Hi, I just bought a DELL XPS laptop a month ago on ebay. Seller claimed it was refurbished and in new condition. The laptop was a mix of old and new parts. The LAN outlet had many clearly visible scratches from long term use. Pissed off I contacted the seller who said he would refund my money if I returned the laptop at my expense. Not wanting the extra work I decided to keep it. Now it is dead and I have been reading about ppl having problem with XPS + Nvidia (which is what he sells). So now I am worried that this guy is putting these recalled parts into his laptops. Given that he obviously lied from start I am afraid that whatever new or repaired laptop he send me is going to have the same problems. I have already spoken to the seller and he refuses to refund me. So, can I just go to my bank and do a "Not as Described" Chargeback? Should I return the laptop before I do the chargeback to prove that it has been returned? Thanks in advance.
If you purchased the laptop on your credit / debit card, the best way to get your bank to refund you is to tell them you ordered a laptop and SENT it back, they wont ask for proof. Tell them you sent it back and the guy wont refund your money. If it is a bank card like a debit card they will sometimes only help you with unauthorized charges, if it is a real credit card it is easier. I have heard of people stretching the truth to get their money back like saying " I never received the item I ordered at all" or "I never ordered anything and do not know them"....
Be sure you document everything you do, from jotting down the date and time of calls, to maintaining records of all emails sent and received. With any payment processor, be it a major credit card or PayPal, they will ask for confirmations and what attempts you made to resolve the issue with the seller. A small misstep can cause the entire charge back process to be delayed and even canceled. Be sure to use a shipping method that can be tracked with a signature of who received the item. I've seen people send high-value items via Postal Service with no insurance thinking "the item is broken, its not worth anything". Use UPS or FedEx, signature required, insured for the full value of the item. If the seller is suggesting to replace the item, clarify in writing that the item is not part of any recall. If the item breaks due to that issue, you may still have coverage from the credit card company. You will need to confirm this first. I think the next step is to call the credit card company and ask what your options are through them and find out what assistance they can provide.
You don't have to use UPS or FedEx. Or insure it. You can merely send it certified mail/return receipt requested. Then he has to sign for it and you get a return receipt saying it was delivered. Or you can send it registered and it will be tracked. Both have numbers. Go to the Post Office and ask which would be best for tracking purposes. You can insure it, but, that is going to cost you more. If he sends you another crappy laptop but advertises them like new or whatever, you can do a chargeback because he is misrepresenting the product.