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dmitchell15 · Sep 25th, 2009, 10:44 PM

Okay ladies (and gents), I bought a NWOT eel skin handbag for $32.00 shipped. It has two outside pockets. One of them is a button and the other is a zipper. The zipper pocket doesn't work. Like the zipper closes half way and then the other half stays open. In addition, the listing says it comes from a smoke free home. Well, guess what (sarcasm)? It smells horribly like cigarette smoke. Now, I realize the smoke smell will leave once I put some dryer sheets on the inside and air out the bag. I emailed the seller about the zipper part (no response just yet). I want to keep the bag, but my question is should I file a SNAD (asking for a partial refund) if the seller doesn't respond? I mean I can live without the zipper not working (as it is not noticeable), but I'm annoyed by the smell and the lie about NWOT part. I wished they would have disclosed all of that in the listing.

As a side question: can an alteration store fix the zipper?

dmitchell15 · Sep 25th, 2009, 10:46 PM

oh, I forgot to mention, the bad thing about it...is that I won this handbag on a best offer type auction. I offered and the seller accepted. I surely hope they don't think I'm trying to lower the price. I'm an honest seller (on Amazon) and buyer (everywhere else) with 100% feedback on both. I just believe in disclosing everything when listing something.

Coach10619 · Sep 26th, 2009, 02:03 AM

I don't know much about off ebay transactions but, I did want to let you know that,
I have taken purses to my local shoe repair shop for zipper repairs and they have always done an excellent job. My local shop uses YKK brand zippers but, if there is another brand of zipper that you prefer, I'm sure you could always ask.

Originally Posted by dmitchell15

As a side question: can an alteration store fix the zipper?

dmitchell15 · Sep 26th, 2009, 05:36 AM

^^ This isn't an off ebay transaction. I bought this purse under a buy it now/best offer auction on Ebay.

Thank you about the alteration tidbit. I think I may do that because a new zipper would be great.

hotshot · Sep 26th, 2009, 09:33 AM

I would let the seller know about the zipper. If you could check what the cost would

be to have the repair done, you could let your seller know that as well.

If you decide to return the bag, the seller would have to repair the bag before they

relisted it or they could relist it and mention the zipper is broken.

They might be inclined to compensate you for the repair otherwise you could return

and get your money back.

dmitchell15 · Sep 26th, 2009, 10:32 AM

^^ Okay, I emailed the seller yesterday and I have not received a response. I will call the alteration store and see how much it will cost for the zipper to be repaired on the handbag. I want to keep the bag, but I want to get the zipper repaired. I think since the seller said the handbag was "new, never displayed" , then they should pay for the repair of the zipper. I don't really want to return the handbag. I guess I'll see what happens.

print*model · Sep 26th, 2009, 10:47 AM

I've had bags that get stuck zippers sometimes. I've always used a little WD-40. Put a little on the tip of a Q-tip and run the zipper back and forth. That has always worked for me.

You could try to file a SNAD but the seller is not obligated to offer you a partial refund. They may just ask for you to send the bag back though they really should have disclosed the fact that the zipper sticks. Good luck!

dmitchell15 · Sep 26th, 2009, 11:00 AM

^^ The zipper doesn't stick, you can zip it all the way, it just doesn't close. I hope that makes sense. So, I should let it go and get if fix then? I just believe in honesty as both a seller and buyer. I don't think this seller was very honest. I would not recommend buying from them. Okay, so what kind of feedback do I leave? Neutral or negative? I mean they said it comes from a smoke free house. It doesn't. They said it was NWOT, it isn't. So, what kind of feedback would you leave? Neutral or negative?

print*model · Sep 26th, 2009, 12:15 PM

^^^ Oh. I understand what you are saying about the zipper. LOL! Sorry. LOL! Yeah, WD-40 certainly will not help in this case.

If you love the bag, maybe file a dispute thru eBay and see if the seller would consider giving you a partial refund for the repair. If they refuse, I would send the bag back and get my refund thru eBay/PayPal. As regards the feedback, it would depend on how cooperative the seller is. It sounds like you really like the bag despite the broken zipper and smell of smoke. If your seller is willing to pay for the repair, I don't see any reason not to leave a positive. However, I would mention that the bag arrived damaged and the seller refunded for the repair just to let other potential buyers know that there is a chance they may not initially get what they pay for when they buy from this seller.

Good luck!

karmenzsofia · Sep 26th, 2009, 01:40 PM

You got a broken bag that reeks. I would SNAD it, but you seem to want to keep it, plus it would cost to send it back. Yet, I would feel deceived by the seller, and that's sooo not cool. If the seller is not willing to issue a partial refund to pay for the zipper repair, would you still keep the bag?

As to feedback, it will depend on how the seller reacts to your email. Maybe she'll work with you, maybe she'll totally blow your off or accuse you of trying to scam her for a partial. Right? So I would wait and see what happens. In any case, I would be honest with the feedback because that's the only way for prospective buyers to know what they're getting into with a seller.

dmitchell15 · Sep 26th, 2009, 03:06 PM

^^ So I haven't received a response to my original email. I think I will open a claim for paypal and see about a partial refund for the repair of the zipper. If the seller is not cooperative, then I will return the handbag for a full refund. About how much does it cost to get the zipper repaired? Like $10.00?

deekai · Sep 26th, 2009, 03:14 PM

Originally Posted by dmitchell15

^^ So I haven't received a response to my original email. I think I will open a claim for paypal and see about a partial refund for the repair of the zipper. If the seller is not cooperative, then I will return the handbag for a full refund. About how much does it cost to get the zipper repaired? Like $10.00?

Don't know for a broken zipper on a handbag, but it costs more than that for a pair pants zipper.

dmitchell15 · Sep 26th, 2009, 03:15 PM

Okay, so I went to file a dispute with the seller on paypal. and I get this message:

End Communication and Escalate to a Claim

Your seller is currently unable to respond to this dispute. By escalating your dispute to a claim, you are asking PayPal to review the case and decide the outcome.

PayPal will review the transaction details and may contact you for additional information. We will make every effort to resolve this claim within 30 days.

PayPal will review your communication with the seller and may contact you for additional information. We'll make every effort to reach a decision within 30 days.

Do I need to go on and escalate to a claim?

dmitchell15 · Sep 26th, 2009, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by deekai

Don't know for a broken zipper on a handbag, but it costs more than that for a pair pants zipper.

really? Then I'll need to call the alteration store then. Thank you.

lightpinkdaisy · Sep 26th, 2009, 03:27 PM

If you decide to keep the bag, before sending it to repair, try to place pliers on each side of the zipper pull (if it is metal, not plastic) and push gently. It does the trick for me most of the time. Just make sure you are keeping the bag as there is a chance the zip pull may break if you try too hard.
But personally, I would return the bag if it is not as described.
Good luck!

Sep 25th, 2009, 10:44 PM	#1
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748	NWOT Eel Skin Handbag...with broken zipper Okay ladies (and gents), I bought a NWOT eel skin handbag for $32.00 shipped. It has two outside pockets. One of them is a button and the other is a zipper. The zipper pocket doesn't work. Like the zipper closes half way and then the other half stays open. In addition, the listing says it comes from a smoke free home. Well, guess what (sarcasm)? It smells horribly like cigarette smoke. Now, I realize the smoke smell will leave once I put some dryer sheets on the inside and air out the bag. I emailed the seller about the zipper part (no response just yet). I want to keep the bag, but my question is should I file a SNAD (asking for a partial refund) if the seller doesn't respond? I mean I can live without the zipper not working (as it is not noticeable), but I'm annoyed by the smell and the lie about NWOT part. I wished they would have disclosed all of that in the listing. As a side question: can an alteration store fix the zipper?
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748

Sep 25th, 2009, 10:46 PM	#2
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748	oh, I forgot to mention, the bad thing about it...is that I won this handbag on a best offer type auction. I offered and the seller accepted. I surely hope they don't think I'm trying to lower the price. I'm an honest seller (on Amazon) and buyer (everywhere else) with 100% feedback on both. I just believe in disclosing everything when listing something.
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748

Sep 26th, 2009, 05:36 AM	#4
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748	^^ This isn't an off ebay transaction. I bought this purse under a buy it now/best offer auction on Ebay. Thank you about the alteration tidbit. I think I may do that because a new zipper would be great.
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748

Sep 26th, 2009, 09:33 AM	#5
hotshot Member Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,085	I would let the seller know about the zipper. If you could check what the cost would be to have the repair done, you could let your seller know that as well. If you decide to return the bag, the seller would have to repair the bag before they relisted it or they could relist it and mention the zipper is broken. They might be inclined to compensate you for the repair otherwise you could return and get your money back.
hotshot Member Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 5,085

Sep 26th, 2009, 10:32 AM	#6
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748	^^ Okay, I emailed the seller yesterday and I have not received a response. I will call the alteration store and see how much it will cost for the zipper to be repaired on the handbag. I want to keep the bag, but I want to get the zipper repaired. I think since the seller said the handbag was "new, never displayed" , then they should pay for the repair of the zipper. I don't really want to return the handbag. I guess I'll see what happens.
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748

Sep 26th, 2009, 10:47 AM	#7
print*model Member Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,766	I've had bags that get stuck zippers sometimes. I've always used a little WD-40. Put a little on the tip of a Q-tip and run the zipper back and forth. That has always worked for me. You could try to file a SNAD but the seller is not obligated to offer you a partial refund. They may just ask for you to send the bag back though they really should have disclosed the fact that the zipper sticks. Good luck!
print*model Member Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,766

Sep 26th, 2009, 11:00 AM	#8
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748	^^ The zipper doesn't stick, you can zip it all the way, it just doesn't close. I hope that makes sense. So, I should let it go and get if fix then? I just believe in honesty as both a seller and buyer. I don't think this seller was very honest. I would not recommend buying from them. Okay, so what kind of feedback do I leave? Neutral or negative? I mean they said it comes from a smoke free house. It doesn't. They said it was NWOT, it isn't. So, what kind of feedback would you leave? Neutral or negative?
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748

Sep 26th, 2009, 12:15 PM	#9
print*model Member Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,766	^^^ Oh. I understand what you are saying about the zipper. LOL! Sorry. LOL! Yeah, WD-40 certainly will not help in this case. If you love the bag, maybe file a dispute thru eBay and see if the seller would consider giving you a partial refund for the repair. If they refuse, I would send the bag back and get my refund thru eBay/PayPal. As regards the feedback, it would depend on how cooperative the seller is. It sounds like you really like the bag despite the broken zipper and smell of smoke. If your seller is willing to pay for the repair, I don't see any reason not to leave a positive. However, I would mention that the bag arrived damaged and the seller refunded for the repair just to let other potential buyers know that there is a chance they may not initially get what they pay for when they buy from this seller. Good luck!
print*model Member Joined: Jan 2006 Posts: 3,766

Sep 26th, 2009, 01:40 PM	#10
karmenzsofia Member Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 15,923	You got a broken bag that reeks. I would SNAD it, but you seem to want to keep it, plus it would cost to send it back. Yet, I would feel deceived by the seller, and that's sooo not cool. If the seller is not willing to issue a partial refund to pay for the zipper repair, would you still keep the bag? As to feedback, it will depend on how the seller reacts to your email. Maybe she'll work with you, maybe she'll totally blow your off or accuse you of trying to scam her for a partial. Right? So I would wait and see what happens. In any case, I would be honest with the feedback because that's the only way for prospective buyers to know what they're getting into with a seller.
karmenzsofia Member Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 15,923	__________________

Sep 26th, 2009, 03:06 PM	#11
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748	^^ So I haven't received a response to my original email. I think I will open a claim for paypal and see about a partial refund for the repair of the zipper. If the seller is not cooperative, then I will return the handbag for a full refund. About how much does it cost to get the zipper repaired? Like $10.00?
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748

Sep 26th, 2009, 03:15 PM	#13
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748	Okay, so I went to file a dispute with the seller on paypal. and I get this message: End Communication and Escalate to a Claim Your seller is currently unable to respond to this dispute. By escalating your dispute to a claim, you are asking PayPal to review the case and decide the outcome. PayPal will review the transaction details and may contact you for additional information. We will make every effort to resolve this claim within 30 days. PayPal will review your communication with the seller and may contact you for additional information. We'll make every effort to reach a decision within 30 days. Do I need to go on and escalate to a claim?
dmitchell15 OP Member Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 2,748

Sep 26th, 2009, 03:27 PM	#15
lightpinkdaisy Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 524	If you decide to keep the bag, before sending it to repair, try to place pliers on each side of the zipper pull (if it is metal, not plastic) and push gently. It does the trick for me most of the time. Just make sure you are keeping the bag as there is a chance the zip pull may break if you try too hard. But personally, I would return the bag if it is not as described. Good luck!
lightpinkdaisy Member Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 524

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