How to legally send a Mobile Phone back to HK ?

lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 19:11
Last edited 04/11/2014 - 10:22

I bought a 'New' phone during the 15% eBay sale. The seal on the phone was broken and the seller had inserted an Australia wall adapter inside my phone box.

Also, I suspect they have inserted a damaged phone because the Screen has streaks across it and is unusable. PayPal has ruled that I need to pay for postage back to HK.
http://i.imgur.com/s1SldoV.jpg

Australia Post does not allow transport of lithium ion batteries overseas.
The courier DHL charges $125 for send the phone to Hong Kong.

How would you deal with this situation ?

Link to the orginal eBay listing: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/271511396061
sold by: smartphone_wholesale

Electrical & Electronics

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Comments

  • scrimshaw on 03/11/2014 - 19:14

    Try Pack and Send

    http://www.packsend.com.au/

    FedEx and TNT are also alternatives.

    • lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 19:24

      Thanks for that suggestion Scrimshaw, after typing in the details of my package, the price of delivery comes to $53 which is the best I've seen so far :)

  • Unorthodox on 03/11/2014 - 19:20

    New never used or brand new?

    Some phone sellers based overseas will add/replace the wall adaptor depending on the final destination. (This is beneficial to most customers).

    I know Kogan turns on phones for set up and if you bought a OPO then it may be flashed when Cyanogen…

    Tell paypal you cannot send back with battery due to AUS post rules

    • lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 19:29

      Listed on eBay as Item condition:Brand New

      I must admit it was beneficial they added the Australian wall adapter but I would have liked them to include it on the outside of my phone's box so I know the phone is actually Brand New.

      I've talked to PayPal and they were the one's the suggested DHL courier, which costs an arm and a leg to send.

  • lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 19:34

    After more careful inspection the battery in my phone has swollen up like a balloon. I don't think any courier is willing to ship in defective Lithium Ion battery.

    • scrimshaw on 03/11/2014 - 19:39

      Ahh the dreaded swollen battery issue. You're extremely unlucky to get a phone with one of those.
      The battery itself might have damaged the phone and caused your green screen issue.

      I wonder if the battery was swelled while it was being shipped by air in the plane's cargo hold… luckily it didn't explode when you turned your phone on!

      Samsung is apparently replacing batteries, they will only replace certain serial numbers. I don't believe a proof of purchase is required to claim a battery.
      http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2170485

      Contact the seller and explain the battery has swollen (attach photos). Ship the phone WITHOUT the battery, this will make it cheaper too!

      • lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 20:08

        I've taken a photo of the battery and will now contact the seller. Thanks for doing the research Scrimshaw, I didn't know how dangerous it was.

  • akyeeeahdude on 03/11/2014 - 19:36

    Have you tried http://www.interparcel.com.au/

    • lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 20:11

      That's an awesome website for comparing courier options. It appears UPS is the cheapest option at $45.05.

      As I will be shipping the phone without the defective battery, I will most likely use Australia Post. Which works out to be $20 with tracking.

      • Randxyz123 on 04/11/2014 - 10:16

        Make sure you add insurance ana signature on delivery as well so the seller can't claim they didn't get it

  • lolofied on 03/11/2014 - 22:07

    $500 for an S4?

    Dayum.

    • lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 22:10

      At the time of the sale, it was just over $300

  • StewBalls on 03/11/2014 - 23:03

    Name of the seller to avoid: smartphone_wholesale

    Damn dude, I feel for you; I just got my Lumia 920 off them, even though I had no dramas, your story is some scary stuff!!!

    • lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 23:16

      You dodged a bullet StewBalls. The phone took over a month to arrive and since then I've been dealing with PayPal and now couriers.

    • scrimshaw on 04/11/2014 - 00:27
      +1

      These guys used to be called "CellphoneForever" They have been operating for several years now but under different names.

      There is a Facebook page against them. Looks like they are a bit dodgy.

      This guy on Youtube received an empty box from them

      Another problem which is similar to yours, refurb cell sold as new

      And a lot of complaints on this site

      It's very likely you actually got a refurbed device that has been repaired with non-genuine parts (hence the battery swelling, and the dodgy screen). Its likely even the charger that came with your device may be cheap knockoff. If it is, you should probably think about retaining photographic evidence and reporting them to eBay for selling counterfeit products.

  • Logical on 03/11/2014 - 23:20
    +1

    Why did paypal rule that you must pay for postage back? You received a defective phone and so all costs to be covered by seller.

    • lakers1222 on 03/11/2014 - 23:32

      I think its logical that the seller should pay for the return charges too.
      After reading some threads on whirlpool, it's common that PayPal makes the buyer pay for return postage even if the item is covered under warranty.

      • Logical on 03/11/2014 - 23:38

        Can you not lodge a dispute with paypal as well? I have previously got money back for return post as I said it is not my problem that I got a defective item. Now you will be throwing more good money after bad. So will you get a full refund or a replacement phone?

  • lakers1222 on 04/11/2014 - 06:19

    I did start a PayPal dispute. And they ruled that I will get a refund but I have to pay return postage. Paypal doesn't give me an option to appeal their decision.

    Now it's up to me to
    - send back the phone with tracking number
    - OR cancel the dispute and keep a bricked phone

    I think PayPal makes the buyer pay for return postage so dodgy buyers don't claim DOA on every item they have buyers remorse on.
    - of course this means the actual buyers who receive a DOA item will need to fork out extra cash :(

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