On June 14th, I followed a FaceBook link selling a 9.8" - 4K Full Touch Screen Streaming Media Dual Lens Rear View Mirror/Dash Cam, and placed my order, using PayPal to pay $59.98USD, which equated to $80.00CAD. I was immediately sent a email, describing the item purchased and confirming that payment had been received. Then, a following email was received saying the item had been shipped.
I received the package on June 28th from CanadaPost. It was labeled from the originating sender, China Post. What I got was a smaller rear view mirror that was NOT full touch screen, but had a 4" partial video screen. Also advertised as "Included" was a cabled separate rear view camera, a GPS Module a 2 sets of different sized mounting straps. As well, the company (Hotrait) showed in their advertising page "Free Gift: 64GB TF Card ONLY TODAY!". NONE of this was included, other than only one set of mounting straps.
I immediately went to the Hotrait.com website and notified Live Chat of the product mixup. I waited for a response... and waited and waited. No response!
Next, I sent a complaint email. No response! I sent a second email, stating that if would continue to be ignored, I would demand a refund through PayPal. No response!
On June 30th, I contacted PayPal and they set up a case for me. The seller was given until July 20th to resolve the issue.
On July 3rd, the seller responded to my complaint made through PayPal, stating:
Dear Customer, We’re sincerely sorry that our product can’t make you satisfied, you can return it to us if you want to. But please pay attention: 1.Please make sure the item and packing is intact. If it can’t meet our requests, we may not refund. 2. And, we only accept DHL or UPS as deliver method. Our return address: 1st floor, <removed>, New Territories, HK 999077
I checked the UPS Shipping Rate Calculator, and it will cost me $190.14 (almost 2.5 times the purchase price) to return the incorrect item!
I wrote back saying that I had purchased the correct item with "Free shipping", and with this being their error, the package needed to be sent back on their account, as I would not pay! That was two days ago, and still NO RESPONSE!
Is there any way to:
1) Have PayPal retract and refund my payment sooner, without giving the seller three weeks to hold onto my money?
2) Put pressure on PayPal to eliminate the PayPal use privilege from sellers suspected of being fraudulent? To return it, I would be out-of-pocket $270, and have absolutely nothing! And would have to trust the company that continually ignores me!
Does anyone here agree that the seller intentionally sends buyers cheaper, incomplete products, knowing that most dissatisfied customers could not be bothered going after a refund, with all the hassles and high costs of using their specified couriers?
Is it possible that I am denied a refund, based on Hotrait not receiving their incorrect/incomplete product return?
