Was Sent Fake DS game on Ebay - Now What?

[wingzrow]

Well the game I got recently was fake, ive already excalated it to a claim since they haven't responded on paypal. Is there anything else I can do? If they don't respond in 7 days on the paypal dispute I automatically get a refund from paypal right?

[joshnickerson]

I'm not sure, since you did TECHNICALLY receive the product, you're probably gonna have to check out the Paypal user agreement for those kinds of details. It's also completely possible the seller didn't know it was a bootleg... I've actually seen a few bootlegs in the used display at Gamestop... some people just don't notice the difference.

Fake GBA and DS games are rampant on eBay. You should always question the seller if they're selling a cart only game with a stock photo. Super low prices - such as $10 for Electroplankton - are a warning sign as well. And if the seller is from Hong Kong... just forget about it.

[Nebagram]

I just don't bother buying GBA, DS or PSP games off ebay, it's not worth the hassle any more.

Not much help, I know, but still something to consider.

[megasdkirby]

And if the seller is from Hong Kong... just forget about it.

I follow this too. I notice that when it's from Hong Kong, the majority of the time is fake.

[ryborg]

Well the game I got recently was fake, ive already excalated it to a claim since they haven't responded on paypal. Is there anything else I can do? If they don't respond in 7 days on the paypal dispute I automatically get a refund from paypal right?

What kind of claim? Not as Described? In that case, in order to get any money back, you will have to send the game back, with a delivery confirmation code to prove it's been returned. This is only if the seller responds, however, and the seller has closer to three weeks to respond, not seven days.

[wingzrow]

What kind of claim? Not as Described? In that case, in order to get any money back, you will have to send the game back, with a delivery confirmation code to prove it's been returned. This is only if the seller responds, however, and the seller has closer to three weeks to respond, not seven days.

Well it's designed to be impossible for me to get my money back. If I try and send it back to hong kong it takes more than the 10 days they say it needs to be returned in. In addition, the cost of sending it to hong kong and then tracking it all the way there eats up whatever refund I would get money wise. From now on I never order ds games from hong kong, lesson learned I suppose.

[ryborg]

From now on I never order ds games from hong kong, lesson learned I suppose.

Not just Hong Kong, all of Asia unfortunately, unless it's a trusted seller you know. Make sure you neg the seller at least with a comment that lets other know that he sells bootleg junk.

[badinsults]

I'm sure that selling illegal bootlegs go against ebay's rules. Shouldn't you get your money back?

[Diosoth]

You can forget a legal claim since he's a foreign seller.

Hope for Paypal to refund you, but their customer service sucks, so don't hold your breath.

I don't know what game you bought or what you paid, so I can't really advise you beyond that.

[Joe West]

the only is your going too get your money back is.....if you paid by credit card, you can file a charge back claim...with your credit card company....& long as your sure its a FAKE.......................if you paid by paypal..............a lost effort................

[Fuyukaze]

Wouldnt hurt letting us know who this seller is. Just in case anyone should come upon one of their auctions thinking it's a good deal.

Also, you've done about as much as you can at this point. Most pirate dealers I've experienced or seen often times give refunds just to shut the buyer up. It's not as if they are out any real money so giving someone their $$ back and a free game is often times viewed as a much cheaper alternative to drawing too much attention. They could play dumb though and pretend you'll just go away on your own. Either way, I wouldnt send anything back untill you've got a refund unless required to. If the seller tells you to, dont. They've already shown themselves not to be trustworthy. If paypal or ebay requires it, then make sure to require THEY pay shipping and send it the only way that can be tracked. By EMS.

[ryborg]

I'm sure that selling illegal bootlegs go against ebay's rules. Shouldn't you get your money back?

Nope. If ebay didn't pull the auction and you made the purchase, ebay/Paypal will be of no help. Even if you have 100% documented proof the item is a fake, they still make you mail it back, with proof of delivery, before they process your refund.

Ebay is truly awful when it comes to fighting bootleggers, which is why they got sued last year and will probably be successfully sued again. Ebay makes an absolute fortune in listing fees and FVFs off of bootleg items. They won't do a thing to stop bootleg DS gear unless Nintendo of America puts a ton of pressure on them.


If paypal or ebay requires it, then make sure to require THEY pay shipping and send it the only way that can be tracked. By EMS.

What? The buyer can't REQUIRE the seller do anything. If the buyer wants a refund, the buyer has to pay for shipping and prove delivery happened.

[Fuyukaze]

Nope. If ebay didn't pull the auction and you made the purchase, ebay/Paypal will be of no help. Even if you have 100% documented proof the item is a fake, they still make you mail it back, with proof of delivery, before they process your refund.

Ebay is truly awful when it comes to fighting bootleggers, which is why they got sued last year and will probably be successfully sued again. Ebay makes an absolute fortune in listing fees and FVFs off of bootleg items. They won't do a thing to stop bootleg DS gear unless Nintendo of America puts a ton of pressure on them.



What? The buyer can't REQUIRE the seller do anything. If the buyer wants a refund, the buyer has to pay for shipping and prove delivery happened.

Buyers do have rights still. They can REQUIRE the seller sell them the stuff they list. The BUYER doesnt have to accept pirated goods described as legit items. I think you've misunderstood what I said.

[Diosoth]

Ebay constantly pulls listings for devices that will let you play IMPORT games, because the game companies whined, yet bootlegs aren't even their concern...

[ryborg]

Buyers do have rights still. They can REQUIRE the seller sell them the stuff they list. The BUYER doesnt have to accept pirated goods described as legit items. I think you've misunderstood what I said.

I understood you fine. It doesn't matter what "rights" buyers have if ebay/Paypal don't enforce them. Yes, of course a buyer should be able to easily win a dispute when they receive a bootleg item instead of a legit one, but that's not the system in place on ebay.

[Fuyukaze]

I understood you fine. It doesn't matter what "rights" buyers have if ebay/Paypal don't enforce them. Yes, of course a buyer should be able to easily win a dispute when they receive a bootleg item instead of a legit one, but that's not the system in place on ebay.

Sometimes ebay slips up and does the right thing. More often then not, they dont. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained. I agree that the system in place with ebay often time fails its members though. I'm still surprised anyone sells games on it anymore.

[skaar]

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=p3907.m38.l1313&_nkw=professor+layton&_sacat=See-All-Categories

I noticed the flood of bootlegs recently - especially on high demand/good titles.

I mean, look at that. That's why I still don't own a copy.

[fishsandwich]

Wouldnt hurt letting us know who this seller is. Just in case anyone should come upon one of their auctions thinking it's a good deal.

Indeed, what's his seller ID?

I once single-handedly shut down a new seller based out of Hong Kong. They had just started up their business and spent a lot of time on their shop, setting up policies with all sorts of fancy scrolling graphics and lots of good/rare sealed GBA games. They also loaded up lots of real PICTURES. That was their problem... many of the games were obviously fakes. The font for the text that runs down the left side of all NTSC GBA games was completely, utterly wrong, not even CLOSE. Some of the box art was really, really fuzzy, too, like they had grabbed a picture of a photograph of a real game on Ebay and then just cropped it and used it for the box art. The little ebay camera icon was even on a couple. Really, really unprofessional stuff mixed in with a few decent efforts.

I bought a game and then e-mailed all the winners of all the auctions that had just ended and told them they had bought fakes and urged them to not pay and to report it to Ebay (this was before Ebay tightened up their rules on contacting people).

The seller sent me an e-mail saying that all his games came from "legitimate sources" and that if I did not stop contacting his clients he would contact the FBI. I was very, very scared.

I got an e-mail a few days later from Ebay saying that the seller had been booted off Ebay and that I should not pay for anything.

I'm sure they just set up a new store with better pics but I felt like I struck a (small) blow for all the parents and collectors who get screwed by phonies.

Some of you will disapprove of this kind of sabateur activity. I make no excuses or apologizes. I hate fakes.

[ryborg]

Indeed, what's his seller ID?


Don'e buy from glasseskitty, was sent a fake copy of pokemon platinum and currently fighting to get my money back.



Some of you will disapprove of this kind of sabateur activity. I make no excuses or apologizes. I hate fakes.

Absolutely not. Fight the power!