Just got screwed by Play-Asia

Hey all,
thought I'd just share my 1st bard experience with play-asia after years of being a loyal customer.

They listed a Jap Sega Mega Drive a few weeks ago with the model number Haa-2500. When I got it, the box was the original box but the console inside was Haa-2510! As u can expect I wasn't too happy. Their response has been nothing but shocking.

I sent them emails and this has been their replies so far...

1. "Hi,
on the item page the Mega Drive was listed as model number HAA-2500.
However, the console is not model HAA-2500. On the console it says it is model HAA-2510.
Can I please return item and get a full refund, as well as for postage back.
Thanks"

2. Play-asia reply
"Thank you for contacting Play-Asia.com.

As stated in our email on 1 August 2008, "We regret we do not have the manpower to check for each specific item before shipping."

Besides, as stated in our website, "Seller shall have the right to make substitutions and modifications of the specification of the Product(s) ordered by the Customer, provided that such substitutions or modifications will not materially affect the overall performance of the Product(s) or the type of Product(s) ordered by the Customer." Thus, we are afraid we are not able to accept your returns.

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Best regards,

Tony"

3. My reply
"then the return does qualify as there it is a COMPLETELY different model. there are differences in hardware between the HAA-2500 and the HAA-2510.

HAA02500 has NO TMSS chip, which means the console can play games from all regions and has an RF and ext port. the HAA-2510 does not have these ports"

4. Play-asia reply
"That's not correct as there are region protection for "Mega Drive Console" and we have already stated in our website that "This system only plays Japanese NTSC version Mega Drive games (no US or PAL titles)".

If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Best regards,

Tony
Play-Asia.com"


So pretty much they are saying that because they sent me a console that plays sega games, they dont owe me a refund, because it does play the games. That would be like paying for a BWM M3 coupe and on pick up day getting a BMW 1 series....with the excuse being its still a car and gets u from A to B, so we dont owe u a refund.

My next message involved threating to get intouch with the Australia Federal Police (which handle overseas internet fraud/misrepresentation). They haven't replied to that one yet :)

You should join the Australian League of Nit-Pickers.

I'd just eat your....uh, "loss" and perhaps trade it with someone who has the specific model # you obviously can't live without. Taking this issue further makes you look petty and, to be honest, dorky.

It seems so petty that they won't offer you a refund at least.

I dont think Im getting petty or "dorky"???? r u serious???? look at your signature u hypocrite! and you're obviously racist against Australians...watch what you say.

The listing was misleasing and misrepresented the item.

Another example of putting this situation... would be buying a Xbox Elite from them but then getting a standard xbox 360. the same petty excuse applies...it still plays xbox games, does what it is supposed to... so tough luck.

I thought you would have reported them to the ACCC =P, unless they don't actually do internet sales.

But yeah, if you can get the refund, good, but remember, it is nothing to go to court over, the court fees will probably cost more than the Non-TMSS system itself.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by retrosega

I dont think Im getting petty or "dorky"???? r u serious???? look at your signature u hypocrite! and you're obviously racist against Australians...watch what you say.

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I'll have you know that my signature is 100% pure nerdy.

Are you going to just play games on the system or are you going to use that EXT port for some diabolical Australian world domination plot?

And "dorky" (in this sense) is when you feel the need to take a company to court over not getting a precise model #, I'd reserve that action for when you order something and they don't send you a damn thing.

Quote:

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The listing was misleasing and misrepresented the item.

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It sucks that they won't refund your money and it sucks your game system was a "2510" and not a "2500", but you act like you have no option and you are stuck with a "2510" forever and ever. Trade the damn thing with someone who has a "2500".....sheesh.

There are principles in the matter, they lied to him so they should it exchange it, customer service man. I wouldn't go to court or anything but I would be royally pissed.

I would think they would at least be cooler about it. You can't do business if you short your customers, it will usually cost you more in the long run than just making the customer happy so they use you again. I think the issue with the different models is valid.

Play-Asia knows what they're selling. They owe you a refund.

I am sure Play-asia know they sent me the wrong item.

I have unfortunately been duped b4 by Discountgames on ebay. about $500 worth of games. I got my money back after 1year! lol so I did find out about procedures.

Unfortunately I cant take them to "court". internet purchases are only protected by the countries laws if the company the product is purchased from is in the same country as the buyer. Hence this is were things get tricky.

Play-asia probably know this.

Anyway...the Federal Police can deal with this by dealing with authorities in the repective country the seller/company is in. It is then up to the other side for any action to happen. I am not sure of the links between Hong-Kong and Australia. However in Australia we are quite safe if we are dealing with what is called the "G8" (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and United States)

To update...play-asia has ignored my last response.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by retrosega

I am sure Play-asia know they sent me the wrong item.

I have unfortunately been duped b4 by Discountgames on ebay. about $500 worth of games. I got my money back after 1year! lol so I did find out about procedures.

Unfortunately I cant take them to "court". internet purchases are only protected by the countries laws if the company the product is purchased from is in the same country as the buyer. Hence this is were things get tricky.

Play-asia probably know this.

Anyway...the Federal Police can deal with this by dealing with authorities in the repective country the seller/company is in. It is then up to the other side for any action to happen. I am not sure of the links between Hong-Kong and Australia. However in Australia we are quite safe if we are dealing with what is called the "G8" (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, United Kingdom and United States)

To update...play-asia has ignored my last response.

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I hope you win. You guys see now why Paypal on ebay is so much better. Seller can't do shit against Paypal.
buyer protection is tantamount.

They probably don't know about model numbers. They got the number from the box, but if they received the console in the wrong package already, it's likely they did not double-check it. Although it would be nice, I suppose it's like the guy said: they just don't have the man power for something like that.

Anyway, I would be interested in the console. I don't need the package, just the hardware itself. Check your PMs.

I agree with retrosega here, but they are right that the TMSS has nothing to do with regional lockout, it was made for locking out unlicensed developers. You should lie and tell that you must have the unit with RF out because your TV only has RF output, so the unit you got is useless to you, so it DOES effect performance.

It might seem petty on the surface but you did buy a 2500, you should have gotten a 2500. Sending you another model that is "close enough" is a cop out and definitely not the way to go about doing business. Also the whole lack of man power thing is BS, as it would take about 10 seconds to take the system out of the box and verify its model number. If they are that understaffed I doubt they would of had the time to email you about something so "petty."

You bought with a credit card, right? If they won't issue a refund legitimately, contact your card issuer and tell them the seller misrepresented the item they sold and charge it back.