So those LED filaments weren’t packed nearly well as necessary to get them halfway around the planet:
The complaint I eventually filed with PayPal went like this (with commentary in parentheses):
3/15/2017 10:00 EDT – Buyer: eBay issue tracking: xxx Paypal Case ID: yyy
This eBay seller shipped delicate parts without padding, did not ship replacements as promised, has repeatedly offered a refund without actually doing so, and has attempted eBay feedback extortion.
Chronology:
11 Jan – broken parts received in unpadded envelope. Contacted through eBay, sent photos
13 Jan – “we can resend you and it will take 35-45 days，so is it ok for you ？”
(I asked for a refund, which was ignored)
16 Jan – replacements allegedly send by untracked mail, not received by 15 March = 60 days
(and still missing: draw your own conclusions)
18 Jan – “if you still haven’t received within the promised , please feel free to contact me ,i can solve the problem for you”
28 Feb – “If you agree with me, I will send your money to your paypal account, […] And meanwhile I will also send you one ebay feedback revision request, […], revise your negative feedback into positive feedback with all 5 star point.”
(I pointed out that feedback extortion is contrary to eBay policy and asked for a refund)
7 Mar – “I am really sorry for this issue. And please trust me. I’m a responsible eBay seller. I will be in charge of this problem. I will do my best to solve the problem and meet your satisfaction.”
7 Mar – “So could you please do me a little favor to send me a photo?”
(Photos first sent 11 Jan, re-sent 8 Mar)
9 Mar – “I’m so sorry about that issue . we can refund partial money for you. So is it ok for u”
(I disagreed and, again, asked for a complete refund)
10 Mar – “i will refund you soon, may i refund to your paypal?”
(I insisted on a refund through eBay for tracking)
10 Mar – “Please give me some time, I will check it for you.”
14 Mar – The seller will send you a $ 5.13 USD refund after they receive the returned item.
(At which point I escalated this to a claim with this summary)
I put pictures of the broken parts on my blog: https://softsolder.com/2017/01/21/led-filaments-whoops/
The attempted feedback extortion on 28 Feb calls for a complete refund and punitive action.
Returning $5.13 worth of parts to China is obviously absurd and the seller knows that, having avoided mentioning that “requirement” while previously offering refunds.
After two and a half months, it’s long past time for a complete refund.
Thank you.
Those brief snippets don’t convey the flavor of the seller’s correspondence, again with (commentary in parentheses):
12 January 2017
can you use?(No, I cannot)
13 January 2017
Dear buyer ，
thanks for your patience and understanding .
we can resend you and it will take 35-45 days，so is it ok for you ？looking forward to your reply .
Best wishes.(No, I want a refund)
16 January 2017
Hello, my dear friend,
Thanks for your kind communication.
I place order for you now and it will be resent in 24 hours. I will call post office to deliver quickly. Hope you can get it soon. If you still haven’t received within the promised , please feel free to contact me ,I can solve the problem for you. Thank you.
Best wishes.(I asked for the tracking number)
17 January 2017
dear buyer,
we have tracking number but it shows only the information in China, there is no information abroad, as it is an economical shipping, we have to reduce our loss, so is it ok? looking forward to your reply.
Best wishes.(This was when I realized they were in scammer mode)
18 January 2017
if you still haven’t received within the promised , please feel free to contact me ,i can solve the problem for you. Thank you.
Best wishes.(The “promised” was far beyond eBay’s claim limit. I said I would file a claim in late February)
28 February 2017
Hello Buyer:
I just got your negative feedback.
From your feedback, I know that you are not satisfied with the item. I am so sorry for that. And I am also so depressed with your negative feedback. It really hurt me a lot.
So I think I can give you fully money back, and you can just keep that item for compensation.
But I really hope you can revise your negative feedback into positive feedback with all 5 star seller performance. That is very important.
If you agree with me, I will send your money to your paypal account, And you can log in your paypal and accept that money. And meanwhile I will also send you one ebay feedback revision request, you can view it in your ebay message box, revise your negative feedback into positive feedback with all 5 star point.
That is the most important for me.
Is everything OK for you?
I really hope your kindly understanding.
Looking forward your answer.
God Bless you and all your family.
Best Wishes(I filed a claim and posted negative feedback, as I wasn’t thrilled with the purchase)
8 March 2017
Dear buyer，
Thank you for your message. I’m so sorry about that issue . we can refund partial money for you. So is it ok for u？Looking forward to your reply .
Best wishes.(I dsagreed and asked for their long-promised full refund)
9 March 2017
Dear buyer,
Please give me some time, I will check it for you. Thank you for you email.
Best wishes(Time was not on my side)
As it turned out, the eBay claim period ended a few days earlier than I expected and eBay’s customer support recommended filing a dispute on Paypal. I asked how to handle issues like this in the future and was told, very firmly, to open an issue immediately when a problem occurs on an order from a foreign seller. A formal eBay issue, rather than just “send a message to the seller”, starts the resolution clock and provide a powerful incentive to Make Things Happen.
So noted.
The Smell of Molten Projects in the Morning 
economical shipping, we have to reduce our loss
Their loss is directly due to their incompetence, whinging to reduce it by wasting your time shows annoying hubris. Especially considering that you and they both know that “economical shipping” from China takes over a month.
This all sounds very familiar, been through it all myself several times. It just goes to show that a good deal is not always as good as it first appears, especially if it involves ebay or China.
In my (limited) experience the Chinese vendor “made good.” In three recent instances an item was described as “stainless steel” but the product received was made of plastic. I objected to this unauthorized substitution and the vendor made a full refund without quibble.
What? Plastic doesn’t rust. Is it OK? Can’t you use? :-)
Maybe it was stainless “steal”
I once asked for a refund on PWM controllers sold as 5A that had 3A polyfuses installed but were otherwise completely fine. For a test I shorted a fuse and confirmed that the rest of the board handles 5A without heating (at all). Seller refunded promptly, without even asking to return the item or arguing anything.
I had better experience with ali’s refund policy. If it arrives broken, you can start a complaint and the money doesn’t get released to the seller. But it is always hard to tell whether the sellers really know what they are selling. Everyone has a picture of a company floor on their store website. As a rule I try not to buy electronic parts from people who also sell hair extensions.
Now that electronic parts & modules have become made-in-China commodities, just like beach toys and “fashion” sunglasses, I figure there’s no reason not to buy from the lowest bidder. It’s not as though another buck or two will vault me into the high-quality supplier circle. [sigh]
That said, the true bottom-dollar sellers now have estimated shipping times upwards of six weeks, so I’ve gone slightly upscale and have even paid a buck or two more for faster + tracked shipping on occasion.
I’ve notice the very long shipping times as well on the lowest prices. It may be the new game they are playing in order to attain higher profits. My recent refund was due to just that a 6-8 week shipping time that once expired was still not here. They refunded promptly and did not offer to replace. I ordered from another vendor for only slightly higher price and ship time is about two weeks. Most of the time the items I’m looking for are not commonly available and are not easily located elsewhere. In this case, an ER11 collet holder.