China Bait and Switch Scam

FriendlyGiant
Contributor
Contributor

Happy New Year All

After seeing an advertisement on internet for Twisted Car (Christmas Offer| Gesture sensing Stunt Remote Control Car, I thought I would have a look. The controls where worn on hand and activated the car moving them forward back and side to side doing crazy stuff. I purchased the cars and paid for shipping from the Shaco Store according to the invoice -SKU: HX1900162KCCH, as I felt assured that the seller was reputable seeing that PayPal was attached as a payment method. The seller’s info from PayPal is Swopply Technology Co.,Ltd and in another place the name kassadin.store appears.

When the cars finally arrived, they were not even close to what was advertised. I contacted PayPal and launched a claim in the resolution center. Emails start back and forth with PayPal as the go between. The seller agreed to take back the items and I was instructed by PayPal to ship items back and get a tracking number and receipt for return shipment, the parcel needed to be back by a certain date approx. 15 days, the shipping out too longer than that. I tried using our account at work to ship with other services but I will only post Canada Post’s charges of $96.37, as they were the most reasonable. This amount to return items that cost $34.97. PayPal did offer to help out with return shipping with an offer of $30.00. Do the math? If I ship back the items and even get my money back, PayPal kicks in 30 bucks, it would still have cost me an additional $31.40 and I end up with nothing but heartache… HMMM…. now it is making sense. What a scam. Thinking about this if 10,000 people like me purchased these items and tried (stressed tried) to return them, most that have a brain would just forget about it and take the lost. I sent PayPal a message stating I was not going to provide a tracking number and someone from PayPal may want to call me about this. Long story short , I called them, went through how things went down between the seller and myself and was told that PayPal does not Vet (investigate) the seller that any scam artist can set up shop (not quite the language) there you have it this seller probably just made $349,700.00 for what likely cost the a quarter of that amount after looking at the items they sent instead of what was ordered., clear profit $262,275.00.  Thinking I may need to move to china and start up a business…. Don’t know what do you think.  Additionally, I made another purchase 3 or 4 days later, ☹ oH oH the same seller, when that item arrived, BINGO same thing not what was ordered, same run around, send item back, tracking number, by a certain date. Another call to the poor person at PayPal who patiently listening to me harp away, and try as they may cannot really do anything other than tag the issue and bring it to the attention of his/her superior. All to which I as the buyer will never be informed of what happens to the seller when things like this go on. BEWARE FRIENDS DON’T BUY FROM CHINA would be my suggestion.

As for PayPal, I fully understand that they have done all they can to return things to square one for me, I still feel the company has a lot to offer for sellers and buyers alike. I agree there is really nothing they can do about dishonest seller’s wishing to bait and switch items I hopes that buyer will not spend more good money to recoup bad. I do feel that PayPal could be more open with the PayPal community as a whole and publish what happens to wayward sellers that obviously don’t give a hoot about ethics. So buyers like myself can check to see if a seller is legit or not before a purchase is made… Open to your thoughts.

Login to Me Too
65 REPLIES 65

Chinas
Contributor
Contributor
I am cancelling my pay pal account ! They are part of this scam, bait and switch fraud from China ! So disgusting
Login to Me Too

FriendlyGiant
Contributor
Contributor

I did post on this issue before and have talked directly to PayPal on the photos issue. If we the buyer is required to take pictures of what we are returning, then PayPal should make it mandatory the seller do the same thing. A simple photo of the item you purchased including the the SKU number be sent to the buyer and PayPal as confirmation that the deal is not a a bait and switch company. What I got from the rep on the phone was it sounded like a good idea and management ( that the more expensive bots) will take a look at the possibility of doing this. Unlikely to happen as even my interactions with the rep on the phone was not a worthwhile endeavor. The rep is restrained by company policies and confidentiality agreement, quite sure they get more calls then they let on about, as they really just wish to talk about your individual case. This is the part of the whole endeavor that **bleep** me off, this protects the seller which PayPal knows is ripping off customers and PayPal does nothing to help prevent case such as these, that makes them culpable in this action.

Login to Me Too

Chinas
Contributor
Contributor
I bought a foldable kayak and received the paddle instead , I also purchased 2 leaf reusable face mask and I received 10 cheap disposable ones I’ve been with PayPal for over 15 years and I will close my account with them I’m really angry with PayPal - so disgusting and disappointing
Login to Me Too

Cjzzz17
Contributor
Contributor
I am currently going through this (different product) I wasn’t aware that the company was based in China as they listed a California address on their site (package received was posted from CA). I used my PayPal balance to pay for both orders I placed thinking they would have my back like my credit cards do, apparently not. Buyer protection policy means nothing as long as the scammer/seller lies and tells them they’ll refund but it’s either outrageously expensive or a ridiculous partial refund or credit.
Login to Me Too

Blondenblue
Contributor
Contributor

Paypal is terrible.  They will not help you and if you magically get a live human they will make sure it does not happen twice.  Paypal is a scam and the only reason that I ever used them was for the consumer protection.  That is a lie and I have deleted all of my bank accounts and will not use Paypal in future except on message boards to tell them and others that I will not be Paypal's fool again.   i am still out shipping they had offered to reimburse since they would not refund anything unless i returned and the china company received it and marked it return to sender.   Paypal promised to track the package but then closed my dispute and will not reopen.  I will never use Paypal for another purchase.

 

Please be aware:  Facebook has many ads from the china company that is selling false products and cheap knockoffs.  You really have to dig to find out they are not legit.  I personally have started blocking anything I THINK is a china based company on my facebook account and reporting them.  The latest china ripoffs involve "Yellowstone".  Clothing and shoes using images from the Yellowstone series to sell cheap products from china that do not match the pictures or the descriptions.  Please be aware that this is continuing and share this information with your friends and family.

Login to Me Too

Cjzzz17
Contributor
Contributor
I am currently going through this (different product) I wasn’t aware that the company was based in China as they listed a California address on their site (package received was posted from CA). I used my PayPal balance to pay for both orders I placed thinking they would have my back like my credit cards do, apparently not. Buyer protection policy means nothing as long as the scammer/seller lies and tells them they’ll refund but it’s either outrageously expensive or a ridiculous partial refund or credit. These scammers have found a way to make PayPal a part of their scam not only to gain the trust and fair of consumers but then to back them up in their clearly deceptive requests for eligibility of a refund. Is PayPal getting a kickback or something why else would they turn a blind eye to the facts!
Login to Me Too

9517Lisa
Contributor
Contributor
Me too. I am experiencing this right now. Pay pal has been little to no help. I think that they should drop any sellar that is participating in bait and switch practices
Login to Me Too

MsMac56
Contributor
Contributor

I empathize with you on the loss.  I just chalked it up to the school of hard knocks.  I will buy nothing from China online.  Even Amazon has many Chinese sellers.  And, usually the projected delivery date is the clue.  If I accidentally order something that adjusts the delivery date, I go right in and cancel the order.  These companies have figured out that PayPal doesn't handle disputes with a live human, and are using this flaw to rip off buyers.  

Login to Me Too

9517Lisa
Contributor
Contributor
I might eventually get there. But right now I'm doing everything in my power to turn this situation in. Bait and switch is a crime and if pay pal is allowing this and not doing anything about it then they are complicit. It sounds like there is enough of us that this has happened to That it is a real problem.
Login to Me Too

MsMac56
Contributor
Contributor

If you find a way to contact a human on this issue, please tell us all so we can follow your lead.  

 

Thank you.

Login to Me Too

Haven't Found your Answer?

It happens. Hit the "Login to Ask the community" button to create a question for the PayPal community.