Dealing with bad sellers on Aliexpress - LeTV LE 1s

[Coricus]

Hi guys,

I am having HUGE problems with a seller on Aliexpress. I purchased an LETV Le 1s and the screen was faulty. It would not register and touch movements and would freeze for around 30 seconds. Even after I sent a video to the seller he refused to accept that there was an issue and I had to put the order in to dispute. After sending all of the proof Aliexpress said that the seller must refund when he received the return. He then refused to give the return address for two weeks. I tried all of the usual methods to fix - resetting from the phone through recovery mode, flashing a different ROM etc but the problem still remained so it must be a hardware issue.

Now he has received the phone he is claiming that he cannot get in to the phone to check it. I've told him to restore the phone through recovery mode and sent him instructions and videos showing how to do this. The seller is now claiming that the pin is preventing him from entering restore mode. 

I have went to the LeTV Technical Webchat and even the customer service guy has confirmed that the passcode can be removed by resetting the phone through recovery mode and that a pin is not needed to enter recovery mode. The seller is still denying this and claims he can not enter the phone. The case is now in arbitration and being reviewed by Aliexpress but is there anything I can do to ensure that I win the case? I have sent all proof to Aliexpress already.


Thanks
Matt

[MegaManX]

I would make a claim with the credit card company, if the Aliexpress route doesn't work. What is Aliexpress saying now? Actually I wouldn't even wait for them. Just file with credit card company and send all documentation of the history of the problem. Any shipping receipts, communication with seller, etc...

[Coricus]

His latest excuse is "I think you are not original from UK" - which is not relevant at all. He goes by the name of "Andy Lau" and his company is called "China Phone Company" on Aliexpress. He is now saying that LeTV are wrong and he cannot remove the passcode that way. So the company that make the phone is wrong...

I would make a claim with the credit card company, if the Aliexpress route doesn't work. What is Aliexpress saying now? Actually I wouldn't even wait for them. Just file with credit card company and send all documentation of the history of the problem. Any shipping receipts, communication with seller, etc...

Well they initially told the seller to refund when they receive the return but since the seller is now saying he can't even use the phone because of a pincode and as a result, can't check the problem. He is also saying the screen is scratched (it's not, the video I sent showing the problem was taken just before it packaged up to send off) and this will cost $100 to repair. He is also saying that LeTV Service Centre will charge $50 to remove the passcode so he is only willing to refund $70 of the $235 ($15 was for shipping) that I paid... I sent Aliexpress the screenshots of the conversation I had online with LeTV Tech support confirming that he can just reset the phone through recovery mode but the seller is ignoring this. He is accusing me of cheating him and not telling him the passcode. I've also sent three different videos showing phones with passcode being reset through recovery mode so I'm hoping that this will be enough.

The seller has had 16 negative feedbacks in the past month alone for various dishonest trade practices...

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[MegaManX]

So now Aliexpress is not making him refund? You have 2 options then, 1 is to continue with the Aliexpress process and hope it goes in your favor, or 2, begin the claim process with your credit card company.

[edcoolio]

I'm assuming that you have "Confirmation Received" as your status under "Manage Orders"?

If so, your options are very limited. In this case, as has already been said, continue the AliExpress route AND begin the process with your credit card company. Your solution will come from one or the other, as it seems that the seller has hung you out to dry.

If you have NOT accepted or confirmed receipt of the product on AliExpress, then your best bet is to fight it out with them until you get your money.

The biggest mistake people make on AliExpress is accepting a package as received within their account (regardless if it was signed for and the delivery company has marked it as received). NEVER do this unless you are 100% sure that your product is what was agreed upon. AliExpress uses this, basically, as a "deal is done" marker. Not that they will not come through for you with your issues, but be aware that it is much easier if you have not accepted the deal as done in this manner.

Another important thing to note, while on the subject, is to make sure and get the supplier to extend the delivery time to avoid the "finished" status on the order. The "finished" status is what you never want, unless again, you are 100% sure.

In the future, if you stick with the suppliers here, these problems will be minimized (or better - not exist at all!). I'm sure you know this now, but maybe the hard learned lesson can be passed on to others.

Anyways, I hope you will have good luck with this. Plan for the best, but expect the worst would be my advice at this point.

[Coricus]

I'm assuming that you have "Confirmation Received" as your status under "Manage Orders"?

If so, your options are very limited. In this case, as has already been said, continue the AliExpress route AND begin the process with your credit card company. Your solution will come from one or the other, as it seems that the seller has hung you out to dry.

If you have NOT accepted or confirmed receipt of the product on AliExpress, then your best bet is to fight it out with them until you get your money.

The biggest mistake people make on AliExpress is accepting a package as received within their account (regardless if it was signed for and the delivery company has marked it as received). NEVER do this unless you are 100% sure that your product is what was agreed upon. AliExpress uses this, basically, as a "deal is done" marker. Not that they will not come through for you with your issues, but be aware that it is much easier if you have not accepted the deal as done in this manner.

Another important thing to note, while on the subject, is to make sure and get the supplier to extend the delivery time to avoid the "finished" status on the order. The "finished" status is what you never want, unless again, you are 100% sure.

In the future, if you stick with the suppliers here, these problems will be minimized (or better - not exist at all!). I'm sure you know this now, but maybe the hard learned lesson can be passed on to others.

Anyways, I hope you will have good luck with this. Plan for the best, but expect the worst would be my advice at this point.

Thankfully I haven't confirmed receipt and the item is still "awaiting delivery" - I never confirm unless I've checked the goods.

His main argument is that he can't access the phone or reset the phone through recovery mode because of the pin. I have sent three different videos showing that a pin is not required to reset a phone through recovery mode and also sent screenshots of my conversation with LeTV Technical Support confirming that a pincode is not needed to reset the phone through recovery mode.

Aliexpress initially took my side and told him to refund as soon as he received the return but now they are asking for more information. I don't know what else to provide!

I'll stick to sellers here from now on!

Just to confirm - the seller goes by the name "Andy Lau" from "CHINA PHONE CENTRE" and he changes to "CHINA MOBILE COMPANY"

[edcoolio]

All that can really be done is to push AliExpress. The seller is almost a waste of time, only to be dealt with when giving AliExpress whatever they want.

Do not let up and begin spamming AliExpress, admit to nothing -ever. They will use this as an excuse to deny you. I cannot stress enough that pushing AliExpress is the only hope you have.