Opinions...what would you do??

[Makeup Emporium]

First I have to start by saying that I have had quite a few trades, purchases and sales with some very lovely women here on Specktra!

With that said however I find myself in a bit of a situation with my latest purchase.

I bought multiple items from a seller including 4 lipsticks. Before I paid I asked if they were new and never used or tested and was told yes they were new. So I went ahead and paid. I get the lipsticks and all 4 have been used/tested. You can clearly see brush marks on the lipsticks from where they were tested. You can also see that a couple of them no longer have the crisp edge on the top of the lipstick but are slightly rounded over from use.

I contacted the seller as soon as I got them and was told that the lipsticks are not used...that was it. I then emailed back and said that they in fact were used and that I did not want them. I was then told that I could mail them back for a full refund. I said OK fine I will do that but you (being the seller) also need to cover the return shipping charges. I specifically asked if they were new, was told yes and they are used. Why should I be out of pocket to return lipsticks that are not in the condition I was told they were? I was told no that I would get a refund for the lipsticks when they were returned but nothing else...WHAT???? Why should I be out the return shipping cost?

For any ladies living in Canada you know that it is going to cost me $13+ to ship these back to the US via a shipping method that has tracking. I obviously want tracking as I want to be able to see when they get there. I know it's not a ton of money but it's the principle. Why should I have to pay when I wasn't told the truth about the condition of the products?

I have absolutely no reason to lie; I want these lipsticks (I just want them new not used). They were shipped, along with some other items, via a shipping method that had no tracking. If I wanted to be dishonest I could simply have said that the package never arrived and I would get a full refund for the entire purchase through PayPal. But I didn't. I was honest and upfront and this is what happens. The other items in the package were as described so I only have an issue with the lipsticks.

So (finally) my question is to you ladies and gents...what would you do? Do I file a PayPal claim to make sure I also get my shipping charges back as well? I think I would have to file anyway as even if I did just mail them back then who's to say I'd actually even get a refund?

Let me know your thoughts! I know this (or something similar) must have happened to other people out there!! THANKS!!

 

[gildedangel]

File for the shipping charges through Paypal as well. Paypal should transfer the funds as this was obviously false advertising. Be sure to take pictures and such in case you are asked for them. Good luck getting the shipping charges paid for!

 

[Modmom]

I'm so sorry you're in this dilemma.

I would file through paypal too, although Paypal doesn't always make the best decisions. I had a friend who sold a wedding dress, the buyer wanted it as a halloween costume. The buyer received it, cut into it, THEn tried it on and realized it didn't fit. Paypal and Ebay ruled in favor of the BUYER and my friend had to refund the money after receiving back the cut up wedding gown.

Ok, that was really off topic, sorry.

I just had a thought. If you like the colors, how about suggesting to the seller she give you a discount for them being used? This way you won't have to incur any cost to ship (I live in Canada and I agree our shipping is ridiculous). You can sanitize them and use them. Might be a good solution, unless you were buying them to resell them.

 

[Makeup Emporium]

^^^Sorry to hear about your friend... that's terrible and certainly worse than 4 lipsticks!

The problem is the seller continues to state that they are new dispite what I have told her. The lipsticks actually are not for me that is why I made sure to ask if they were new. If they were for me I would simply sanitize and use them.

 

[Modmom]

Oh man, that's so aggravating. No, I don't think you should be out shipping costs. Your only choice is a paypal dispute. Keep us posted how it goes.

 

[Makeup Emporium]

Took your advice everyone and filed a claim. Thanks also to the lovely people who have pm'd me their support and shared their stories.

 

[shatteredshards]

What a shame, that the seller still continues to deny that they are used. New lipsticks don't get brush marks in them by magic.

SNAD, that simple, and the seller should have to pay all shipping fees. I hope this gets worked out soon.

 

[LMD84]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makeup Emporium ^^^Sorry to hear about your friend... that's terrible and certainly worse than 4 lipsticks! The problem is the seller continues to state that they are new dispite what I have told her. The lipsticks actually are not for me that is why I made sure to ask if they were new. If they were for me I would simply sanitize and use them.

have you sent her pictures of the lipsticks with the brush marks? surely she could then see that they are not new. maybe she sold them as new because she forgot she tested them or something.... who knows.

if she doesn't respond to the pictures i would then file a claim with paypal and get the return shipping claimed for as well. goodluck.

 

[Makeup Emporium]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMD84 have you sent her pictures of the lipsticks with the brush marks? surely she could then see that they are not new. maybe she sold them as new because she forgot she tested them or something.... who knows.

Her words to me were that they were never used or tested when they left from her. In other words she thinks I tested them and now want to send them back. Why on earth I would go through all this trouble just to do that is beyond me. If I want to test a lipstick I have 8+ locations that are within a half hour drive that I could go to. Much easier than this!! So I don't think pictures will matter although I am taking them for the PP claim anyway.

 

[LMD84]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makeup Emporium Her words to me were that they were never used or tested when they left from her. In other words she thinks I tested them and now want to send them back. Why on earth I would go through all this trouble just to do that is beyond me. If I want to test a lipstick I have 8+ locations that are within a half hour drive that I could go to. Much easier than this!! So I don't think pictures will matter although I am taking them for the PP claim anyway.

oohh yes of course! that never occurred to me that she'd say you made the brush marks. well i do hope you sort it out soon hun. it sucks when you get a bad experiance.

 

[Cinci]

I'm glad to hear you filed a paypal claim! It's so frustrating when a seller is dishonest and you feel like there is nothing you can do! Especially with Canada Post's rates! It always makes me think twice about taking chances with online shopping because it is so expensive to return things! Good luck!

 

[MizzTropical]

Add photo proof of her description and the used lipsticks, take a screen shot of her sale post. You should be able to upload any files to support ur claim on Paypal! They usually leave it up to the seller to decide on refunding return shipping $$$ though, so mention the high cost to paypal also. I think it's part of their rules that the buyer pays return shipping. Make sure the return package has tracking to confirm she gets it back too.

Good luck, I hope it works out 4 u.

I got sold a brand new knock-off dress b4(not on this site) and luckily the seller agreed to give me my return shipping money back, paypal was not going to make them. I think they were scared cause I threatened it was illegal to sell me a counterfit designer item though. Just stay in contact with ur seller and try to work it out.

 

[rbella]

I think it is good that you filed the paypal claim. You might also send this information to Holstrom4. It is good to give admin a heads up of disputes. Good luck and I'm sorry this is happening to you.

 

[Makeup Emporium]

Well just so you all know PP was no help. I filed the claim and this was their response...

"Our investigation into your claim is complete. As stated in our User Agreement, the claims process only applies to the shipment of goods. It does not apply to complaints about the attributes or quality of goods received. Therefore, we are unable to reverse this transaction or issue a refund."

So in other words if it is not bought on EBay then buyer beware!! I am not going to pay $13+ to ship back 4 used lipsticks and then HOPE that I get a refund. The seller is obviously not truthful so I don't trust her to do the right thing as she obviously doesn't care. It's really a shame that people are so ignorant. Oh well let's hope that kharma comes back around.

So what I am going to do is just add them to my sale thread at the same price I bought them at and hope someone wants them. Of course I WILL be truthful about the condition and say they have been tested!

Thanks for listening!!!

 

[queli13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Modmom I'm so sorry you're in this dilemma. I would file through paypal too, although Paypal doesn't always make the best decisions. I had a friend who sold a wedding dress, the buyer wanted it as a halloween costume. The buyer received it, cut into it, THEn tried it on and realized it didn't fit. Paypal and Ebay ruled in favor of the BUYER and my friend had to refund the money after receiving back the cut up wedding gown. Ok, that was really off topic, sorry. I just had a thought. If you like the colors, how about suggesting to the seller she give you a discount for them being used? This way you won't have to incur any cost to ship (I live in Canada and I agree our shipping is ridiculous). You can sanitize them and use them. Might be a good solution, unless you were buying them to resell them.

wow... that's crazy... also, i agree with this idea, unless you have a problem with used lippies...

 

[queli13]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Makeup Emporium ^^^Sorry to hear about your friend... that's terrible and certainly worse than 4 lipsticks! The problem is the seller continues to state that they are new dispite what I have told her. The lipsticks actually are not for me that is why I made sure to ask if they were new. If they were for me I would simply sanitize and use them.

oops, didn't read this

 

[MizzTropical]

I'm surprised paypal didn't grant ur refund! They usually always side with the buyer and then the seller doesn't get the refund taken back until the item is delivered, so its fair.

That's weird.

 

[LMD84]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzTropical I'm surprised paypal didn't grant ur refund! They usually always side with the buyer and then the seller doesn't get the refund taken back until the item is delivered, so its fair. That's weird. You changed my mind about selling/buying here. I guess ebay is safer as far as refunds go.

please don't be put off! there is always one bad egg mixed in with the good sellers. most people don't have problems on here and buying / swapping is a safe place. ebay is bad for buying cosmetics because you could end up with fakes - whereas here it's 99.9% of the time authentic items

 

[Cinci]

aww that's really too bad.. Very disapointing of paypal, IMO.

 

[Makeup Emporium]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MizzTropical I'm surprised paypal didn't grant ur refund! They usually always side with the buyer and then the seller doesn't get the refund taken back until the item is delivered, so its fair. That's weird. You changed my mind about selling/buying here. I guess ebay is safer as far as refunds go.

There are some great sellers on here so don't be discouraged. I bought more that 10 packages over the last few weeks and most of them have been great! As with any place there are always issues and people who are not truthful. The vast majority of people here are great to deal with.

I think I am just having a run of bad luck.

It happens.