1) Try and verify that it is a fake. Look at the quick guide to spotting fake Abercrombie™ and check some of the tell tale signs. If it doesn't all check out, then unfortunately your item could be counterfeit.
2) No worries however, if you've bought it off of eBay (and additionally used PayPal), then you should be fine. The first step however, is to contact the seller. Tell them that you received the item okay, but after looking at it, it seems to be counterfeit, and that you would like to return it as you expected a real A&F™ shirt. Something similar to this should suffice:
Dear **their eBay seller ID**,
I received the item today. However I would
like to return for a full refund it as I am suspicious that it is a
fake.
Please respond as soon as possible.
Thank you,
- **your eBay seller ID**
3) Ideally they should reply telling you that it's all okay, and that they will sort out the refund no problem. In this case, send the item back to them, and wait for the refund to be processed. Simple.
4) However, if the letter does not provoke any response, or perhaps a negative response, saying that you're lying and that the item is in fact real, do not panic. Politely reply to them stating that under the terms and conditions of eBay and Paypal that you have the right to file a Paypal claim as a result of the item being counterfeit and that you will be doing so if they do not offer a full refund. As always, be as polite and professional as possible. Give them a chance to respond.
5) If no response, or they still think that they're right, then go ahead and file a dispute with Paypal. The seller then has a chance to respond, and if negatively, then escalate the dispute to a claim (within 20 days). When you do this, provide as much information about the item as possible.
6) Paypal will ideally sort this out. They might need proof of the lack of authenticity, and photos work brilliantly here, as does going into an A&F™ store and asking them to verify this - Paypal might require this.
7) Finally leave negative feedback. Even if they have been nice to you, and dealt with the problem promptly and professionally, they were still selling counterfeit items and as a result deserve to get stung by it. This will act as warning and a deterrent to future buyers.
8) Additionally, claims and information about counterfeit Abercrombie™ clothing can be reported to their Brand Protection through here.
That's it. Ideally you will have received a refund, and prevented other people from buying counterfeit clothing from the same seller.
I think it is not so easy to get your money back if you do buy a fake. I know this is a different brand but just extra info about ebay. I bought fake UGG boots from ebay, blatantly fake. They even had a tag on saying "authorised copy". You would think it would be no problem to get a refund but I did not. I filed a claim and ebay said I had to prove they were fake. In every store I asked to verify this they referred me to their legal department and no store would acknowledge they were fake because of legal ramifications (even though they were not even real fur!!).
ReplyDeleteThen Ebay said the seller agreed to accept a return so I should return them. Ebay gave me the address that they seller had given as their address, it was "London Bridge"!!! Ebay still said to return them!! (To "London Bridge"?!) I complained over and over and I got nothing back. It ended that I got no money back and ebay did not help at all, they would not accept photographic proof or anything other than proof from a recognised store verifying they were fake. I think this proof is not so easy to get. I did buy an Abercrombie hoodie once and had questions about its authenticity and I questioned Abercrombie about if it was fake etc but I received no help at all, they did not want to know. They want people to buy from their store so are no help when it comes to buying from ebay.