To think this eBay message is emotional blackmail?

[FRETGNIKCUF]

Backstory.
I bought shoes from eBay, pretty cheap and so not expecting them to last over a year. I've been to China lots and so know the quality issues. They fell apart after 4 weeks.

I wrote to the seller. They offered a 5% refund. Then asked me to repair them, I explained this would cost more than the shoes, then a 10% refund. I've said full refund.

Now they've sent three emails saying half. I've taken it up with eBay.

I got this this morning.

Dear Cutsomer:
Thanks for all your message,i am just a graduate student,i need pay the money from the salary.
I live in BJ ,and the living cost is very hugh for me,But i really don't want lose my job ,i want to do my best to help you solve this problem.I don;t want to come back my home because is ver shame for going back.Plz give me chance to.PLz.

you are a generious person .both of us step back a little ,
i really do my best to give you half refund as conpensaction with lose profit in this transaction.
Hope you really could undderstand our hard ,we sincerely hope you satisfied with this solution,
as you know ,it's really not easy to do this work well and i am just a worker ,our company have police ,
we should give refund after receive the item ,it's really my best could offer to you ,
Please understand each other in this issue .we will give you a good price in your next order !
Hope you happy with this refund and please think about it.
Thank you very much for your time and consideration 
Looking forward to hear from your reply 
Have a bless day !
Your sincerely

IMO you should leave it. You acknowledge they were cheap and I know they shouldn't have fallen apart after a few weeks, but is it really worth this hassle considering how cheap they were? Isn't your time worth anything? The time you're spending worrying about this...surely it's better just to move on from it and not buy from that seller again.

YABU you bought cheap shoes off eBay knowing the quality would be shite.
The quality was shite.
£28 would be better off spent in the UK with a decent manufacturer at a sale.
Its a risk to buy from China, or just generally online when you can't see the product.
Chalk it up to experience.

most "designer" goods like Mulberry are made in China

Mulberry still have a very productive factory here in the UK

amazingly not everything is made in China, obviously this is really hard for you to get your head around!

BAck to the shoes - leave it.

And I agree you are the only one getting on your high horse.

Many Mulberry bags are made in Somerset - one of the reasons I buy their bags rather than the likes of Chanel etc

Ignore the message and let eBay deal with it. I don't think YABU in expecting shoes to last, it doesn't matter how much you paid for them or where they come from. I buy shoes from shoezone at £15 and would still take them back if they fell apart in 4 weeks.

Mega.... I've been to the factory where Mulberry make stuff in Shenzhen! £80 for a handbag...

sorry but buying from China is a fucking nightmare as you never ever get it sorted. You cant send it back, and there is no law to address it. and Ebay don't give a fuck either

sorry but AVOID Chinese online purchases

Yes I know they still make stuff in China. They have a very good factory out there. But they also make a lot of bags in Somerset, 30 or 40 percent I think. Bags are easy, no sizing, can be cut by machine.

I'm not sure if eBay will get involved with this TBH. Your buyer protection extends to goods being "as described", i.e. They are satisfactory when they arrive. You don't get a guarantee as such.

However, just ignore the messages from the seller, these are common place from Chinese sellers whenever you complain about goods not arriving or falling apart. And usually, I'm guessing, BS.

I do think YABU by expecting an items You but from china to be decent quality, or even the correct size. Whenever I buy from there, if the product is OK then I take it as a bonus!

I'm not quite buying the sob story. Would just let eBay sort it. I'd feel bad about all the other people they're scamming.

I wouldn't buy the sob story, it's a business and so should be run as such. That email is probably sent to every person who pushes for a refund....I suppose it must have some success but I wonder who would believe such a sorry tale.

I wouldn't buy the sob story but haven't you read the book about female factory women in China? I think came about about 5-10 years ago. The conditions are appalling as in much of the Far East etc.

I personally have ordered a dress which said it was coast and was very cheap (checked feedback) and it was obviously a knock off, I couldn't be bothered returning it so kept it, charity shopped it and didn't worry about it.

Shoes I wouldn't be concerned about if they're cheap, if they're glitzy shoes you're after why not go to Primark or buy second hand on eBay?! I've bought shoes only worn once or twice which are brand names and at least you know they won't fall apart.

And if Daddy runs this factory he's complicit in exploitation of factory girls, I hope you know that, don't delude yourself OP! I strongly suggest you try to find the book I recommended to educate yourself as I highly doubt conditions have improved that much since it was written.

megainstant yes their clothes and bags are sold in Somerset. I bought a bag from there once, not a huge discount but enough for me (at DB's wedding to SIL see below).

My SIL got married there about 6-7 years ago it's called Kilver Court I think. My aunt (who has original mulbs since they got popular) wasn't that impressed with the range or discounts but still bought clothing there!

Yeah YABU. I'd take half, go to a Deichmann store, or ShoeZone, ASDA, Tesco, anywhere really and buy some shoes from there. I wouldn't say £28 was cheap unless you're buying knock-off designer...in which case, more fool you I'm afraid.

I rarely buy anything from China because the quality is shite - matches the way they treat "employees"

You've had them 4weeks, is that 4 weeks of being worn everyday, 4 weeks of being worn every other day, once a week, once... am sure if you'd worn them once you'd say "I've only worn them once" in which case, sure full refund. Otherwise, you're lucky they've lasted 4 weeks with China's shocking quality. If you're really that adamant, let ebay deal with it.

There's not too much slavery that goes on in shoe factories

What's the right amount of slavery?
Just let eBay deal with it, you were being a cheapskate getting them direct from China because they're dirt cheap and people get paid next to fuck all to make the stuff for 18 hours a day. And now you're sulking because they weren't good quality. Don't really know what you expected, first world problem IMO.
Shop elsewhere in future - if you want quality then pay for it.

My husband had a similar situation. He gave a seller a negative review for misselling (incorrect description of item) and had no help when he complained to the seller so he gave a negative review. He got an email back from them telling him off for giving them a bad review saying they would lose business as a result and lose their job, house etc. You couldn't make it up! Keep pushing for that full refund!

You ANBU to be pissed off after having new shoes break after 4 weeks but YABU if they are cheap shoes from China that aren't made in daddies factory!

this thread is batshit

Batshit.

YABU , you buy cheap shoes off ebay from china, come out with utter crap about not too much slavery then bore us with what your father does for work and then get stroppy when people answer your AIBU with yes, you are.

You sound like a well travelled... Well off kind of gal. Does £28 really make much difference?
You are making yourself look an idiot by using the word 'daddy' that's just weird.