Filed a dispute 5 weeks ago, waiting for an update

HI Linda. A common story on here I'm afraid. Trade Me have said that their Buyer Protection system is struggling under a heavy workload. Is it good enough? No, not in my opinion. If the system is struggling they need to hire more staff or assign more to this area to clear the problem. I'll link a similar post below to show you are not the only one. In the meantime there is not much you can do except keep nudging them along on Live Chat.

https://help.trademe.co.nz/hc/en-us/community/posts/9460809223951-Product-Faulty-Trade-Me-Protection-is-no-protection

Kia Ora Linda,

I'm sorry to read of your experience with that trade,

It is sounding very much like a case of Fraud.

I have answered your Comment in the page Callum has linked you to, as below,

https://help.trademe.co.nz/hc/en-us/community/posts/9460809223951/comments/9524526174223

All the Best - Cheers.

Hi S:

I already won and paid and received the necklace and earrings set,is not an active listing anymore, if they are not 9ct gold as described, how to report the seller? I purchased other items from the seller before, they are not all fake, some is 9ct gold, so I am not sure their current 9ct gold listings are real or not, can't tell from the pictures. I only know this purchased, the necklace and earrings are NOT 9ct as described, at least the earrings are not and metal on the necklace is darken too.

hi Callum: I really hope Trademe can solve this issue, I purchased the necklace and earrings as a gift for my mom, they are expensive cos they supposed to be 9ct gold, but they are fake and look cheap. I contacted Trademe a few times already, they supposed to get back to me in four weeks, I don't understand, how can they not keep their promise to get back.

Hi Simon. If you refer to the opening post you can see she took them to a jeweller. But yes solid evidence does help Trade Me make a decision. As you say 9CT gold legally has to marked as such. It can be tricky to find due to the size of some jewellery items.

Hi Callum:

I am very experience with jewellery myself as I own hundreds of 9ct gold jewellery myself, 9ct doesn't always has to be hallmarked , can sometimes even darken, but 9ct won't get rusty or fading, if have silver color metal underneath yellow color metal , it is gold plated or just costume jeweller, I did take them to jeweller to confirm, and jeweller confirm the earrings are NOT 9ct and is just costume jeweller , any offical document will cost $100, but is very very obvious the earrings are fake, cos is  rusty and has silver color metal underneath .

Kia Ora Linda,

You have proceeded in all the correct steps by making TradeMe aware of fake goods Sold onsite - if your Seller is selling the same set of items under false mis-leading context report the Listing(s). 

An InTrade Seller needs to adhere to legal obligations when selling to consumers. As a buyer, you have legal rights under consumer law. - I have responded further to your comment in the other Post - just awaiting Pending status release.

Currently TradeMe are your first line of contact in reporting this complaint since you have exhausted efforts in attempting to resolve this with the Seller - Once you have an outcome you will be able to move forward. - Cheers.

Hi there Callum

Sorry I made a complete ass of myself yesterday! I got up read the OP, said what I said, then re-read the OP and realized that everything I had asked was covered! This is what happens when I jump into forums before breakfast! I did delete it straight away to try and hide my stupidity, by i guess you all got an email notification...

You guys got this one covered, everything you have been told so far Linda is really solid, just follow the process through, and the big thing is to stay classy! Its so easy to get frustrated with the process, and say something regrettable, just politely keep on T-Me, and you will be fine. Starting this discussion in the forum is a GOOD idea, one of the T-Me moderators might spot it, and ask a few questions themselves, I am going to throw you another "Like" to make it more visible to them.

Hi S:

I emailed Trademe again and got an automatic email said will reply to me in 48 hours, but has been more than four business days, still no one get back to me, anyone can help me in the community so Trademe can get back to me?

Linda 

hi Callum:

as I told S, I emailed Trademe again and got an automatic email said will reply to me in 48 hours, but has been more than four business days, still no one get back to me, is anyway can get Trademe moderators attention to help me with my dispute?

Cheers Linda,

I am sorry to read this is Not sorted for you yet - I'm applying votes for you to be seen here.

Contact TradeMe staff on the Live Chat tomorrow during the manned hours - weekdays are 9:30:am - 5:00pm and weekends 9:30am - 4:pm - to nudge this along.

Keep coming back here to report so we can raise the number of Comments - Upvotes on your opening Post & large number of Comments will stand out to the Moderators - I'll keep responding to you here until this is resolved for you.

hi S:

Thank you so much for those advices, cos I purchased the item more than a month ago, today I saw the original listing disappeared from the item I won listings, however I still have screenshots of all the record, I hope Trademe can still process the refund even not able to see the original listing ?

linda 

Cheers Linda,

TradeMe have a copy of every Listing & Transaction History, it just goes offline view for Members - Legally TradeMe have to keep all details for 7 years so No worries they have it all - Cheers 😊

Hi:

So yesterday I emailed the seller again , told him the Trademe dispute still in process, and I believe the Trademe will get into this dispute eventually and the buyer also been protected by Fair Trading Act(FTA) and Consumer Guarantee act (CGA) from IN TRADE seller, and seller replied he accept some of the earrings part may not be 9ct gold, which is NOT true, cos the whole earrings been confirmed by jeweller are just costume earrings, not even one piece of the metal part is 9ct gold, and the original listing ' stunning old antique 9ct gold &coral jewellery necklace& earrings set jewellery ,weight :20.19g. which is including the weight of the necklace & earrings, the necklace alone I weight it is only 15.15g, and also the necklace has black darken metal ball in the middle is not wearable and seller replied" there is nothing stopping you or anyone else wearing it" but the necklace is also a faulty item according to Trademe buyer protection. Earrings is not as described is not 9ct gold and necklace is a faulty item and not mentioned in the listing, should both get refund, however the seller said he doubts any of the staff would answer, I think the seller assuming Tradme's buyer protection won't work and he can do whatever on the site. 

Linda 

Cheers Linda,

Good on you for further attempting to resolve with this Seller which goes in your favour towards the dispute so Well Done!

Take a photo of the set on the scales - if both don't match what your Seller has claimed in that email reply you were sent then send the photo of the items on the scale with that email from the Seller into your TradeMe Dispute email you have to further show what your Seller is saying is not correct.

You will want to send both your email further reaching out to the Seller for resolve And their email reply into TradeMe regardless as evidence you have further both attempted And exhausted efforts to resolve this with the Seller.

Yes! Necklace faulty and not matching Listing description or photo's is Item not as described which you claim for in your dispute along with the earrings. 

Your perseverance with attempting a resolve with this Seller will all go in your favour - TradeMe will get to review your case And your Seller's blatant disregard of the TradeMe T&C's Policy rules and should correctly note your Seller's account accordingly And Honour their Buyer Protection Policy.

Hang in there! - I hope this is resolved asap for you 😊

Your seller… Jeezus! Arguing that a part of a 9ct gold earring, may be plated? How would that even work? That’s so dumb.

I don’t quite understand what the black metal ball is either? To say that there is nothing stopping you, or anyone else from wearing it, is a bit irresponsible on their part, one of the reasons, you buy something that is Sterling Silver or 9ct gold, or medical grade stainless steel or whatever, is that you know you are not allergic to it, if there is a strange foreign metal in there, that could cause a skin reaction.

Good on you for reaching out to the seller again, but if you are going to get gas lit like that, then you are probably best waiting for the dispute process to work its way through.

I would like to provide updates, why my comment showing pending status?

Hi S & Simon:

Thank you for your support,  seller CONFESSED in his last email : the earrings are NOT gold at all. the original listing is 9ct gold & coral necklace & earring set jewellery and listed the weights :20.19 grams( the weight is including both the earrings & necklace), this is clear enough the seller is selling both the necklace & earrings as 9ct gold jewellery and it turns out the earrings are just costume earrings, not 9ct gold at all! isn't it obvious not as described?

Hello Linda. There are a range of things that can trigger it. It's all automated. Certain words and links can cause it. If you don't want to wait for clearance a little trick you can do is simply screenshot your post and repost it as a image. Otherwise when a staffer reviews it, probably tomorrow, it should get cleared.

1. Have you sent the email Confession from the Seller into TradeMe?
2. Have you sent the photo's of the set and scale weight into TradeMe?

hi: I just want to provide updates, so finally, the seller refunded me $80 cos the earrings are just costume earrings not 9ct earrings as he described, (I paid $348 for the necklace & earrings set). This is the not the best result , however,  I reached the agreement with the seller, I really hope Trademe can be more helpful in the future if the buyer paid with Ping, especially when the item is so obvious not as described.

Kia Ora Linda, 

Thank you for the update but you are due your Full Refund! - I am Sorry to read you have been duped by Both Parties who have Both Mislead you & Lured you into purchase.

TradeMe still have a Responsibility to stand behind their Buyer Protection Policy & Protect further Members from being Scammed by your Fraudulent Seller! 

Nothing about this is Right or Just - Your case is clear cut with No Complication! - Short Staffed does Not relinquish responsibility under the Fair Trading Act or Consumer Protection!

I would keep your Dispute in place as your Seller has refused to Refund you your full amount or accept Return of items And TradeMe have told you Not to return these!

Linda,

Have a read through the following...

Making a Disputes Tribunal claim as a buyer

If your Seller is In Trade they have additional Responsibilities and cannot get away with this fraudulent practice - Paying $348. for the set the tribunal cost is $45.00 - That's $3.03 back in your Bank account. - Yes! TradeMe should be paying the Full amount of $348. under their Buyer Protection Policy! - You have options and this should Not be happening to you!

Linda,

My Comment has made it into Pending status again - Meantime this is how it reads and you can look it up online or through the Help Search bar at the Top of the page.

Kia Ora Linda,

Code of conduct – Help - Trade Me

Buyer Protection policy – Help - Trade Me

What's protected...