Fake Gucci bag - how to prove its counterfeit so don’t need to send back?

[SA_1]

Hi, I purchased a Gucci bag for £649.99 from an online store (Linvelles). As soon as it arrived I knew it was fake from the feel and smell of the leather, the fact that the button popper had silver on it (it’s supposed to be completely gold), a huge crease on the underside of the bag and the biggest give away: no heat badge/tag and no serial numbers on the interior of the bag. ALL authentic Gucci bags are heat stamped on the inside of the bag. It tends to be a small flap of leather with the serial number stamped on one side and the Gucci logo on the other side. This bag doesn’t have any of that. It’s a complete and utter fake. I’ve read some old threads stating that if it can be proved that an item is counterfeit then it doesn’t need to be sent back. I don’t want for these guys to get it back and sell it onto the next unsuspecting poor sod, and also, I’m worried they’ll say that they haven’t received the item in order to hold onto my money. Would photos clearly showing the inside of the bag with the absence of any heat stamps and serial numbers be enough to prove to PayPal that it’s an out and out fake? Usually you use a serial number authentication app but this bag doesn’t have a serial number so I can’t even use that to prove that it’s fake! I opened a dispute with the seller and they’re asking me to send it back but for the reasons stated above, I’m reluctant to. Any help or advice would be appreciated. Many thanks.

[sharpiemarker]

@SA_1 

Take the bag to an authorized dealer, authenticator, appraisal service for review, or even write to the manufacturer asking their opinion to receive a preferably signed document on company letter head,refuting the authenticity of the item. Include sale listing, photos, your photos also. PDF everything, ready to upload to the dispute.

Then in your response to the seller requesting return for refund in the dispute that you disagree with that outcome and quote to the seller that in the PayPal seller protection program that:

• If the claim was that the item received was Significantly Not as Described and related to an item you sold that is counterfeit, you will be required to provide a full refund to the buyer and you may not receive the item back.

Please confirm this policy based on where the seller is located just to be on the safe side first. See Legal and select the country, click PayPal User Agreement. Then use your browser’s find command to search for the word “counterfeit “ to pull up that policy text. If it’s there, you’re good to go.

And enclose url to or upload the evidence document of fake item by third party, photos, etc, in your response too then send your reply. Then when you can, escalate to a PayPal claim as soon as you can. Do not close your case, escalate. 

If PayPal requires that you send item back, that’s also their option too, and you don’t accept that option, then file a chargeback through your card issuer instead if that’s how you paid and provide the same evidence. Once you go this route, the PayPal dispute is closed indefinitely and you must resolve via card issuer exclusively.

Good luck.

[SA_1]

Hi, Thank you so much for your response. Unfortunately the PayPal policy for Italy doesn’t state that a counterfeit item may NOT be sent back so I suppose I do have to send it back.

[Linvelles]

Hi All, 

This customer ordered a Gucci Interlocked bag in Beige from our website.

At First, they claimed that the item was fake and started a dispute on PayPal. In response, we provided all details of the purchase, import duties paid to HM Revenue & Customs, proof of import directly from our Gucci distributor in Italy.

They, then asked for a refund, which we approved subject to us receiving the item back.

Once the return package arrived at our warehouse, it was brought to our attention that instead of the Gucci bag; the package contained a packet of "Sainsbury Granulated Sugar" and generic cotton pads. Unfortunately, the intent of this person was to de-fraud and de-fame our company. 

We provided the evidence of non-return of the item to PayPal as well as the Metropolitan Police. PayPal reviewed the case and have decided the case in our favour.

We take pride in providing best in class customer service to our valued shoppers and all of our products are directly sourced from the brands or their authorised distributors in the country.

[SA_1]

Hi all, I showed PayPal all the photos of the counterfeit bag and had already contacted Gucci and Action Fraud. The counterfeit bag was sent back via Hermes Next Day Delivery unfortunately it reached the recipient 5 days late. I can assure you, after my long rant here, to Linvelles (with their fake trustpilot reviews), to Gucci and to Action Fraud - I sent this fake bag back and I also paid extra to insure it because I had a bad feeling about this company after they ghosted my initial emails complaining about the state of the bag (which I also provided photographic proof of). With it being a very new company and their behaviour thus far, I just didn’t have a good feeling about this company. I should also point out that “Jane” from Linvelles apologised for the state of the bag and asked me to return it for a full refund because she couldn’t guarantee that the replacement I receive won’t be the same! Sounds like a very genuine company who are very confident in their branded items being authentic, doesn’t it? PayPal decided in my favour and I received a full refund. It’s laughable and ridiculous what this company is claiming to have received in place of the counterfeit Gucci bag - sugar and cotton pads. Very pathetic, I suppose they claimed this in order to claw back the refund PayPal already sent me. It seems this new company is very fraudulent and all over the place. Don’t ever rip off the customer. Below is the email I received from Jane Addison after I complained about the bag. “ This is absolutely unacceptable and we will be taking in the refund as soon as possible at no cost to you; thank you for bringing this up to us as at such high value products; THE SUPPLIER GIVING SUCH A POOR EXPERIENCE IS TERRIBLE. Please note Linvelles is a marketplace where boutiques across Europe come to us to sell and we do quality assurance checks to make sure all items are authentic so we can guarantee it is real BUT THE EXPERIENCE PROVIDED AND THE STATE OF THE ITEM IS AWFUL thus in the coming hours we will send you a refund slip and have it sent off without any delay. I AM SORRY FOR THIS FRANKLY DISGUSTING EXPERIENCE AND WE WILL BE HAVING A WORD WITH OUR SUPPLIER FOR THIS ITEM. If you alternatively wish to receive an exchanged version of the item we can also do that ALTHOUGH I WOULD NOT RECOMMENDED YOU DO SO. I look forward to hearing back from you.”