This is my question.

I don't know if it's better to start a dispute or contact the seller first.
I guess it's better to email the seller, and if things fail (no further progress/customer ignored) then start the dispute.
I wanted to know what you guys told the seller; what did you ask for and what did you got.

Is a full refund the thing to ask? Perhaps pay half the price?
I'd like to have a real 2GB player instead of my hacked one (2GB to 1GB), can I ask him to send me one if he has (I'd prefer not to take a 2nd chance, though)? Perhaps send mine and get a full refund?
I'm not very sure what to do, I've been searching the threads but I don't seem to come across any answer.
Thanks in advance!

I've been discussing with the pirate (errr... I mean seller) during those days about what can be done to solve the issue. He responds to emails but doesn't change his position a bit. After much talk, it seems there are those options:
- Send it back and get a refund.
- Send it back and change it.
- Accept 10€ for compensation.

Do you find that reasonable? I think 10€ is too litle, no matter what his mp3 cost. Sending it will cost about 25€, and I don't have any reason to believe it would come back with the promised memory (if it came at all). He refuese to pay the shipping, so I won't pay it for him.
I think I should ask for a higher compensation, and if I got a negative for that, then start a dispute, but I'm not so sure it's s the best way to go.

Also, I'm kind of worried about my votes; I have a few and when I vote him he will surely give me a bad rating. I saw that votes can be withdrawn, but is it as easy as it looks?
I'm a bit stuck, but I don't want that unscrupulous seller to walk away happily after this.

E72! , what was the advertised and actual memory size? And how much did you pay for your player?

The memory should be 2GB, but it's actually 1GB. The "seller" insists it's an error, but there are several labels over the envelope and player which show 2GB (probably came hacked from factory). His name is also in one of the mp3 guides as a professional scammer (I was lucky enough to get at least some decent memory). It cost me about 33€ (55€ with shipping), while the 1GB is 25€. Hope that helps!

E72! , from what i see of it, currently you have 3 options:

1. Accept the 10€ partial refund if you are satisfied with the 1GB capacity.

2. Demand for more refund, i'll suggest you search in ebay for other 1GB by other sellers and determine the average end price. Then ask for the price difference back.

3. Send the player back. But you'll probably only get back your purchase price of 33€. 22€ for shipping is absurd!

If the seller does not want to increase the partial refund amount, and you really want to go with option 2, then you would need to open a dispute with ebay or paypal (if you used it).

Yup, I had tought that too.
1) I feel 10€ is not enough considering the money they sell by cheating 1GB to all those buyers.
2) I think 15€ is the minimum I should ask for. I haven't started a dispute yet, may be time to start one.
3) Sending the player back I'll lose 20€ anyways; no way I'll send it back. The seller doesn't want to pay the shipping, and I certainly won't.

Will ask him to raise the refund or I will open a dispute. I'm a bit worried about the vote though, I want to give him a big red and notify potential buyers, but that will surely mean another one for me, and I've got very few votes (not even 5 ) so it will be quite significant. Can you always withdrawn those votes? Thanks!

E72! wrote (View Post): › Yup, I had tought that too. 1) I feel 10€ is not enough considering the money they sell by cheating 1GB to all those buyers. 2) I think 15€ is the minimum I should ask for. I haven't started a dispute yet, may be time to start one. 3) Sending the player back I'll lose 20€ anyways; no way I'll send it back. The seller doesn't want to pay the shipping, and I certainly won't. Will ask him to raise the refund or I will open a dispute. I'm a bit worried about the vote though, I want to give him a big red and notify potential buyers, but that will surely mean another one for me, and I've got very few votes (not even 5 ) so it will be quite significant. Can you always withdrawn those votes? Thanks!

No. Feedbacks are for life. That's what's great about that. Put a mark on your caledar to give him a feedback 89 days after the auction, or at the very last minute (90 days). By the time he notices what hit him, it'll be too late for him to feedback you. Open a dispute with Paypal NOW. Then tell him you'll close the dispute if he pays you what you want.

Hey, that 89-day wait is a nice tip! Will do that for sure. I will have to chose the text very carefully, as it must be informative and persuasive.

Too bad I am a weakling and asked for at least 15€.
I guess he will say no (I really hope he does), then I'll open dispute and ask for 20€. If he agrees... hmm I could still force things and push him to the 20€, but that will make it all harder.
Anyway, I should have asked for more the first time.

PD: I've just gone to check when it's that 90 day limit, and guess what? A guy I bought a cheap mp3-fm convertor from (+30000 votes, powerseller too) is unregistered now. Great news, since I was contacting him regarding the poor quality of the item (he was answering my emails though). Damn, I'm so upset with those ******** and myself, first two buys, two scams. From now on, not even a single item from Asia EVER.

PD2: Is there any way to make ebay and paypal give me my money back, or is it too late now (at least a month since I bought them...).

E72!

It may be cheaper and less stressful to accept what the seller is offering.
My seller (buy_lowest) offered me $6 US refund to settle a 1 gig hacked to 4 gig.
I chose to pursue with paypal and it cost me far more.

I ended up cutting my losses.

Paypal requires that you return the player to Paypal.

Any money spent by you to get confirmation of the hack and any return shipping is your cost.

That is why I am done with Paypal!
http://www.mympxplayer.org/im-done-with-paypal-vt3580.html

My idea is that it is better to accept the partial refund. Try to buy the mpX player cheap, and then accept a partial refund. Finally you will have the mpX player at a real bargain price.

Another option on the Ebay Feedback,

I recently BLASTED a scammer "blown-z" with negative feedback:
Quote "FRAUD ALERT - Research this blacklisted MP4 Player before you bid - Seller aware"

He did exactly as I was warned on this site by adding this Feedback to my profile:
Quote "Reply by blown-z: Item as described. buyer doesnt read auction"

I don't think he can even spell, let alone read!

My solution was to cut and paste the link to my post in this forum.(excluding the http:// so that it would not be banned as a url from ebay)

Reply by ikegilbert: www.mympxplayer.org/blown-z-ebay-scam-reports-to-ebay-vt3895.html

If anyone cares enough to understand, I figure they will cut and paste the url and see what the real issue was.

Hello gentlemen,

I am offered 20€ and a positive vote in exchange for the scam.
Ok, so I'll give him a positive vote... But write something that may prevent others from being cheated anyway. I've told him to vote me positive too, but I don't expect a scammer to be true to his word.
Also, he told me that by mail. In paypal resolution, he again tells me to send him the item, but just in case, I'll copy everything and message him through paypal too.

I'm sorry for those of you that have realized paypal is the tool of all those pirates. I'm glad I could learn the lesson before it was too late. It's always helpful to know those cheats, should they ever be needed, and as we say in our country, "el que roba a un ladrón tiene cien años de perdón" ("who robs a thief is forgiven for a hundred years"), and I think it's the point here, if you get scammed, then you counter-attack without moral restrictions. If you can cheat him, better for you, it's a self-gained right.

Let's see how this all turns up. And I still have a claim filed against an unregistered user, that is sure going to be a "fun" experience with paypal.
Thanks for the tips! Will try to get the most from them.

I received my '1GB' mp4 player today.

I bought it from 'Aaliyah's Bargains' on ebay.

This is the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=011&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWN%3AIT&viewitem=&item=320099709278&rd=1&rd=1

I attached it to my pc and formatted it and found that it wasn't 1GB and was only 469mb!

Another two issues where that the mp4 player doesn't have an fm radio (which the seller states in the auction that it does) and the headphones don't work properly (only one of them works, and they look dead cheap!)

I have just sent the seller a message (on ebay so it can be tracked if needed) saying this:

Hi, I received my mp4 player today.

I am very disappointed with it. After linking it to my pc and formatting it i found that the memory wasn't 1GB in actual fact the total memory is 469mb which would be you are selling HACKED players. I am also angry at the fact that you stated in the auction that the mp4 player had an FM Radio, which it doesn't. I am also angry at the fact that the headphones don't work.

Unless i hear back from you with a resolution by tomorrow morning i will have no choice but to inform ebay, paypal and the police. This is fraud and you have lied.

I await your response.

Once i get a response from the seller i will return here with the update.

Azza87

I finally got the refund I asked for (in the end, too little).
The other dispute was fully refunded.
So if you want to hear an advice, I'll give you mine:
1- Be polite but firm and let know the guy you know this is a scam, and unles your conditions are fulfilled, you'll take further actions.
2- If he starts giving excuses or doesn't answer, open a paypal dispute, and start again the discussion through paypal's mailing system. Make clear that you can take pics, post the manufacturer's chip specs, etc.
3- If he still doesn't want to solve things, elevate the dispute to claim, raise your conditions, and wait. Obviously, tell paypal you want to help as much as possible.

This is how I could get my money back, and it should work for you too.
Good luck!

Hi, Got a response from my seller. She has said this:

"Hi they are not Hacked, as we have sold many MP4 players and our supplier is a massive company in the UK. However it sounds like you have a factory faulty item, very sorry for that please send it back and we will send you new one ASAP.

Many Thanks
Allen"

According to his/her feedback they haven't sold mp4's before so think this is a poor excuse.

I need advice folks, what shall i say next?