How would you handle this deceptive Amazon seller?

tangytangerine

tangytangerine

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Purchased a used DVD(Pumpkin Scissors Season 1, part 2) from a seller on Amazon's marketplace earlier this week. Which I get the DVD this morning and it's a damn chinese/hk bootleg.

I contacted the seller stating it's an obvious bootleg and wanting a refund. I get an email back a couple hours later saying to put the disc back in the envelope, tape it up, write "return to sender" and send it back for a refund. Which causes two problems for me. One is he's wanting me to commit mail fraud by repackaging it and then sending it back. The other is also shipping a counterfeit item in the mail, which is illegal by federal law.

Looking at their feedback, most of it seems positive. Although if you dig deep enough, you'll see every so often that there is negative feedback about defective or bootleg discs. So it's not their first time. For those wondering what seller this is, so they can avoid a possible bootleg. The seller is listed as "alwaysgreatproducts" in WA on Amazon's marketplace.

At this point I don't know how to handle it. I'm wondering if I should just wait until I can file an A-to-Z claim or try something else?
BTW, I took a couple pics of what I received.
This is what I received:
bootleg002_zpsb0d41902.jpg

bootleg001_zpsf0b54785.jpg

and this is what I should've received(found this image searching online):
PumpkinScissors02_zpsb30e09a1.jpg

Kinda obvious that it's a bootleg, isn't it?
 
[quote name='donut']Call amazon[/QUOTE]

Tried twice and both times they told me to take it up with the seller. Which the seller doesn't seem to give a damn.
 
Definitely call or email Amazon. Amazon normally holds your funds in limbo and does not distribute them immediately to sellers who are not "fulfilled by Amazon". If you contact Amazon soon enough, you can receive your funds back before he ever gets his greedy hands on them. Also, make sure to tell them what he told you to do to mail it back.

They are very fast on email response. I always take care of any issues through email. As a seller myself, I can tell you that the way the system works, the buyer has the right of way, so to speak.
 
[quote name='tangytangerine']Tried twice and both times they told me to take it up with the seller. Which the seller doesn't seem to give a damn.[/QUOTE]

I have a hard time believing this about a bootleg.
But assuming this is true, be persistent and ask to talk to a supervisor.
Go ahead and leave the seller negative feedback and mention the bootleg issue (you can always delete the feedback) It will give you extra leverage.
 
Tried a third time and they said they'll allow me to file an A-to-Z claim early. Also got an email from the seller while talking to Amazon CS stating the same thing they said in the email this afternoon about sending it back taped up. Amazon didn't seem to care about the bit where he's wanting me to tape up the package to send back either.

So I have to wait until Jan. 23rd for Amazon to rule in my favor. It's been so long since I've had to do one of these. But, if the seller refunds before the claim is closed(or can the seller refund?), I can drop it, right?

[quote name='donut']I have a hard time believing this about a bootleg.[/QUOTE]

How so? Is it some crappy Hong Kong release? Because my PC is saying it's all region, even though the disc won't access the main menu or play any episodes. The box states japanese audio w/ chinese & english subs and has no bar code on the packaging.
 
[quote name='tangytangerine']Tried a third time and they said they'll allow me to file an A-to-Z claim early. Also got an email from the seller while talking to Amazon CS stating the same thing they said in the email this afternoon about sending it back taped up. Amazon didn't seem to care about the bit where he's wanting me to tape up the package to send back either.

So I have to wait until Jan. 23rd for Amazon to rule in my favor. It's been so long since I've had to do one of these. But, if the seller refunds before the claim is closed(or can the seller refund?), I can drop it, right?

Yes, you can just close your claim, but I would still leave feedback about the bootleg (it's a fact and the seller needs to cease right away)



How so? Is it some crappy Hong Kong release? Because my PC is saying it's all region, even though the disc won't access the main menu or play any episodes. The box states japanese audio w/ chinese & english subs and has no bar code on the packaging.[/QUOTE]

Sorry, I had a hard time believing Amazon just blew you off 2x after receiving a bootleg.
Again, I've found with Amazon you have to be persistent with your issue.
Sadly, a huge amount of the call in staff is in India and they need extra info/guidance. You may even have to educate them how serious it is to mail a bootleg in the US... I doubt this is in their procedural manual....

I received a bootleg once and basically went for the jugular with the seller right away... received a 100% refund within an hour....
 
Finally got to access the files through the PC. According to the files, there's on 2 episodes on each disc(of what's supposed to be a 12 episode set). None of the episode even match the U.S. release(4, 6, 8, 11 instead of 13-24).

Also reported them to Funimation(the publisher), who has already told me they're forwarding it to their legal department. So hopefully their legal department will be looking into how many exactly bootlegs of their products this seller has been selling.

[quote name='donut']Sorry, I had a hard time believing Amazon just blew you off 2x after receiving a bootleg.

I received a bootleg once and basically went for the jugular with the seller right away... received a 100% refund within an hour....[/QUOTE]

First two times were by email & chat. The one on chat seemed busy as they kept as asking if there was anything else as they had other customers to take care of while I explained the situation.

What would the best way to word a response to the seller to try to get them to give a refund before Amazon finishes the claim?
 
[quote name='tangytangerine']Finally got to access the files through the PC. According to the files, there's on 2 episodes on each disc(of what's supposed to be a 12 episode set). None of the episode even match the U.S. release(4, 6, 8, 11 instead of 13-24).

Also reported them to Funimation(the publisher), who has already told me they're forwarding it to their legal department. So hopefully their legal department will be looking into how many exactly bootlegs of their products this seller has been selling.



First two times were by email & chat. The one on chat seemed busy as they kept as asking if there was anything else as they had other customers to take care of while I explained the situation.

What would the best way to word a response to the seller to try to get them to give a refund before Amazon finishes the claim?[/QUOTE]

Hmmm can't remember what I wrote (happened a couple years ago) -
Something like

On 12/31/2012 I ordered and paid for the XXX DVD set.
On 1/7/12 I received the item.
You sent a bootleg through the US Mail which is against more than one US law.
I will give you until the 11th to respond.
100% refund is expected.
 
[quote name='donut']Hmmm can't remember what I wrote (happened a couple years ago) -
Something like

On 12/31/2012 I ordered and paid for the XXX DVD set.
On 1/7/12 I received the item.
You sent a bootleg through the US Mail which is against more than one US law.
I will give you until the 11th to respond.
100% refund is expected.[/QUOTE]

Thanks, sent an email similar to that(including a part about mail fraud). Hopefully that will scare them enough to get this over with quickly.
 
Have you considered the possibility the seller picked up the item somewhere (thrift store, yard sale, etc.) not knowing it was a bootleg and thought they sold you a legit copy? You could have just told them you would pay to return it properly and expect a full refund plus the cost of your return shipping.

If that's all communicated through the Amazon messages you should be protected.

I'm just saying you don't have to assume he's a scumbag and maybe just oblivious.

As someone who sells I would prefer the benefit of the doubt, that's all.
 
There are a lot of bootlegs out there, I don't know about this seller, maybe he bought some stock and didn't know about it but who really knows. The few times I've received bootlegs the sellers always give me a refund and tell me to throw it away.
 
[quote name='GoldFly']Have you considered the possibility the seller picked up the item somewhere (thrift store, yard sale, etc.) not knowing it was a bootleg and thought they sold you a legit copy? You could have just told them you would pay to return it properly and expect a full refund plus the cost of your return shipping.

If that's all communicated through the Amazon messages you should be protected.

I'm just saying you don't have to assume he's a scumbag and maybe just oblivious.

As someone who sells I would prefer the benefit of the doubt, that's all.[/QUOTE]

I will say that that is a pretty cool looking case for a bootleg - I expected to see a DVDR with sharpie on the cover.
 
Any particular reason it HAS to be shipped back in the original package? If you are going to pay shipping anyway, unless Amazon sends you a pre-paid label, why not use a new mailer?
 
[quote name='DNukem170']Any particular reason it HAS to be shipped back in the original package? If you are going to pay shipping anyway, unless Amazon sends you a pre-paid label, why not use a new mailer?[/QUOTE]

The gist is that the seller is asking him to put it back in the original package and write 'return to sender' so that there is no return shipping.
 
Amazon's already closed the claim, ruled in my favor & refunded the money. I guess after contacting CS last night about him mentioning the returning in the original packaging and sending a bootleg in the mail stuff. Then emailing the photos to their claims department helped speed it up.

The seller never did reply back after the 2 emails saying to send it back in original packaging.

[quote name='2supekards']Just curious, how do you know its a bootlag, can you post a link to the original product link? [/QUOTE]

Can't find the 1 site I saw it on at the moment, since I had to word the search strangely to find the listing(I'll repost it when I can find it). But considering the discs contain 2 episodes each and are out of order(ep. 4, 6, 8 & 11) pretty much tells that it's not a legit release.

[quote name='thelonepig']The gist is that the seller is asking him to put it back in the original package and write 'return to sender' so that there is no return shipping.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, after the first email I asked if I had to pay shipping and he gave the same response just saying to ship it back in the original packaging & writing return to sender.

[quote name='GoldFly']Have you considered the possibility the seller picked up the item somewhere (thrift store, yard sale, etc.) not knowing it was a bootleg and thought they sold you a legit copy? [/QUOTE]

Yeah, but it would be pure laziness on their part if that was true. It takes about 30 seconds to fully realize it's not what should be listed. It shouldn't be listed for the north american release, due to the box art being in chinese. Then checking the discs would raise flags for anyone about a legit release.
 
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I'm surprised they didn't do that in the first place... Amazon has long had the policy that "the buyer is always right".

I remember one CAG getting screwed badly by Amazon. It was something along the lines of him selling an item and the buyer claiming it wasn't as described. The CAG said he'd do a return for refund (which was reasonable) but the buyer wanted to keep the item and get his money back. The CAG said no. The buyer then filed with Amazon, won, and got his money back and got to keep the item.
 
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