Avoid Being Scammed On Ebay
WAYS TO AVOID BEING SCAMMED ON EBAY
BY EBAY SELLERS:
It is important to remember that eBay is a lot like a marketplace. There will always be a dodgy guy in the corner, selling things that most people wouldn't touch. The trouble is that, on the Internet, these people can be a little harder to spot. Here are ten tips to help you keep an eye out for the rip-off merchants.
1. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is: This holds for everything in life, but especially for eBay. Things that seem too cheap are usually too cheap for a reason - it might be a complete scam, or the items might just be of extremely poor quality. Investigate before you go further.
2. Know the value of what you want to buy: There are people on eBay who regularly bid such high prices for used cameras that they might as well have gone out and bought them brand new. Check around for prices first.
3. Only bid on real things: eBay has plenty of people who are trying to sell all sorts of schemes and scams. It is never worth bidding for these, no matter how cheap they might be.
4. Don't do anything outside eBay: Occasionally people will ask you to send them money outside eBay, to avoid the fees eBay charges sellers. Any money you send this way is entirely insecure - don't do it.
5. Be careful where you send payment: People may hack into others' accounts, and ask you to send payment to addresses that eBay has not confirmed as belonging to that account - you might send your money and receive nothing in return.
6. Look out for sellers who suddenly change what they sell: Sellers can look like they've made lots of transactions, when really they've never sold anything of worth. If they suddenly start selling $1,000 televisions, steer clear - the chances are they're planning to run off with the money.
7. Beware the shill bidder: If someone who doesn't seem to have bought anything before is constantly outbidding you on a certain item, be suspicious. It might be a seller 'shill bidding' to force up his item's price.
8. Don't use the seller's escrow service: If an escrow service is recommended to you by a seller, it could well be owned and run by them - and they're quite likely to keep your money and send you nothing.
9. Pay electronically: You are more likely to be able to recover any losses if you pay using a credit card instead of sending out cheques and money orders - these low-tech payment methods can't be tracked as easily.
10. Buy from reputable sellers: Each seller has a number next to their name, which is their feedback rating. The higher this rating, the more you can trust them.
On that last point, feedback ratings are the most important way that buyers and sellers can protect themselves on eBay - and you, as a buyer, have a rating too! Now that you won't get ripped off, the next email will be all about your rating, and what you can do to make sure people know that you're not going to rip them off either.
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DID YOU BUY A REPLICA BAG AND YOU THOUGHT IT WAS AUTHENTIC??
Already won a
counterfeit
designer item?
Here's some
help!
If you believe you have purchased a fake designer item from an ebay seller, follow this guide step by step. Following this guide will assist you in getting your money back. Please be aware that there is no guarantee you will get a refund, which is why it's so important to do your research and bid carefully beforehand. However, if you follow these steps, you significantly increase your likelihood of getting your money back. No pretty pictures here, just straight up information!
- You must first make certain that your item is indeed fake.
Email the seller and write something like "I received the item and was surprised at the low quality. I did not realize _______ designer's items would be of poor quality. Could you please tell me how you guarantee the authenticity of this item? Where did you purchase it?" If the seller does not guarantee the authenticity of the item, or DOES tell you the item is authentic but you just don't believe them, you need to make certain that the item is fake. There are a lot of "experts" on the Clothing and Vintage Clothing message boards who can help you, but the best thing to do is have the item authenticated by an authorized dealer of that particular brand. Contact information for some companies is provided at the bottom of the page.
- Once you have verified that your item is fake, email the seller first and ask for a refund. Give them the opportunity to make it right.
Email the seller is a nice, non-accusatory tone. Tell them you have verified that your item is fake, and how you verified this. Tell them why you know the item is fake, so the seller knows that you know what you're talking about. Here is an example: "I am writing to tell you that I will be returning the Kate Spade purse I bought. I have verified that the purse is counterfeit. I verified this by calling Kate Spade customer service, which told me that Kate Spade has never produced a purse with a cherry print. Please write back so we can solve this in an expedient and professional manner."
- If the seller offers a refund, there are a few things you need to do before you send the item back.
Generally speaking, your seller will tell you to return the item before they issue a refund. That's fine. You just need to do a few things first. If you have not done so already, print out a copy of the auction page (hopefully the pictures will still be on it.) Snap a couple of photos of the item. If possible, take a close-up picture of the label or the feature that ensures it's a fake. This is for your protection, so you can prove later (if you need to) that you indeed received a fake item. Third, send your item back with signature confirmation. Make the seller sign for the return so that they can't later claim you never sent the bag back. If you then get your refund, you can stop here!
- If the seller does not offer a refund, or received your return but neglects to send the refund, the first question is how you paid. If you paid by paypal, you must file a fraud claim within thirty days by going through Paypal.
File your claim as soon as possible. Paypal does not normally get involved in disputes of authenticity; their buyer protection program is primarily for non-shipment unless the seller has a Paypal buyer protection icon on their auction. It is often more effective to deal with your credit card company or bank directly. This is why you need to file your Paypal claim early, so that if it is denied, you have time to go to your credit card or bank. If you paid with a credit card using either paypal, billpoint, or another online payment service, call your credit card company and discuss your options for a chargeback with them.
Each credit card company and bank is different so I cannot give specific advice as to how to proceed with your company. Just get in touch with them! - File a claim with eBay's Safeharbor. You can only do this between 10 and 60 days after the auction has ended.
First, if you truly have received a counterfeit item, you are eligible to file a fraud claim with eBay. You can email them at cswebform@ebay.com if you cant find the form on ebay.A couple of things to keep in mind: first, there is a $25 deductable on the insurance, and a maximum claim of $200. That means, if your successful claim is for $50, you will receive $25. If your successful claim is for $400, you will receive $175. Second, in order to prove your claim, you may need documentation that the item is fake. If you didn't get documentation before, now is the time. Contact the company and find out how you can get an item authenticated. Depending on what brand you have, you may be able to take it into a store and get a letter, or you may have to send the item to the corporate office.
- Remember, ebay is not a law enforcement agency.
Do not assume that you will get your money back because you have filed a claim with Safe Harbor. Ebay is not a law enforcement agency; although your fraud claim with Safe Harbor can be effective, you should not rely on them. First of all, understand that selling counterfeit items is a crime. You are eligible to file a claim for mail fraud with the U.S. Postal Service. If a seller accepts payment for a counterfeit item and sends it to you through the U.S. Mail or a private carrier such as UPS or FedEx (or you sent the payment through the U.S. Mail) the seller may have committed mail fraud. Be sure to read all of the instructions on these fraud reporting forms to make sure you qualify. (Tip: if you mail the item back to the seller, it is NOT mail fraud. Mail fraud is a scheme to defraud - to cause a counterfeit item to enter interstate commerce through the U.S. Mail. Mailing it back for a refund does not qualify.)
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HERE is more help>>> Coach Counterfeits Hotline: 1-800-396-1807
Counterfeits Email: lawdepartment@coach.com .... Fendi: No US customer service appears to be available for Fendi. Try calling your closest Fendi boutique or take your bag to a Neiman Marcus or Saks. Gucci: Customer Service Number: 800-234-8224 .... Kate Spade Customer Service: 1-800-519-3778........ Louis Vuitton: Louis Vuitton NA, Inc., 19 East 57th St., New York, NY 10022
1-866-VUITTON ..........Prada: No US customer service appears to be available for Prada. Try calling the closest Prada boutique or taking your bag to a Neiman Marcus or Saks.
Ralph Lauren: 1-888-475-7674
CustomerSupport@polo.comRolex: 1-800-36-ROLEX
Tiffany: 1-800-843-3269
>>>>I am not responsible if any of the above info changes since web info can change daily with other sites. Thank you.<<<<