Paypal ask me to return the item to seller at my own cost, but the cost exceeds the refund value

[nikolacm]

Ordered the item from a facebook ad. Paid with Paypal. Later on I found out that the seller fooled many buyers like me and sent the item which looked nothing like the item he was advertising, and of a lot less value. I tried to cancel my order but one of the seller's e-mails was non existent, or on the other (provided by paypal) he did not reply to my emails. After some time I also received the item that was nothing like the one advertised and of maximum third of the value I paid. I opened a dispute in the Paypal resolution center. 

Now Paypal is asking me to return the item to the seller at my own cost to China to receive the refund!! The cost of returning the item from my country to China is more than the refund value, and a lot more than the item is actually worth!!! Paypal gives me only two options to respond to this claim. One is to cancel the claim and the other is to return the item and provide tracking number. 

Since this seller is obviously committing fraud in this elaborate scheme, he is counting not sending the item back, and Paypal is of no help, and is obviously on the side of the seller for who they must have numerous complaints. Plus the seller has provided the address to return the item in Chinese!!! No one here can read Chinese and the post office does not know exactly where to send it! In any case I am loosing money for sure, whether I return the item at my own cost or don't return the item and don't get the refund.

Is there any chance I can get my refund without returning the item? I am prepared to provide any evidence that the seller is a fraud and that the item he sent me has nothing to do with the item he advertised. 

Please help.

[chrifer]

I'm in the same boat... trying to track down a contact number now, but shipping back with tracking # costs double the sales price of goods... I'm happy to return goods, but not at my own expense (untracked shipment is about 50% of goods, which is 'more in reach', but still unacceptable and doesnt guarantee any refund). I was given a partial product (2 of 4 pcs) in a set, and now it looks like I can either pay full price for what I have, and buy missing peices at full price again on top (suggested by seller)... or pay double to give everything back and have nothing. "Buyer protection" my **bleep** PayPal >.>... hopefully I can have more luck on the phone assuming I find a reasonable human to speak too. Tip for PayPal if they read this: One thing that might help the Resolute Center would be an option to dispute/reply to the proposed resolution to open communication with seller again, but having PayPal as an arbitrator this time.

[Docworm]

I also had this problem. In my case it was a poster that ended up being printed from a blown up thumbnail picture that was stolen from another website and sold as a poster. It even had the other seller’s watermark obnoxiously across the front. I’m supposed to send this thing back to Vietnam. But I’m fairly certain that PayPal is participating in copyright infringement- so I’m planning to send it instead to the copyright holder and report PayPal to a government authority. I have no patience for crime.

[JPru71030]

I have the same issue. The seller even admitted they sent an item not matching the description and PayPal only has the canned response. No way I am paying return shipping on an item sent by a scam dealer.

[Rkitty]

Called PayPal and the agent kept giving me the same runaround: send the item back and will refund up to $30 for the shipment. So i still have to pay up front for the shipment, which may or may not be received by the seller since it’sa foreign address which I’m now questioning its legitimacy. He said he was the account specialist and that’s the only thing they can do so there was “no point” to speak to anyone else about the issue. “Cannot” give details about the fraudulent department other than they investigate this issue.

[Hails65]

I got done by some Chinese moron. Asked to send item back with tracking number. Yay, paypal gives me an address in fricking chinese. What the hell. Can't call them as I tried last night not realising they were closed. Apparently you are given a one time number. I've used it. I'm fuming. Paypal are the worse to deal with...absolutely know it's a scam site but couldn't care less.

they should be brought down. Scums!!!!

[wofarid]

I recently saw a facebook ad for a back to the future II, levitating delorean. Clicking the ad took me to a online shop website (hsunday) website which used photos and video of the exact same one made by 'Kids Logic' that retails for around $350USD. This was selling for $75USD. I thought that this was too good to be true but there was the option to pay with paypal so I took a considered risk having had a good experience with dispute resolution via paypal in the past. What I received was a cheap BTTF delorean replica that was clearly different in the standard of craftsmanship/detail, size, and did not levitate or have any electronic lighting as seen with the Kids Logic one (as advertised). The one received resembles others that retail for ~$25USD. Of course the original advertisement had been removed. I emailed the seller (buyeasyservice) and insisted on receiving the correct product or a 100% refund. The seller offered a 10% discount in response to this so I opened a paypal dispute as this clearly was a scam.

After providing further information about how this was a scam, Paypal made the judgement that a full refund be awarded, after the product is posted back to the seller. I attempted to call Paypal to voice the sense of injustice of me having to lose money on postage costs given the malicious intent of the seller but the automated phone service did not appear to have a means to speak with a representative from paypal. I eventually worked out that a message could be posted to a representative online using the 'Help & Contact' link at the bottom of Paypal's webpage. I received a reply suggesting that I utilise paypal's shipping return reimbursement service. 

I shipped the item back to China, received a shipping reimbursement from paypal and a full refund returned to me by paypal. It was a drawn out process that took 3 whole months but paypal upheld their policy of buyer protection. I feel that they morally bankrupt seller should not have had the right to receive the item back when it was clear that they had set out to scam people from the start, but that's paypal's prerogative as to whether they enable this behaviour. I hope this account of my experience helps others to recuperate their losses from online scams when using paypal.

[1966Fl0wer]

I too am currently in the nightmare loop. Item was brought 2nd June, arrived August 21st. Wrong, used and very late even with the pandemic. Couldn't upload photos, waited 1 month for decision, to return at my cost, to a Chinese address to await refund. Given 1 week to do this or case closed in there favour!! Flipping terrible awful customer service. Really not happy!!

[Lemloo61]

I am experiencing this same issue (as apparently numerous other PayPal customers are experiencing).  This is beyond frustrating!  I am extremely disappointed in the response from PayPal to resolve this matter!

[Lemloo61]

I am happy to report that although PayPal denied my dispute claim, PayPal Credit came through and refunded my full purchase amount.  Thank you PayPal Credit!  I learned a valuable lesson and sadly even though this was ultimately resolved in my favor it is unlikely I will ever use PayPal for a purchase.  And I will absolutely never order anything from a seller in China!

[Lemloo61]

Well the resolution was short lived. Now PayPal has determined the transaction was valid based on additional information from the MERCHANT! Ha! I can't imagine what information that could be - probably fraudulent as well. So my refund was reversed and now I am back to having to pay for the JUNK that was sent to me. PayPal sides with the SCAMMERS and not the CUSTOMER. "PayPal purchase refund 100% guaranteed"...yeah, right.