it’s very clear

I would keep them but dig out a few things you never use/kids have grown out of and sell on FB or similar to make yourself feel better. I do that when I've done something dim and lost money

Keep them its not worth the cost of returning. Back up straighteners are better than none I suppose😬 if you can leave feedback on the item, let rip!

In the interests of sustainability I would not return them if they are to be sent by air mail (could you ship by boat instead?) And if keeping I would offer them to a refuge or on Freecycle or similar where someone may genuinely have need of them. But like PP said, don’t hold back in leaving honest reviews!

Thanks- I was leaning towards keeping, but felt I was letting them off the hook. Now I’ve bought from the most the ad isn’t coming up any more for me to comment

If you return them they’re still no worse off as they’ve got their goods back.

It’s intensely frustrating. I was sold a fake item on a selling site, PayPal upheld my complaint but I still had to pay to return it. The sellers can’t lose.

fake=counterfeit. I couldn’t think of the word.

Paypal Will pay for a certain number of returns a year where the cost of return shipping wasn’t included. You claim it back with your receipt and proof of postage:

www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/returns-on-paypal