Think the iem I bought is a fake...what should I do next?

[WillyWonka]

Dh picked up a great Abercrombie & Fitch jacket from ebay just before Christmas, so last week he successfully bid on another, from a different seller, in the same size/style but a different colour. However it arrived yesterday and we really don't think it's genuine (cheaper fabric & lacking many small details and a totally different size - way too small).

Should we go back to the seller with our concerns, report directly to ebay or contact A&F first to see if they can confirm? (The seller has not yet left feedback, despite being paid as soon as the auction closed ). Any advice would be gratefully received.

This is really common. If it were me I would email the seller, say its fake and ask for a refund and also say if they don't provide a full refund (including both sets of p&P) you will report them to ebay.

One of the ways I've noticed this popping up on feedback is - 'returned for refund item didn't suit' when there is no return policy. Seems to be codeword for fakes according to the chat rooms.

this may help to be sure it is/isn't a fake.

Not sure the best course of action.

With most ebay stuff you should try and resolve with seller first, but not sure in this case as it is actually an illegal activity if it is fake and you will be "tipping them off"

Yes, same as Lauriefairycake, I'd always e-mail the seller first to give them a chance to put it right.
If they don't respond/full refund open a dispute with e-bay and negative feedback them.

Will certainly bear that in mind for future reference but looking at the seller's fedback, it's all glowing with praise for the items sold with no suggestion of any problems.

Maybe your first was the fake?

I thought it also had some key differences between the real and fake itmes (etched butotns, labels etc) which was what I thought might actually be helpful.

when i first started using ebay i bought ds 6 a timberland sweatshirt. as soon as it arrived it was so obvious it was definetely a fake. crap material so crap it was embaressing. when i went to on their feedback it was all great. now either they were sent something different to me or they are his family and friends. he was so nasty whne i asked him about it and said he was was going to sue me for slaunder. put me off buying tbh.

I would do a definite search on the internet for determining which one is fake.

And I'm only suggesting you contact the seller because if it were me the refund would be very important to me. The importance of getting the money refunded has to be balanced with also getting people reported for wrongdoing.

It just depends what is important to you.

I'd message the seller and explain that they have sent you a fake and also a different size to the one stated in the listing.
then, wait and see what they say.
If they offer to refund (you did pay with paypal didn't you?) return the item via recorded delivery and keep the tracking number. Ask them to refund your return postage (sellers don't have to do this but a good seller will)

If they get funny about all this look further into the law regarding the sale of fakes and see if there is any useful info you can forward on to them in the hope it may prompt them to refund you.

They won't have left you feedback yet as it isn't the end of the transaction - paying is just the start of a transaction.