FRAUDULENT VENDORS & FRAUDULENT EBAY GUARANTEE

I ordered a "Skyline Pop Up Toaster, Item No.112087912746” at the eBay on 23 March 2017 for Rs.849 and was assured delivery on 27-28 March. However, the packet arrived on 30 March and was received by our maid as we were not at home. We found the package intact but wrapped in an ordinary white plastic sheet instead of the customary eBay bag giving no address of the sender nor the description of its contents - not even a copy of the invoice pasted on it - my address was written on the white plastic wrapping in blue marking ink.

On opening did I learn that the packet had contained the toaster I had ordered at the eBay portal. However, the packet did not contain the customary invoice or any document letting me know the particulars of the sender/vendor.

When I installed the new toaster in the kitchen to toast our bread, I was shocked to find that the pop-up leaver that carried the bread slices down in the toaster for toasting would not stick at the bottom and would pop-out when my hand pressing it down was removed. Well that is its main function and unless the lever does not stick at down position till the bread slice is toasted and the lever is automatically released by the heat-timer to pop out the toasts, the toaster is useless.

So I reported this problem to the eBay and raised a claim for refund. I also reported that the product had been received packaged suspiciously. 

The vendor “sandeepdhar1981” took the stand that if the packet had appeared to be packed suspiciously, we should not have accepted the package. He also said that package could have been repacked by somebody else - apparently throwing aspersions on our integrity. Would we have done that for an item worth less than Rs.900? The vendor also claimed that since the toaster carried a manufacturer warranty of 1 year, I should take it to the service center of the manufacturer to get the fault rectified.

Now, the "Skyline" brand is a very well known brand and similar toasters are on sale on many e-business portals under different brands or none at all. And neither the eBay, nor the vendor has supplied to me any invoice or the name and address of the manufacturer or its service center. This information is also not printed on the toaster or its carton. For all I know, the toaster could be Chinese made. So to whom should I approach for warranty and after-sale service? Even if I trace them how could approach them without the invoice and Warranty Card?

I have reported all these facts to eBay, but they have simply rejected my claim supporting the contentions of the vendor. I have had similar experience with the eBay before too and have been abjuring patronising it for long periods, but have been tempted again and again by the relative lower prices. But I should have known that cheaper IS generally CHEAP and one should not be too trusting in such conditions.

I have finally been convinced that the eBay slogan "EBAY GUARANTEE - 100% Satisfaction or Replacement/Refund" is a total farce and a spider-web to trap customers for their mostly unscrupulous vendors, generally palming off inferior/faulty products. THEY are their real back-bone. THEY DO NOT PROTECT THE INTEREST OF THE CUSTOMERS. SO I FINALLY GIVE UP THIS CHEAT SYSTEM.