Faded Item Described as Mint. What would you do?

[DrowningEveryDay]

I bought an item that was described as mint/store display. Since I really wanted it, I purchased it eventhough I knew I'd incur customs duty (the total was around $400 AUD with the GST, and the various fees - customs entrance, duty, broker fee, etc).

When the item arrived, I immediately noticed the fading in the collar and at the back.

What would you do if you were me? The jacket totalled around $950 US with the shipping (not including the customs fee). If I were to return, I will not get the customs duty back.

I messaged the seller but no reply yet.

From your post I guess you’re angling towards a partial refund?

If that’s the case you can’t force a seller to offer this option. You can ask but they can refuse, and then your options would be, keep it, or return it for a refund.

I know that if you were in the U.K., you could apply to have your custom charges refunded if you returned the jacket, so maybe look into this rather than automatically assuming you won’t get them back (if that’s what you are doing).

If a partial refund would be your preferred option then there’s no harm in asking, but if the seller says no then you will need to decide how you want to proceed.

I'm in Australia. Apparently here it takes so long to get the GST refunded (which was just $126) but the rest of the fees

I would return the jacket if I did not pay for customs fee.

Sorry, the rest of the fees will not be refunded. So basically if I return, I will be out at least $280.

It sounds like your best bet is to play nice with the seller and try to encourage them to give you a partial refund.

Obviously I can’t guarantee it, but if the seller has any common sense they will most likely agree as otherwise they will be responsible for the return shipping costs (and taxes?) to get the jacket sent back to their country. I’m guessing this will be very expensive.

Is it a real leather jacket? In your shoes I would ask for a partial refund and have a go with some black shoe polish to even out the colour.

Yes, it's a real leather jacket. Seller sent a message saying the jacket was in perfect condition when she sent it with no discolourations.

Id ask for a refund. You can treat the fading with some boot polish though

Message from the seller:

Hi..still, I cant see anything, I looked at the jacket day and night and not one blemish, I never would've shipped out of country and covered additional fees taking a loss to have an issue, I looked at the actual jacket as well as my pics which are very clear, I see nothing, how would you like to proceed, I am away, my mom has stage 3 lung cancer, I never ship without global ship coverage, I have to say I am so upset, my jacket was perfect I don't kbow what could've happened between my post office and customs, very very upset

I’d ignore the sob story. Either you want your money back and will return the coat, or keep it. She’s not obligated to offer partial refund and the sick Mum to a cynic says she won’t anyway. It’ll be Paypal dispute or try to dye it yourself

I'm torn because of the customs fee - if I return it, I'd get 1.2k AUD back but lose $400.

Is a discoloured jacket worth 1.2K? She’ll be losing the same by taking it back- I’m assuming she’ll need to pay duty on the return? Personally, I’d lose the $400 as much as it would annoy me- anyway you can make her pay it? I’d be surprised if she offered you a partial refund. Is the jacket even wearable, or can it be made wearable?

Is it black? You can get real black leather dye from Amazon or internet. You would be really surprised how good it is. It's a thin runny dye that you layer on and it will come up like new- if you do it right you won't be able to tell at all if you get the colour match at all. Watch some you tube videos on leather repair / leather dye. Annoying I know as not your fault but for about 5 minutes and less than £10 you can fix it. So don't lose £400.

I promise you it will work perfectly and you'll be a convert of leather dye for your shoes and bags too.

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B000HHM20M/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ref=plSrch&keywords=leather+dye+black&dpPl=1&dpID=41X7jT88D8L&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1526008096&sr=8-1

Something like that. There's loads to choose from though.

anyway you can make her pay it?

Called eBay. Basically no, we can't make the seller pay it.

Is it black?

Yes, it's black.

It's a thin runny dye that you layer on and it will come up like new

So no need to strip the previous colour?

I think SD1980 meant to say “you can’t make her pay it”. I would try for a partial refund then get it dyed. If she is a regular seller she will probably be happy to refund £100 on a £900 jacket rather than have poor feedback.

There's always someone with cancer when an eBay transaction goes wrong. Why do people do it? I've had the 'my relative has cancer' line from randoms twice and I don't even eBay that much.
I think you will have to cut your losses and try to cover up the faded patches with dye.

So no need to strip the previous colour?

Not previous poster but some experience of this. Only use fiebings brand. YouTube videos are your friend. You need to strip any coating for the (alcohol based) dye to penetrate. If it's "naked" leather, there's nothing to strip. If it's coated with wax or oil you will need to strip using a deglazer product (bit like extra strength acetone) and this will of course take off some colour too even though not required. Problematic for patch repair as even results require even dye lauering. When dye applied you seal with a product like resolyne so no leakage.

It can be done, but to do it invisibly is tricky...practice on a belt first.

Not sure what I'd do in your situation tbh...lots of nice faded jackets running around Sydney (I'm an Aussie withany faded items )....it this ugly bad or "just" really disappointing (I would be gutted btw). Can you take more pics using a black piece of paper to highlight the faded area to seller so she can see the issue better?

Sent these pics but the seller still can't see the faded parts!

More pics sent

it this ugly bad or "just" really disappointing (I would be gutted btw).

More disappointing because the jacket was described as "mint" so I was expecting and paid for a mint jacket. If I knew there were fading, I would not have bought the jacket knowing I'd be paying too much on customs fee.

There's always someone with cancer when an eBay transaction goes wrong. Why do people do it?

Dunno, just really weird to me. I mean, even if it's true, what does it have to do with the transaction?

Omg until your last post I thought you meant mint as in the colour and I was so confused 😂 it’s too early for me

it’s too early for me

You need some caffeine before Mumsnet! :P

Love your name, BendydickCuminsnatch

Can you find the original commercial listing eg was it described as vintage with Natural variation in colour? If not, then I think she's sold you a "second". Not sure why she claims not to see the variation in colour; your pics are quite clear to me.

One more thought: is there any tiny chance you touched this after delivery with sunscreen on your hands? These marks look a little like marks I used to get on a black leather sofa after DS had put his sunscreened paws on it (in which case possible to gently clean off). I'm grasping at straws here because I want an easy solution for you!