Returning a Phone to a Dodgy eBay Seller

Indomie5 on 02/04/2021 - 17:43
Last edited 02/04/2021 - 18:19 by 1 other user

Hi Guys,

Hope I can get some advice.

I brought an iPhone 12 128GB from 3 sons on eBay, buyer states it's an Australian stock in ads, but sent out a Japanese version iPhone (confirmed with Apple care).

I contacted them and they said it might be their dispatch team error, after research and found these guys are a dodgy seller(https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/331875), I've offered them 10% refund of the purchase price $1429( $142.90) if I keep the phone or full refund if I return the phone. They rejected and offered $30 partial refund (their maximum offer) as a goodwill gesture to resolve the issue. They are saying I can change the language if I have language issues with the phone and ask me to go to them if I need to claim warranty. After some back and forth, they keep asking me to send back the phone first, they will try their best to resolve the issue, of course I rejected as no agreement reached.

I have reported to eBay, NSW fair trading, ACCC and ACMA

After I spoken to eBay and submitted return item, now they asked me to send it back to them, once they receive the device and check no physical damage(in the condition as they sent), then they will process a full refund.

I'm worrying that they will made something up and not giving full refund.

What should I do? Please help ><

*** For anyone looking for a new phone, stay away from these guys !

Mobile

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Comments

  • pegaxs on 02/04/2021 - 17:45
    +3

    You forgot to report them to ACA…

    • Indomie5 on 02/04/2021 - 17:48
      +1

      thanks, will check and report

      • Indomie5 on 02/04/2021 - 17:49
        -2

        association of counsellors and psychotherapists?

        • upended on 02/04/2021 - 17:53
          +1

          😂
          A Current Affair (ACA)

  • brendanm on 02/04/2021 - 17:50
    +2

    So many canine sellers these days, how do dogs even get an ABN?

    On topic, why even bother with them? Make a PayPal claim as item not as described, return with no penalty.

    • Indomie5 on 02/04/2021 - 18:00

      I paid with gift card credit card

      • brendanm on 02/04/2021 - 18:07
        +7

        That was silly. Just go through with eBay's returns process then. If any issues, actually call them. In future, use PayPal, funded by an actual credit card. Also, don't buy Apple products off eBay.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/04/2021 - 17:57

    Payed peanuts buyer beware.

  • avoidfullprice on 02/04/2021 - 18:08
    +1

    Snoop Dodgy Dog seller

  • mapax on 02/04/2021 - 18:16

    Woof!

  • CrushJelly on 02/04/2021 - 18:19
    +3

    Take photos of the phone when packing it into the box. Take photos of the box when packaging it ready for sending. Take photos of parcel as it is being picked up.

    Submit photos to eBay as evidence of returning the device in the same condition that you received it.

    That will give you your best chances that the seller won't try anything "doggy". No one likes to get dogged.

    • Indomie5 on 02/04/2021 - 19:09

      that's what I thought

      • Love a bargain on 03/04/2021 - 13:23

        I'd go a step further and suggest that you record the whole process - starting with a walk through of the device, showing that it's working/ no damage/ etc, to packing and sealing the package. Then take a photo of the package when you drop it off at the post office counter.

        • TilacVIP on 04/04/2021 - 09:09

          I agree in what you are saying, but that does in no way prove that the package you drop off at the post office is the actual item you recorded at home. I guess its better than nothing but not sure how much that helps in the end.

  • deme on 02/04/2021 - 18:27

    Before anyone says "it's the same phone" it's not. Apple burns efuses to designate if phones are sold in certain markets. Japan is one of them for its mandatory shutter sound.

    • modsec802 on 03/04/2021 - 08:57

      Because of upskirting?

      • Indomie5 on 03/04/2021 - 21:11

        yes, that's the reason

  • Ocker on 02/04/2021 - 18:43

    Based on OP's post it could be argued that technically there is no reason for complaint.
    If the phone was posted from Australia then it meets the description of Australian stock. The listing did not say it was an Australian version?

    • deme on 02/04/2021 - 18:58
      +2

      No one thinks this is reasonable.

      Same reason you can't sell a photo of an Xbox for $700 because you put it's a photo into tiny prints down the bottom.

      It being a Japanese version is clearly material to the sale, you can't just omit this.

      • Ocker on 02/04/2021 - 19:02
        -1

        Where did I say or imply it was reasonable????
        I merely said that technically the listing is correct - the stock is in Australia.
        eBay would also decline a claim on the basis INAD

        • deme on 02/04/2021 - 19:05
          +1

          I merely said that technically the listing is correct - the stock is in Australia.
          eBay would also decline a claim on the basis INAD

          If you bought an iPhone from Apple and they sent you a Japanese version.

          Are you going roll over because they didn't say it wasn't a Japanese version?

      • Indomie5 on 02/04/2021 - 19:11

        this is the listing —> https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Apple-iPhone-12-64-128-256GB-6-1…

        • upended on 02/04/2021 - 19:17
          +3

          Just checked the link. At the bottom of the listing, it says "Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct."

          • deme on 03/04/2021 - 11:59

            @upended: Yeah so that ain't going to fly.

            I can't put on my listing no refunds becuase that's an offence.

            Same with selling a product and trying to wiggle out of the description being correct.

  • Hithere on 02/04/2021 - 18:44

    If they are dodgy they'll either deny receiving the phone or will say there's nothing wrong with it and you'll have to pay return postage and who knows what they'll send you back.

    It could be your phone or even a rock. You may never hear from the seller again.

    Open a case with eBay 'item not as described' (INAD) and let eBay follow up on the issue. Don't send the phone back until eBay tell you to.

    • Indomie5 on 02/04/2021 - 19:23

      exactly ~

      I've contacted ebay today again, those 3 doggy sons has provided prepaid return label, but I have had a bad experience returning item to seller, I brought an item and it wasn't as described, so I contacted ebay and opened a case, ebay asked me to send it back to them, afterward I can claim for return postage from seller, after that, seller refused to pay for return postage and I contacted eBay again, they said they was only advice, not taking any responsibility and asked me to take it to small claim tribunal, so I'm worrying should I take their word

      https://ibb.co/82zwfT7

      here's the prepaid label

      • dins on 03/04/2021 - 04:29

        Was that the return label you received once you opened the case? If so there shouldn't be any issues.

        All you need is a return tracking number and eBay/PayPal will always refund the buyer once it's delivered no questions asked, even if it isn't the same item. I have first hand experience of that having had to deal with a couple of scammy buyers.

        If the seller was to claim that what they received was not the same as what was sent then they'll have to provide a signed stat dec. So as long as you return the same item (take video of the phone working and you packing it up just to be on the safe side) you should be fine.

        • Indomie5 on 03/04/2021 - 21:06

          It was sent before the case opened

          • dins on 09/04/2021 - 00:01

            @Indomie5: Then probably best not to use it. When you open the case make sure you select defective so the seller has to pay the return postage costs. From there you should be able to print out a return label at no cost to you.

      • avoidfullprice on 04/04/2021 - 09:49

        Those dodgy doggy seller with returned items! * Fist in air *

  • StraightGuy on 02/04/2021 - 18:59

    As an ebay seller (I sell other products, not phones) I would suggest you to take ebay in confidence before returning the phone. You can also escalate the case to ebay. Ebay will refund you fully if you have opened the claim as received faulty item or item not as described. Ebay will only issue refund once the item has been received back by the seller and I would suggest you to select signature on delivery add-on.

    • Ocker on 02/04/2021 - 19:05

      I state again, for a INAD to be successful the item received would need to differ from the description in the listing. If the listing does not state it is an Australian model, just stocked in Australia then sadly the buyer will have no case.

      • deme on 02/04/2021 - 19:12
        +1

        Can you stop spreading fud

        https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/10293043/redir

      • StraightGuy on 02/04/2021 - 19:14

        Correct.

        • deme on 03/04/2021 - 11:59

          Dolt

      • brendanm on 02/04/2021 - 20:44
        +4

        A reasonable person would assume that au stock implies an au phone, unless expressly stated otherwise.

        Why don't people just buy these sorts of things from legitimate retailers instead of trying to save $10 on a $1400 phone, by buying through some dodgy brothers (excuse the pun) seller on eBay, which is now the standard marketplace for bottom feeders and scammers.

        • Roddo007 on 03/04/2021 - 21:31

          I totally agreed with what you said. The way I see it, if you can afford to pay for an expensive phone, why worry about a few extra dollars from a doggy seller. These sellers try to reduce the costs of the phone by going through a third party to cover warranty of the phone, not through apple.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 02/04/2021 - 19:04
    +1

    Always use PayPal where possible.

    • Indomie5 on 02/04/2021 - 19:28

      will not buy from 3rd party seller again ><

      • Hithere on 02/04/2021 - 19:49
        +3

        I wouldn't be spending my money with any seller with a crappy 97.9% Positive feedback.

  • Hithere on 02/04/2021 - 19:26

    No way of knowing if seller dropshipped the phone from elsewhere and then repacked and posted it to OP and claimed it was Australian stock.

    It wouldn't be the first time that has happened.

  • GOCAT9 on 03/04/2021 - 20:18

    It’s clear to me that this is not an Australian version iPhone and that it is some offshore model, in this case Japan. The clue is in the phone’s specifications as published on the seller’s eBay page.

    The Australian version iPhones do not currently have 5G sub6 mmWave capability as stated in the listing. So this makes it a non-Australian version!! Doesn’t everybody know that?

    • Ramrunner on 13/04/2021 - 18:58

      I hope that's a rhetorical question.

  • OzHunterNSW on 05/04/2021 - 10:30

    Send it back as Item Not Described.

    This is why all payments should be conducted via PayPal.

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