Blowitoutahere eBay problem, need advice

[Stereodude]

Sorry if this isn't quite the right forum for this. I didn't find a more appropriate one.

I bought two Blu-rays on eBay from blowitoutahere. The listing says they're Blu-rays. For one I got a DVD. I start the return process for item not as described. However, blowitoutahere declines to provide me a shipping label. eBay tells me the seller is responsible for the shipping and to contact them to arrange the return. blowitoutahere doesn't respond to any messages I've sent them. Now the eBay system is waiting for me to acknowledge that I've shipped it back to them (presumably at my expense?), but AFAIK there's no way for me to subsequently extract the shipping cost of the return from blowitoutahere. I expect the shipping cost is going to be more than the amount of the refund on the DVD or about equal. The movie was $3.79 after tax.

This seems like this is intentional strategy to escape their mistake. They're basically forcing me to keep the disc while they keep my money because it would be dumb for me to have even less money in my pocket and no movie by returning it at my expense at a further loss.

Is there some way to extract the cost of shipping from them, or a way to get eBay to extract it from them for me? Have I misunderstood how the process works and I can tell eBay how much shipping was after I click "Mark as shipped" and get that automatically reimbursed?

Here's the email I got from eBay:


Here's what I see when I click "See return details":

[RandomMovieFan]

I have aways seen that seller on ebay but i have never bought anything from them though.

[Monterey Jack]

Just bought two titles from them...

[AilingRichMan]

They should be providing you a label. I'd call or use the chat function on eBay.

[Deadend45]

$3.79? Just never buy from it again. Also this belongs in Retail/Shopping sub-forum.

[Katatonia]

Originally Posted by Monterey Jack

Just bought two titles from them...

I've purchased from them on ebay quite a few times, and haven't personally had any issues.

They are the same company as Deep Discount, Movies Unlimited, ImportCDs, Critic's Choice Video, etc...

Stereodude, try contacting them through their website, leave the ebay order number, and mention the problem in the notes section. You'll probably get a reply back at least...

[dig311dug]

This is a great deal. In for one!

[Deadend45]

That image is a DVD not a BD. Did not post a link to it either.

[Stereodude]

Originally Posted by Deadend45

That image is a DVD not a BD. Did not post a link to it either.

It clearly says Blu-ray in the item title in the screenshots and is stated as a Blu-ray multiple places in the listing, but since I'm not trustworthy here you go. Look for yourself.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/303843892688

[Deadend45]

The UPC is of a DVD not a BD.

https://www.archambault.ca/films/hon...-ca&id=3285439

Always check the UPC if the image is of a DVD or anything not matching the description. You also what you wrote to the seller was wrong.

[Deadend45]

For those that want the title at about the same price, this is the actually BD UPC:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/30384945218...8AAOSwCs5gAmei

https://b2b.dealsareus.ca/honest-thief-blu-ray

[Ruined]

Blowitouttahere and DEEP DISCOUNT I believe are the same company

I stopped buying from them at one point because they tried to rip me off for $100+ on a return that was confirmed received by them but they did not credit me for. They are a pain to get in contact with and I had to work with PayPal to get my money back.

Bottom line pay a few bucks more and shop from Amazon / Walmart / Target / Diabolik / grindhouse / etc instead

[Number_6]

[Show spoiler]

Originally Posted by Stereodude

Sorry if this isn't quite the right forum for this. I didn't find a more appropriate one.

I bought two Blu-rays on eBay from blowitoutahere. The listing says they're Blu-rays. For one I got a DVD. I start the return process for item not as described. However, blowitoutahere declines to provide me a shipping label. eBay tells me the seller is responsible for the shipping and to contact them to arrange the return. blowitoutahere doesn't respond to any messages I've sent them. Now the eBay system is waiting for me to acknowledge that I've shipped it back to them (presumably at my expense?), but AFAIK there's no way for me to subsequently extract the shipping cost of the return from blowitoutahere. I expect the shipping cost is going to be more than the amount of the refund on the DVD or about equal. The movie was $3.79 after tax.

This seems like this is intentional strategy to escape their mistake. They're basically forcing me to keep the disc while they keep my money because it would be dumb for me to have even less money in my pocket and no movie by returning it at my expense at a further loss.

Is there some way to extract the cost of shipping from them, or a way to get eBay to extract it from them for me? Have I misunderstood how the process works and I can tell eBay how much shipping was after I click "Mark as shipped" and get that automatically reimbursed?

Here's the email I got from eBay:


Here's what I see when I click "See return details":

When you say the seller has declined to send you a shipping label, did the seller actually respond and say that they are declining to provide a label? Or are you interpreting their lack of response as them declining to provide a label?

eBay says you have until Oct. 4 to return the item before they close the return.

If you scroll down to the seller's return policy in the the listing there's also a hyperlink for the "eBay Money Back Guarantee" If you click on that it tells you what the criteria is for availing yourself of this policy (I think your purchase qualifies). If you scroll down to the "When the item received by the buyer doesn't match the description" it gives you a time frame on when things are supposed to happen.

According to that the seller has 3 business days after your request for a return to respond and provide solution (that will run out before Oct. 4, your deadline to return the item)

If the seller hasn't provided a solution (provide you with a shipping label or an explanation of how they're going to reimburse you for shipping) at that point you should be able to have eBay step in under the eBay Money Back Guarantee.

[FlamedLiquid]

I guess blowitouttahere isn't an Honest Thief.




Do hope you get your money back though. That sucks. I ordered from them once in the past and got the items but I will be more weary now.

[kenbenobi]

Leave them negative feedback. That should get them to respond. They can't leave you negative feedback. Only buyers can. If they rectify the problem, you can change or remove your negative feedback. If they don't, well, then that's on them... Maybe they don't care. But if they do, that will motivate them...

[SciFiFlyGuy]

This sounds more like an eBay system failure than one of the largest media retailers trying to screw you out of $4. I understand your frustration though. As a buyer, you are definitely covered, but you might need to jump through some hoops now if you don’t hear back from the seller. Typically for low price items like this, a major retailer or seller like this would just give you a full refund without having to mail it back. It’s not worth anyone’s trouble, and is clearly their error.

I’ve bought hundreds of movies from the various DirectToU companies, directly from their site, eBay, Amazon, etc. I occasionally have issues, but they always get solved in my favor. I find it’s worth the trouble for the breadth of their deals and items offered. I have noticed recently that across all their sites that it’s more common to see the wrong format and/or image attached, but the UPC has always been correct. I recently ordered 3 Paramount steelbooks on sale at DD and the images were wrong and/or they listed them as 4K when they’re a standard BD. Hopefully these are just temporary hiccups and not a sign of what’s to come.

[hariseldon]

Same Umbrella company under the DirectoU banner as DD and a dozen others. They seem to function semi independently from the other store names left over from before they were bought by SuperD/Alliance years ago, but that also seem to use a central central warehouse, mostly common inventory, and a somewhat centralized Customer Service department.

Calling them directly has always been the preferred contact route. Emails have occasionally worked but most people have trouble getting any response. I've never used a chat with them, but at least it's a direct contact.

Last information I could find
https://www.blowitoutahere.com/help

[Stereodude]

Originally Posted by Deadend45

The UPC is of a DVD not a BD.

https://www.archambault.ca/films/hon...-ca&id=3285439

Always check the UPC if the image is of a DVD or anything not matching the description. You also what you wrote to the seller was wrong.

It says in 4 places in the eBay listing that it's a Blu-ray. I'm supposed to assume those 4 places are wrong and check the UPC myself to make sure they didn't make a mistake for a $4 title that's not rare or OOP?

Originally Posted by Number_6

When you say the seller has declined to send you a shipping label, did the seller actually respond and say that they are declining to provide a label? Or are you interpreting their lack of response as them declining to provide a label?

I am not interpreting anything. I posted a screenshot of the email I got from eBay telling me that blowitoutahere let eBay know that blowitoutahere can't buy a label for me to use to return it and to contact them to arrange the return.

eBay says you have until Oct. 4 to return the item before they close the return.

If you scroll down to the seller's return policy in the the listing there's also a hyperlink for the "eBay Money Back Guarantee" If you click on that it tells you what the criteria is for availing yourself of this policy (I think your purchase qualifies). If you scroll down to the "When the item received by the buyer doesn't match the description" it gives you a time frame on when things are supposed to happen.

According to that the seller has 3 business days after your request for a return to respond and provide solution (that will run out before Oct. 4, your deadline to return the item)

If the seller hasn't provided a solution (provide you with a shipping label or an explanation of how they're going to reimburse you for shipping) at that point you should be able to have eBay step in under the eBay Money Back Guarantee.

That's the theory, but it doesn't seem to align with the reality here. I received the aforementioned email from eBay telling me that blowitoutahere can't provide a return label and to contact them to arrange the return. The seller has apparently responded so there is no longer a 3 business day clock ticking down after which I can escalate. It seems like blowitoutahere has found a loophole. The eBay system indicates the next action is mine (returning the movie), not theirs.

[Stereodude]

Originally Posted by SciFiFlyGuy

This sounds more like an eBay system failure than one of the largest media retailers trying to screw you out of $4. I understand your frustration though. As a buyer, you are definitely covered, but you might need to jump through some hoops now if you don’t hear back from the seller. Typically for low price items like this, a major retailer or seller like this would just give you a full refund without having to mail it back. It’s not worth anyone’s trouble, and is clearly their error.

Yes, that's would I have expected. For them to just issue a refund because the return shipping cost vs. the value of the item makes it not worth their while. I also understand that I'm supposed to be covered, but as of right now I don't see how I can take advantage of that coverage because all signs point to eBay expecting me to take the next action and if I take that action it's going to cost me more money.

[Stereodude]

Update:

blowitoutahere contacted me and told me they're snail mailing me a label. Highly efficient...