Hmmm, a moral (or financial) dilemma

[lalalonglegs]

I bought an item on ebay last week, it arrived very promptly but was an obvious fake (first time this has ever happened to me in many years of enthusiastic ebaying). I wrote to the vendor saying that I wanted to return it, listing reasons I didn't think it was genuine and they promptly replied saying, yes, I could return it and they would refund once they had received it and I had left positive feedback.

Obviously I'm a bit about this but, having re-read the listing very, very closely, it doesn't claim to be the genuine thing. So I am worried that (a) if I do what they ask then that is unfair on other ebayers and might compromise me if they don't refund and I try to take it up with ebay (b) that because it didn't explicitly claim to be genuine, although it was implied, that I won't be able to dispute it with paypal/ebay.

Thoughts anyone?

I don't think they can ask you to put up positive feedback before refunding you, as it's your right to say what you think.

Also, if they give the impression it's genuine, that's good enough to complain when it's not imo.

I would leave a 'positive' feedback but say something like: "Wasn't quite what was expected but seller was pleasant and refunded quickly" That would cover the truth wouldn't it? I read through the feedbacks, even the positives, when I'm buying stuff so I would pick up on this if I was to potentially buy something from them.

Report them to ebay. They are blackmailing you!

simply return to them by trackable post and await your refund. If they don't refund you then open a dispute and give paypal the tracking number - you will then get a refund

would tell ebay...its not on and makes me wonder if they have had this happen before hence insisting on positive feedback first?

If it's fake you don't have to send it back. You need an independants report stating it's fake.