Bought a black suit off ebay. It's arrived and is brown. Seller insists it is black and won't refund me...help!

[2point4kids]

I specifically need a black suit for a certain occasion. I paid a bit more than I was hoping for this one even though there were other brown ones advertised for less, purely because it said black in the decsription.

It has arrived and it is chocolate brown!

I emailed the seller and was friendly. I explained the situation and said I wouldnt normally be this fussy but as it is for a certain occasion I need a black one and could I have a refund.

She has said it is black, the receipt said black and she does not do refunds.

What can I do??

dispute?
not as described?
email again, and make it clear your specific reasons for needing black

Is she a personal or business seller/ Business sellers must offer refunds as part on the eBay terms, sorry not much help if personal seller. If you paid by paypal put in claim now incase she empties her payapl account, once claim is put in paypal account is frozen for withdrawals.

Good idea to check the label!
Just checked it and although it doesnt state a colour, the product code is a series of numbers with CHOC afterwards. Seems to indicate it is chocolate brown!

I'd like to message the seller (private seller) and explain this and give her one more chance for refund before I dispute through paypal.
If I do this I will tell her I am planning to put in a dispute in 2 days time. What happens if she clears her account in the mean time though - will I lose out? Should I start a dispute first and then cancel it if she refunds?

I would say its pretty clear that CHOC would mean chocolate brown, and should definitely be enough evidence to file a dispute stating that "item is not as described"!

email again stating is says CHOC on the label.
tell her that it is definitely brown in anyones eyes even if the receipt said black, yellow or sky blue pink.
If she doesn't budge open a dispute with paypal.
You are covered by the buyer protection, so even if she doesn't have the funds in at the moment paypal with sort it for you (tho it may take a while.)

even a private seller has to refund, and will soon discover by taking paypal payments that no matter what they may say on the listings, they do- indeedy -do have to give refunds

She has 37 feedback but all as a buyer, none as a seller.

The suit is from Topshop.
I havent worked there but I have worked in several retailers before and they all used part of the product code to denote the colour, so its a pretty safe bet I think.

x post with last 2 messages.
Thanks, I will email and say that. If she doesnt refund I'll start a dispute!

I think you are too nice!

Why should you have to apologise to her for asking for a refund and say that you are normally "less fussy", but it was a special occasion.

You paid for a black suit and got a brown one, that is out of order,and it is not "being fussy" to object to this!!

at her.

Emailed her with this:

Thanks for your reply. Unfortunately, no matter what the receipt says, the suit is definitely chocolate brown.
I have checked the label on the inside of the suit and although it doesnt specify colour, it does have a product code which is a series of numbers and then CHOC which is a strong indication that they class it as chocolate brown.
I really do need a black suit for a specific reason and a brown one is just not suitable for me.
All sellers, even private sellers, have to do refunds if the item is not as described I am afraid.
I would appreciate it if you could refund me within the next 2 days and we can leave each other positive feedback. If I dont hear from you in the next 2 days then I will have to open a dispute and claim my money back through paypal.

Will let you know the outcome. Thanks for all your help!

Good on ya!

yes if she clears her account you may win the dispute but not get your money back, has happened to me before

Aaarrgghhh!!!

She replied with this:

hi, i'm not about to get in any type of debate. the items are clearly black. regardless to your opinion, i do not offer refunds. however, i am prepared to offer you 20% refund on the final purchase price. this excludes p&P. please inform me asap as I shall be away from tomorrow on business.

So I opened a paypal dispute!
If she doesnt respond adequately then I will escalate the dispute to a claim and hopefully get paypal to sort it out!

OOOOh keep us informed - what a cow!!!! (seller)

Message withdrawn

I didnt know you could do that straight away!
I will do it now, thanks!

If you stick the full item code in on the top shop website then if they still sell it you should get a description with colour - that could strengthen your case with paypal (in case they don't know the last digits of the item code indicate the colour). Hope your dispute is upheld - she sounds very unreasonable.

i would leave scathing negative feedback - she can't leave you nasty feedback, then only agree to withdraw the feedback if you get a full refund including all postage.

I won the dispute!

I couldnt resist adding a note in when I returned the suit saying 'Here is your brown suit'

you can't withdraw neg feedback now

I didnt leave negative feedback, I disputed it through paypal

result

i won a karen millen dress which came today ripped around the zip and sip is broken with a lipstick mark on dress have just emailed seller.

i know sorry was just responding to perse

Sorry, thought you were talking to me!