E-Bay seller and YN-560

A week ago I bought a YN-560II on E-Bay, I got it and it doesn't work, well it turns on and I can cycle through the modes, zoom, but the charge of the flash is not work can't hear it charging the flash and there is no charged light bellow the pilot (test button), I sent them a message and told them that I already own two of the YN-560 II's and was familiar with how they work, They send me a message back wanting to know If I tried cleaning the contacts, did I have the batteries installed correctly, was I using fresh batteries, then they said read the (micro printed) manual. So much for the first message I sent them explaining that I was familiar with the flash unit. I sent them another message and told them lets face it the charging circuit of the flash was defected, I got a reply wanting me to ship it back, I got the plastic mailer that the flash came in out of the garbage and Googled company name it's located in NJ. and now I am wondering what's going to happen to it once I return it.
They sent me a RMA number and a Custom number (what is a Custom #) sounds like I will be paying to ship it back to them, If I remember correctly ever time I have sent something back I was sent a printed post paid label with the RMA on it, another uneasy feeling I have is the shipping department's address is somewhere else in NJ.
Should I ask them to send or email me a post paid return label with the RMA and Custom number? I may be a little over thinking all of this because of the things I saw on the Google search of the company, but I have this something doesn't sound right thought going on in my head.
Thanks
Don

Make a complaint with paypal about your concerns and how the item does not work and take it from there !

This is why you always buy from places that say "fulfilled by Amazon"

Most of the company's with addresses in NJ are Chinese company's that ship through jersey.

What will happen is you'll ship it back to them (yes you'll be paying shipping since very few of these places pay for return shipping. Look into their return policy), wait several weeks, then get a new flash shipped to you. Quite common

Seems to me that - at this stage in the proceedings - the vendor has behaved perfectly reasonably. The great majority of these companies aren't photo stores or even specialists in anything particular, they simply sell boxes of merchandise. Many of them have probably never even seen the contents of the box and wouldn't know what is was / did / was supposed to do if it stood on it's hind legs and danced a fandango (they might be a bit surprised though ).

At this stage, I feel that you're overthinking things.
Very few eBay vendors will pay for return postage:-

• their margin is too small to justify it. Internet selling is pretty cut-throat and most people do buy on price alone but still expect the bricks 'n mortar store service.
  
• they mostly say quite clearly something to the effect "Buyer pays return postage".
  
• to pay for return postage opens them up to the unscrupulous few who send for stuff, use it for one job and then send it back as "unsuitable". Yes, it does happen. Not everyone is totally honest! Vendors do have to protect themselves and, naturally, have to apply the same rules to all. We honest folks pay for the few who have less scruples.
  

Whortleberry wrote in post #17394987
Very few eBay vendors will pay for return postage:-

• their margin is too small to justify it. Internet selling is pretty cut-throat and most people do buy on price alone but still expect the bricks 'n mortar store service.
  
• they mostly say quite clearly something to the effect "Buyer pays return postage".
  
• to pay for return postage opens them up to the unscrupulous few who send for stuff, use it for one job and then send it back as "unsuitable". Yes, it does happen. Not everyone is totally honest! Vendors do have to protect themselves and, naturally, have to apply the same rules to all. We honest folks pay for the few who have less scruples.
  

Why should the buyer have to cover return postage when the seller is at fault? Talking about margins is redundant, if they're not good enough for the seller they should find something else to sell or have better QA.

Whortleberry wrote in post #17394987
In the last 400+ postal purchases, the many Chinese vendors I've used have been absolutely 100% reliable and KEEN to have the business. By comparison, vendors from UK, EU and USA struggle to reach 50% reliability in the most part. Especially in the UK, the prevailing attitude seems to be that the customer is a bl**dy nuisance. I would infinitely prefer to buy from China - at least they seem to want the business and be prepared to do their utmost to both get and retain it! (Mind you, I'm pretty careful about who I buy from anyway.)
Different strokes for different folks, I suppose.

I have no problem buying from China, you can get some incredibly good deals but they're cheaper because they cut corners. Those cut corners lead to problems such as more DOA units so I don't know where you're pulling this 50% reliability figure for western products from.

simonbarker wrote in post #17395133
Why should the buyer have to cover return postage when the seller is at fault? Talking about margins is redundant, if they're not good enough for the seller they should find something else to sell or have better QA.

I have no problem buying from China, you can get some incredibly good deals but they're cheaper because they cut corners. Those cut corners lead to problems such as more DOA units so I don't know where you're pulling this 50% reliability figure for western products from.

The buyer covers the return postage cost because those are the terms they accept when they contract into the transaction. It ain't necessarily FAIR, I don't necessarily agree with it (in fact, I don't like it at all) but it's what has been accepted as part of the contracted transaction.

Didn't say Western products were only 50% reliable, that was for reliability of supply and service based on personal experience. You'd be surprised how many "Western" products, including long established brands traditionally thought of as being "Western" are now made in China. I wasn't discussing the products at all simply the service.

Yes I'm probably over thinking it, I have bought more than a couple of items that came from China and have been a happy camper, Like it was said I still have Paypal and maybe E-Bay to fall back on if it does go south.

Thanks to everyone for your advice. I will let you know how it goes.
Don

DigitalDon wrote in post #17394442
A week ago I bought a YN-560II on E-Bay, I got it and it doesn't work, well it turns on and I can cycle through the modes, zoom, but the charge of the flash is not work can't hear it charging the flash and there is no charged light bellow the pilot (test button)

Perhaps before the effort and cost of returning the unit: power up one of your existing units and check for recharge time after a test fire. If it is slow (over 6 seconds), recharge the batteries and test the good unit again. If performance is good (not just adequate), then place those batteries in the new unit and check charging performance. If it does not charge the flash, send it back as planned.

Not exactly helping here, but I had very positive experience in the last month upgrading my studio mostly with gadgets ordered on ebay directly from China. Everything works without issues. E.g. I got 5 flashes YN-560-III from three different sellers, YN560-TX, RF-603-II. I am actually quite impressed with the quality control of Yongnuo. And that is despite the fact that shipments travel for almost a month in poor packaging (usually it is just a bubble envelope), suggesting that the gadgets can take quite a bit of abuse and still work.

Ebay and Paypal ALWAYS SIDE WITH THE BUYER!
If youmdont get a refund, file a complaint.

UPDATE
Sent the defective flash back, got a new today, and it is working perfectly.

DigitalDon wrote in post #17413678
UPDATE
Sent the defective flash back, got a new today, and it is working perfectly.

Good to hear. All's well that ends well, eh?

Whortleberry wrote in post #17413933
Good to hear. All's well that ends well, eh?

yes it is