Purchased Fake Boots & PayPal Decided Against Me :(

Hi Purseforum ladies! Just got the email from PayPal letting me know the case has been decided against me and I desperately need your help.

I purchased Stewart Weitzman boots from this eBay seller. Once I received them, I compared them to my authentic pair (purchased at SW boutique) and determined they were counterfeit. I let her know, and she said TheRealReal authenticated them (ha!) but that she would accept the return. There was a little problem (she wasn't able to send me a mailing label for some reason, eBay site showed that she had given me a partial refund even though she had not, I have no idea what she did on her end... but she promised she would refund me the postage if I returned.) But that's not important, I don't think. Shortly after I received the boots and determined they were fake, I had to travel abroad for family matters. By the time I came back, seller stopped responding to my messages, and I could no longer return them on eBay's terms and had to go to PayPal. I called PayPal, and the rep helped me file a dispute, simply stating that they were fake and I wanted a refund. She told me to escalate in 3 days if I didn't hear back from the seller, which I didn't. So I escalated the case last Sunday, and here is the result- my claim has been turned down. Two days ago I sent an email to PayPal customer service asking if I needed to submit anything else (I had been on hold for 3 hours and couldn't stay on the phone anymore) such as pictures because I was worried that this might happen... and it did.

Question- is there anything I can do at this point? Can I appeal the decision?
 
Just to add- I went to PayPal Resolution Center after I escalated the claim, and I could not even figure out how to submit photos. I am not sure if photos would have made a difference or not. I already sent them to her on eBay messages, and I imagine PayPal specialist was able to access them...

Sorry about rambling. It's past midnight, I can't contact PayPal, and I am freaking out.
 
It is a little difficult to determine the authenticity of a pair of SW boots only by comparing them to another pair IMO. Did you consider having them authenticated? How long were you abroad? If you didn't return the boots immediately, the seller may have thought that you were wearing them.

If the boots were sold by TRR at some point, you may want to see if they would like to sell them for you. If they determine they are authentic, you may be able to recover some of your money.
 
even though paypal allows 6 months for disputes, the good thing (for sellers) is after 30 days they usually don't decide against sellers.

paypal thinks it's been more than a month, why do you want to return it?

and honestly I'd never open a case for being fake unless you can prove it. they are handled differently.

also NEVER pay without a credit card. paypal doesn't care about cases. paypal just cares about protecting it's a**. if you pay using a card, they will decide on your behalf because they know if they don't, you'll do a chargeback and the lose money for chargebacks. and technically you can dispute it with your bank but they won't help you without authenticity docs and banks don't help like credit cards.

I'd call in and appeal but tell them you were out of town and just now got the shoes. It's your best bet
 
It is a little difficult to determine the authenticity of a pair of SW boots only by comparing them to another pair IMO. Did you consider having them authenticated? How long were you abroad? If you didn't return the boots immediately, the seller may have thought that you were wearing them.

If the boots were sold by TRR at some point, you may want to see if they would like to sell them for you. If they determine they are authentic, you may be able to recover some of your money.

They are exactly same models. I also compared the pair to those sold at the boutique. Every single pair had "Stewart Weitzman" inside but the pair I was sold does not. I would be more than happy to get them authenticated, but I did not know who is a reputable authenticator for SW. At this point it looks like I am stuck with them anyway so I guess there is no use.

I was abroad for little more than a month. I made it to clear to the seller that I wanted to return as soon as I received them. She stopped responding when I returned. The boots remains unworn in the same box she sent me. I will not sell them and make them someone else's problem though as it would be unethical to sell an item I deem as fake.
 
even though paypal allows 6 months for disputes, the good thing (for sellers) is after 30 days they usually don't decide against sellers.

paypal thinks it's been more than a month, why do you want to return it?

and honestly I'd never open a case for being fake unless you can prove it. they are handled differently.

also NEVER pay without a credit card. paypal doesn't care about cases. paypal just cares about protecting it's a**. if you pay using a card, they will decide on your behalf because they know if they don't, you'll do a chargeback and the lose money for chargebacks. and technically you can dispute it with your bank but they won't help you without authenticity docs and banks don't help like credit cards.

I'd call in and appeal but tell them you were out of town and just now got the shoes. It's your best bet

Good to know, thank you. I wonder what the point of PayPal's 180 days protection is then if buyer gets screwed after 30 days...

This is insane because as a seller I have had returns forced on me for all kinds of reasons not based on facts (including one buyer who accused me of selling her a fake bag- I was worried she was going to return a fake bag and couldn't sleep until I got my bag back, which was worn because I could smell perfume- at least she didn't do a switch-a-roo.) Had I known PayPal would not protect me I would have made time between family matters to call, which would have been very stressful but maybe better than completely losing the money and being left with fake boots that I would never wear.
 
They are exactly same models. I also compared the pair to those sold at the boutique. Every single pair had "Stewart Weitzman" inside but the pair I was sold does not. I would be more than happy to get them authenticated, but I did not know who is a reputable authenticator for SW. At this point it looks like I am stuck with them anyway so I guess there is no use.

I was abroad for little more than a month. I made it to clear to the seller that I wanted to return as soon as I received them. She stopped responding when I returned. The boots remains unworn in the same box she sent me. I will not sell them and make them someone else's problem though as it would be unethical to sell an item I deem as fake.

I would never suggest selling a counterfeit item, what I suggested was to have the boots authenticated or to send them for consignment where they could be authenticated.

The words 'Stuart Weitzman' can disappear from inside the boots/shoes with use, I have several SW boots and shoes, all purchased from SW, Sacks, or NW, and I noticed that.

Over a month is a lot of time for a seller to be waiting for a returning item IMO. I am only a buyer (not a seller), so let's see what the other TPF member suggest. Good luck!
 
Does anyone know a reputable authenticator for SW?
Before paying for an authentication, post pictures on Authenticate Those SHOES here on TPF. @audreylita and @shuze know their stuff and one or both of them will probably respond.

Here are my thoughts.

As a buyer, you need to make sure that when buying online (whether ebay, Amazon, or anywhere else), you are available to receive, examine and if necessary, request the authentications and file necessary disputes in a timely fashion.

Unless you are expert in a brand/item, it's always a good idea to have it looked at by experts. Sometimes even a comparison of identical styles can differ if the items are from different eras or factories.

Put yourself in the seller's shoes: If you'd sold something got a notification from the buyer accusing you of selling a fake then hearing that the buyer was away for over a month, wouldn't you suspect a rental?

Both ebay and paypal have fairly generous (and often lopsided) buyer protection policies.

You're unclear about why you weren't able to file through ebay but since SNAD cases tend to go better through ebay, that's where I'd have gone and I would have called them to try to figure out why you couldn't file.

But to leave the case hanging for another month was a mistake that seems to have cost you the case.

In the meantime, post pictures of your shoes on the Authenticate those Shoes thread here on TPF. Review post #1 for the necessary pictures.
 
Here is an example of the same SW bootie model, one in gray without the SW words (lost with use) and another in black with the SW words ( sorry for the poor quality of the pictures). There is a good possibility that your boots are authentic.
SW1.JPG SW2.JPG
 
Here is an example of the same SW bootie model, one in gray without the SW words (lost with use) and another in black with the SW words ( sorry for the poor quality of the pictures). There is a good possibility that your boots are authentic.
View attachment 3904928 View attachment 3904939

I don't believe it to be the case as shoes are new, not preloved... have you bought knee-high boots without SW logo inside? Also the logo I'm speaking of is not on the sole but inside the boot leg.
 
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Before paying for an authentication, post pictures on Authenticate Those SHOES here on TPF. @audreylita and @shuze know their stuff and one or both of them will probably respond.

Here are my thoughts.

As a buyer, you need to make sure that when buying online (whether ebay, Amazon, or anywhere else), you are available to receive, examine and if necessary, request the authentications and file necessary disputes in a timely fashion.

Unless you are expert in a brand/item, it's always a good idea to have it looked at by experts. Sometimes even a comparison of identical styles can differ if the items are from different eras or factories.

Put yourself in the seller's shoes: If you'd sold something got a notification from the buyer accusing you of selling a fake then hearing that the buyer was away for over a month, wouldn't you suspect a rental?

Both ebay and paypal have fairly generous (and often lopsided) buyer protection policies.

You're unclear about why you weren't able to file through ebay but since SNAD cases tend to go better through ebay, that's where I'd have gone and I would have called them to try to figure out why you couldn't file.

But to leave the case hanging for another month was a mistake that seems to have cost you the case.

In the meantime, post pictures of your shoes on the Authenticate those Shoes thread here on TPF. Review post #1 for the necessary pictures.

Why I couldn't file for SNAD:
I sent her a message on eBay shortly after the purchase that I suspected they are counterfeit and want to return. She said I could return, but she couldn't figure out how to send me the shipping label. I tried to click "return" after she said that, and eBay screen would say that seller gave me a partial refund (even though there was none, of course) and would not let me process a return. She promised me she would give me my postage back if I sent her the shoes with my own fund so I agreed to that. Then my grandmother fell ill and I had to hurry back to my home country to see her. I can't say I would have time or mind to think about these boots in the month (much less wear them, they remain pristine in the box, packed to go actually as I meant to send them back before I left) and I wonder what PayPal 180 day protection is for if it's worthless beyond 30 days anyway. I guess I just feel like I'm being gypped as I had to accomodate problem buyers as a seller and yet when I buy things it's often the other way around...

Would PayPal accept TPF decision on authentication? I would prefer to use authenticator that I can use for PayPal appeal. I don't mind paying for them.
 
I would never suggest selling a counterfeit item, what I suggested was to have the boots authenticated or to send them for consignment where they could be authenticated.

The words 'Stuart Weitzman' can disappear from inside the boots/shoes with use, I have several SW boots and shoes, all purchased from SW, Sacks, or NW, and I noticed that.

Over a month is a lot of time for a seller to be waiting for a returning item IMO. I am only a buyer (not a seller), so let's see what the other TPF member suggest. Good luck!
Sorry, I just meant even if TheRealReal thought they were authentic and would sell them again, I wouldn't feel comfortable myself. I imagine TRR would since they did once before and sold them, I just don't have much faith in their authentication process. I have seen obvious fakes listed on TRR so the fact that it was authenticated there doesn't give me much relief.