Boring and self-indulgent question about my Ebay transaction

[Enid]

Apologies in advance.

I bought a pair of jeans from someone from Ebay and when they arrived the inside back label had been slashed. There was no mention of this on the listing and the photo of the jeans didn't look as though the label was slashed.

I feel cross as the jeans were supposed to be a present for my sister and to me, a slashed label means that the jeans are seconds.

I contacted the seller and she assured me that the jeans aren't seconds, but that she bought them from the States and they slash labels there to prevent refunds.

Don't really know whether this is true or not, but whatever, there was no mention of this on the listing and I want a refund! She flatly refuses.

What do you think?

Why would the original shop be trying to prevent a refund if the item is perfect?

The story about US shops doing that sounds like balls to me.

Can you go through ebay's complaint system thingumy?

With ebay I think the policy is 'buyer beware' in that unless you ask something specifically you have no comeback.

I say this since I sold an item on ebay which was fine (a pram) but for some reason it broke after a couple of days. I couldn't see what I was supposed to do, and tried to find out where it could be repaired, but in the end there wasn't much I could do. I have a sneaky feeling she hadn't 'locked' the wheels so it collapsed when used.

But I could never have asked in advance as I had no idea that shops cut labels. The photo looks fine and she (by her own admission) 'forgot' to add it to her listing.

It does sound weird about US shops doing it doesnt it?

I have bought things in the States in the past and they dont do it. Maybe she bought the jeans from Ebay in the states and they cut labels then??

Her emails are really rude and patronising as well. I don't want to have to give negative feedback as I hate it. But do you think I have a valid cause for complaint?

Labels have to be cut on items that are being sold by someone other than the company they were made for if they are brand new. It is the law I'm afraid.

But all imperfections should be on the listing (as I understood the rules).

Enid - have you threatened to give negative feedback - sellers are usually v scared of this.

Well, thats cleared that up. But shouldn't she have mentioned that on her listing?

But hold on, WHY would a pair of Earl Jeans be being sold by someone other than Earl if they weren't seconds?

I did say 'before I leave feedback, can you confirm that you will not refund my money' and she got very cross and told me that it wasnt good Ebaying practice to use the threat of negative feedback as leverage to get what you want.

I told you she was patronising

they usually are seconds if the label has been cut, or had originally been sold in a factory outlet store (very popular in States) Likely they are seconds or 'last season's goods'.
I would complain.

Did the listing say "as new" ?

i didnt think you were allowed to threaten negs

The listing said Brand New with Tags.

Well whats the point of being able to leave negative feedback at all if you can't use it to protest about something that you think is dodgy? Its the only comeback you have as a buyer.

I probably just wont leave any feedback at all tbh.

hana - have to disagree, they aren't necessarily seconds or even last season. They can actually be 'what is left at the factory' when the original order has been dipatched to the buyer as factories often over produce - there are lots of people who then buy up the stuff cheaply to sell on, but have to cut the label or get fined (it's something like £7k per garment in this country).

I don't think that there is much you can complain about apart from the fact she didn't say about the cut. Could you just leave neutral feedback???

Ebay rules i think, not promising though. If she wont refund you could always sell them on.
I sell stuff on ebay and i have sold worn Next kids clothes that have that red mark on them that means they were brought in the sale. I dont put it in the description because its the clothes and not the tag you are buying but as your jeans said they were BNWT i would expect a little leeway with the seller.
As it really should have been mentioned in the listing for the exact reason that you have, brought new for someone else who wouldnt expect a dodgy tag.
I think you have a right to give her a Neg as she should give you a refund if your not happy. Theres a non performing seller thing which means you could complain about her to ebay.
Look on the Q and A pages or ask there what they think.
The time its took me to write this youll have had a refund!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You have the option of a neutral feedback too remember - in the past I have ended up doing this and have had it done to me where things couldn't be resolved amicably.

In the circumstances - her advertising as brand new with tags - I would say you do have cause for complaint. BNWT implies absolutely as brand new, and if I was buying for a present I would trust that description.

To me she should send you the refund and just relist. She can get the final-value fee refunded from ebay anyway if the transaction goes wrong.

I don't think you really threatened negative feedback - merely tried to find out where you stand.

Good luck and hope you get it sorted. and don't be intimidated by nasty emails - I have had some unbelievable ones in the past who have tried to get away with allsorts.
ebays advice is to only leave negative feedback if you have tried everything possible to resolve it - and I would say you have.

just be warned though she will probably just negative you back - V annoying!

Theres no way she's giving me a refund unless I can prove they are faulty.

Looks like she assumed more knowledge than I had! And its annoying as if I give them as a present, my sister will SO assume that they are seconds.

And they dont fit me

I think I'll leave neutral feedback. She has already left me positive feedback - bets she wished she hadnt now!!

Does anyone know if you can reregister on ebay ?I have been left loads of negative feedback when my computer went down and would really like to start over. Any tips ?

You might be able to. They are doing more checks on ebay members now and i think you need a credit card to register. Could you do it initially in your dp/dh s name and then add your name as a second one?
And if your pc goes down again in the middle of a transaction you can always go to a library, the nets free from there and you could access your ebay account.

mothernature1 - I think you could get a new ebay account like this: create a new "pay as you go" internet service provider account (something like freeserve no ties ) to get a new email address. You don't have to enter a credit card number to register on ebay as long as your email address is from an Internet Service Provider (AOL, freeserve, etc.), company, school, or organization.
So register on ebay with this new email address and you should be fine...it might be a good idea to change your name slightly too, eg initial if you used you full name last time. You are all going to think I am sooooo dodgy The reason I know this though, is because I wanted a seperate account from dh, and we usually use the same email address, and somebody suggested we do this. For all I know there is an easier way...

Oh, and don't forget to make sure your computer is dialling up your original Internet Service Provider. You can even delete the connection to the No-ties one (or whatever you choose)

Our local second hand shop gets goods with slashed labels from Atmosphere, Miss Sixty and Boden
These are slashed expressly to prevent refunds, as the price of the goods when sold or given to teh 2nd hand shop is zero or nearby, to then claim the original price is not fair to the trader and compromises future donations to charities etc
The goods are the last of the last of unsold out of season stock.
I have bought these goods before and found them to be fine.
But I would have mentioned it as an Ebay seller definitely
xx

Hiya Enid

Just to try and clear this up, I am both a frequent buyer and seller on e-bay and have been for quite a long time.

If the buyer states 'Brand new with tags' then that is what you should get.

She should have stated in description that the tags have been removed to prevent refund, and also whether they are seconds or not, if you can prove they are seconds then you can report them to e-bay, false advertising is not taken lightly and they will be warned to change their descriptions in future.

Tags being removed however does not mean they are seconds, I buy items with the tags removed from wholesales and all this means is that the goods are not in season, classed as out of fashion (as we all know fashions change so fast) or that size, colour or style are not very good sellers. However I can and do buy items with the swing labels attached, and by law I am obliged to remove them.

If I was in your position I would leave neutral feedback basically saying whether you were happy with the goods or not and why.

I personally don't sell seconds, but do sell items that are made by Gap but have another name in it, I ALWAYS put they are made by gap the label says 'another name' which is another branch.

Hope this helps