When an ebay scarf arrives with an odor....

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H

hautemom

Scarf Addict
O.G.
Jan 4, 2006
599
0
#1
......do you contact the seller and complain? Or do you just air it out and move on?

I ask because I recently purchased two scarves from the same seller and when they arrived they had a strong odor of cigarettes and perfume. I hung them in my master bath for about two weeks to air them out and then when I went to wear one of them for the first time, I discovered two small pin holes which I had originally missed. When I contacted the seller, she was very apologetic and requested that I return the scarf for a refund. Well...once the scarf was returned, I received a very nasty email from her suggesting that I had worn the scarf since it now reeked of perfume! :wtf: She claimed that the scarf that she had sent me was new (even though she did concede that it had pin holes) and that it was no longer in new condition! So now she has the scarf (which was advertised as new) and has yet to refund my money (almost full retail). She claims that she is trying to come to a resolution that would be fair to both of us! :shrugs:

Perhaps I am naive, but I just did not see this coming. She obviously knew the condition of the scarves since SHE sent them to ME! Should I have let her know that the scarves came to me with these odors, even if I planned to keep them? :sad:
 
#2
Yes in hindsight it would have been best to tell her. I think you need to start a chargeback with Paypal to get your money back. When did you last hear from her?
 
#3
Oh yes, in hindsight I definitely realize that I should have told her. I suppose that I really didn't see the point since I planned to keep them anyway. The only reason that I returned one of them was because I found the holes. :s I guess I've learned that lesson the hard way!

To be clear, I did hear from her this morning. I'm not trying to imply that she is not planning to refund me AT ALL, just that she doesn't feel that the scarf was returned to her in new condition, so she obviously doesn't want to refund me in full.

In the future, if I use ebay, I plan to be VERY upfront about everything, including odors!!!
 
#4
I would inform the seller, but if you love them, I'd take them to the nearest dry cleaner that doesn't use PERC (toxic chemical that 95% of dry cleaners use in their store) and get them cleaned.

I took my favorite Hermes scarf (Mozart) to the store to show my favorite sales associate, and I accidentally got some lip gloss on it. I was panicked, but a great dry cleaner was nearby, and she got the stain out and left the scarf is PERFECT condition for all of $6.
 
#5
ack, what a mess....well, I usually wash them all when they arrive just on general principal...unless they still have the price tag on...I just like the idea of throwing on a fresh scarf.

She should have graciously refunded your money...holes are holes, and they dont get there if the scarf is unworn. But you are correct, in retrospect, it would have been best to let her know about the odors up front...it sounds like this transaction was headed for trouble when she packed up a smelly scarf in the first place!

In your situation, if I loved the scarf, I would have just let her know, and if she offered a small refund, great, if not, I would file the information away for future purchases. she would be on the BEWARE list. sometimes, when you love the scarf, nothing to do but keep it and hope another comes along in better condition.

Its a jungle out there, I hope you have better luck next time...many of us have gotten a "stinker," LOL!
 
#6
Yes, I guess I've learned my lesson. These were only the second and third scarves that I had actually ever purchased on ebay so I really just thought that sometimes unwanted odors were part of the bargain. I've read a couple of other threads discussing how to remove scarf odors, so I assumed that this was a relatively common occurance. Now that I'm much more ebay savvy (LOL), I realize that for my own protection I should let the seller know when a scarf comes with issues, no matter how small. On a positive note, this whole experience has somewhat dampened my out-of-control, crazed ebay obsession! DH is thrilled about that!!
 
#8
Sorry to hear about this. I have had more than my share of "new, unworn" scarves arriving with odors, holes, thread pulls, stains...the whole deal. Did you pay with a credit card through PayPal, if so you can initiate a charge back. That way the credit card company will give you back all of your money. (As I understand it, right now she has the scarf and the money.) I have found that Amex is the very best and easiest to work with in these instances. You should also file a claim with PayPal - the item is "not as described" - in your write-up there, explain that the "new, unworn" scarf had holes and also cigarette and perfume odors. State that you never wore either scarf and that they both have the same odors. If you don't smoke, inclulde that. She will, no doubt, respond that the odors are from you and you should only receive a partial refund. I would proceed with the claim - tell her in an em that you did it to preserve the time from running out on the claim.

Sorry that you ran into one of these types of sellers. I have bought many, many scarves on eBay and I find that I am now buying less and less and only from sellers that I know or know of...

Hope you get a satisfactory outcome!
 
#9
I agree with LuvBolide -- just go straight to your credit card company. Tell them you returned the item, the seller acknowledges receipt, but is refusing to refund your money. Should be no problem at all.

It's sad that there are dishonest people out there. As a seller, I once had a buyer return a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCARF to me, and PayPal insisted on refunding her money since the buyer had proof I received *something* from her.
 
#10
OMG, what an awful story...and you are such a darling with such great scarves!!! :love::love:

Shame!!!

doreenjoy said:
I agree with LuvBolide -- just go straight to your credit card company. Tell them you returned the item, the seller acknowledges receipt, but is refusing to refund your money. Should be no problem at all.

It's sad that there are dishonest people out there. As a seller, I once had a buyer return a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCARF to me, and PayPal insisted on refunding her money since the buyer had proof I received *something* from her.
Click to expand...
 
#11
That situation sounds just awful. You shoudl definitely say it was the odor that caused you to bring up the subject and return the products. She should refund you 100% of your purchase cost.
 
#12
doreenjoy said:
It's sad that there are dishonest people out there. As a seller, I once had a buyer return a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCARF to me, and PayPal insisted on refunding her money since the buyer had proof I received *something* from her.
Click to expand...

OMG!:wtf: So unbelievable that someone could actually get away with that! Thank you all so much for your advice. I will start the charge back tomorrow. The last email from her asked that I give her a few days to consider her options...I am now thinking that she may be trying to delay my filing a claim. Oh so much drama over a scarf...thank goodness it's not a bag!
 
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