Blacklisted on Aliexpress

[WobblyHand]

Let's remember that the part was received and it was defective. So it wasn't as advertised or fit for service. It sounds like it was modified before the discovery of the factory defect. I'd have just eaten the cost because I modified the tool.

That error would have been on me, because I hadn't inspected the part in the beginning. It stinks that this is necessary to do, but even US made tooling is subject to manufacturing issues. I had several US slitting saw arbors that were manufactured incorrectly.

Being banned by a small seller on AliExpress really is of no consequence, there's a few hundred suppliers willing to continue to do business. I've been burned a couple of times, but overall I've done pretty well on AliExpress. I just make sure my purchases are non essential and I can afford to take a loss if things go awry.

 

[woodchucker]

Let's remember that the part was received and it was defective. So it wasn't as advertised or fit for service. It sounds like it was modified before the discovery of the factory defect. I'd have just eaten the cost because I modified the tool.

That error would have been on me, because I hadn't inspected the part in the beginning. It stinks that this is necessary to do, but even US made tooling is subject to manufacturing issues. I had several US slitting saw arbors that were manufactured incorrectly.

Being banned by a small seller on AliExpress really is of no consequence, there's a few hundred suppliers willing to continue to do business. I've been burned a couple of times, but overall I've done pretty well on AliExpress. I just make sure my purchases are non essential and I can afford to take a loss if things go awry.

I agree, it was defective, and that should have been a valid reason for the return.
Guys remember, he never made the return before he was blacklisted. So This is not on him, it's the seller, not standing behind their product.

 

[markba633csi]

I was blocked once by a seller on Ebay just for asking too many questions about an item- go figure

 

[rabler]

I guess it is human nature, but I find it ironic that a common complaint is that foreign made tooling is inferior, yet we expect the same level of quality, quality control, and post sale service for less money. I do think internet shopping has exasperated this. With classic in person part in hand shopping you could see and feel the difference in items, online you get a picture that was photoshopped, and often no sense of scale, etc.

My personal experience is that chinese businesses operate with different/less sense of ethics than classic domestic industry. For example, I recently contacted a 3D printer manufacturer's support, and a follow-up was an offer of some free merchandise if I posted a five star review. The idea of stealing patents, copying designs, etc is just part of business practices. Not saying those never happen elsewhere, more a matter of prevalence and acceptance. Those practices are becoming more common throughout all industry.

I'm not a strict "buy American" shopper, but I think we as the consumer are guilty of supporting such things. Pushing back on such practices, not accepting it as par for the course, is part of addressing that trend. Ultimately somewhere, somehow, someone will create whatever business practices are profitable.

 

[pontiac428]

At the end of every experience there's a lesson, even small ones. Some lessons only cost $15, and come in take-out boxes with a fortune cookie!

 

[SouthernChap]

Let's remember that the part was received and it was defective. So it wasn't as advertised or fit for service.

Sure, which is why I suggested that he avoid that seller. I know he's now blacklisted, so it's kind of a pointless suggestion and maybe instead I should have simply said I find the company's actions objectionable, because I do.

But two wrongs don't make a right (especially not retrospectively, the defect came to light after the modification) and a purchaser trying to get a refund on an item that has been modified by the purchaser, to the point of that item being completely out of spec when it was returned, is not what I'd describe as exactly upstanding.

Look, we've all got feet of clay and all fall short if the glory of whatever, but let's take the mote out of own eye, eh?

(came over all a bit 'biblical' there, only using those phrases because they're handy shortcuts to some concepts, not intending to suggest the OP is going to hell or anything!)

 

[SouthernChap]

it's the seller, not standing behind their product.

Totally correct. Most of us have had experiences with some AliExpress companies demonstrating sharp practice.

So This is not on him

The bad moral choices that this company made are absolutely not on him.

His attempt to get a refund he was not entitled to is though. Like I said, we can hardly moan about companies acting unethically if we're trying it on ourselves.

I know people who will buy clothes online, wear them for a week (say a party or a wedding or a holiday or somesuch) and if the clothes don't display obvious signs of being worn, send them back for a refund.

It's a common enough practice that some online clothing companies have now abandoned their no-quibble returns policy and started pre-emptively charging for returns.

There seems a general reduction in support for the abstract principle of 'doing the right thing' whoever you're dealing with, these days and it makes me sad.

And if that makes me sound like a self-righteous bell-end then eh, I'm okay with that.

 

[wrmiller]

I would never, ever attempt to return a product that I had modified. IMO, once you modify/install/use something you bought, you own it. I was raised differently I guess.

 

[projectnut]

I know people that have bought furniture, used it for a holiday party, and returned it. As a kid I worked for Prange Way department store. Their moto was "It's not yours until you like it". Sad as it was people were returning worn out shoes, jeans with holes in them, furniture and accessories that were several years old, full of food stains and cigarette burn holes, cameras that had been dropped and destroyed, and lamps and other furnishings simply because they were no longer in style.

 

[markba633csi]

I think the trend is laziness- on Ebay now, if I ask a question about an item the first response from the seller is often a price reduction.
Easier I guess to lower the price rather than go get the item (which may be already packed) and measure it or whatever