I am an early adopter on all technology products and internet/online shopping of products and services is not new to me. Also, I am aware of the kind of protection customers get on Ebay in developed countries.
Here in India it appears that Ebay is set up to simply create problems once they have the money. I ordered a paint spray gun and after taking 3 days of the supplier asking me questions like "where is Defence Colony", and finally he delivered something at my home which looked like the photos attached.
I had an option - return it, or take it up further. I decided to take it up further in larger interest. You can take a look at the photos. I marked the letter that came with the carton "rcvd a box of Uncle Chipps".
When I got the box x-rayed through a friendly option, I realized that what was inside was just some plastic stuff, which was in a plastic bag, and not even in an original carton. So I asked that the shipment be taken back, as it is which they declined.
Then the fun starts.
I complained to Ebay using the normal channels, and they start interrogating me as though I am the criminal, so I put an end to that. Then I escalated matters to "grievances", where again some champion went through hoops.
So now I am going the full distance and going to complain to the various options open to me with Government of India and Government of USA as well as demand a charge-back.
My take is that my self-respect is worth more than the 2100/- rupees I’ve spent!
Here’s a column I’ve done on the subject.
https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Dehati-Aadmi/entry/online-shopping-in-india
In addition, apart from the chargeback, here’s where anybody can file a complaint with the Department of Consumer Affairs.
https://pgportal.gov.in/Grievance.aspx
I’m also going to complain to Sales Tax, VAT, Excise, Customs and Central Ezcise and also find out if they or their suppliers have EPFO, ESIC and PAN/TAN/TIN numbers.
This is the only way to fix people who are crooks. Take them to the Government of India.
Update on 1st April 2014
14mar’14 - I ordered an airless paint spray gun and paid Rs 2098/- online.
19mar’14 - After much to-and-fro, something in a cardboard carton delivered with "paint zoom" hand written on the side. Had every intention of returning it but then realised, if I dont have even the goods, then may never get my money back. Filed for refund immediately under their so-called refund policy.
19-26mar’14 - Got the run-around from assorted "investigators" claiming to be eBay who then said sorry, no money back, bad luck. Meanwhile I went right ahead and filed for refund, made my complaints to RBI, Ministry for Consumer Affairs, and others.
27mar14 - made a simple request for chargeback with my credit card issuing bank and informed eBay 50/- storage charges w.e.f. today.
28mar’14 - got a reversal of entry from my credit card issuing bank.
30mar’14 - somebody at eBay wakes up and sends me an eMail authorising a repayment! Obviously a back-end cover-up is in position, otherwise how can eBay authorise a repayment when the money is already back in my account?
Now, here are some more factors which I have not disclosed.
1) I got the carton X-Rayed courtesy a friendly location near my house.
2) On being told that what was inside appeared to be a whole lot of paper wadded up around what appeared to be a pre-broken spray gun, I got the carton X-rayed by an even more sophisticated machine which could even tell me how many new staples had been put on the inner carton to make it appear new.
3) Meanwhile, some people from the Dept of Metrology(Weights and Measures) dropped in to take a look at the box as well as the documents. Since there were no documents, that part is off. As for the box, they will pick it up after due documentation on their part along with copy of all eMails and FB / twitter posts.
Dear eBay in India - even a street hawker in India has better morals and ethics than you do.