posted on February 23, 2001 04:15:10 PM
Hi,
I was hoping I could get some help with a little problem that I am having. I recently sold a pair of Calvin Klein jeans. When the high bidder received the jeans they said they were fake and they wanted their money back. Because I was not the original owner, I couldn't say they were definitely authentic. (I would never have listed them if I thought they were fake) I told them to send them back and I would give a refund including the original shipping. The reason the bidder thought they were fake was because of a label that says UNITE! Union made in the USA. Although this label isn't on my one pair of Calvin Klein jeans, I was wondering if anyone out there had a pair of Calvin's they could check for that label. I don't want to put them back on Ebay if they are fake. This bidder also wants the shipping that it cost him to send them back to me. I would appreciate some opinions about refunding the original shipping (which I already agreed to) in additon to the shipping to send them back to me. Thanks so much for any help. I really appreciate it.
posted on February 23, 2001 04:40:36 PM
I can't help you on the label part but (IMHO) you should refund shipping both ways. Why should the buyer be out any money at all (return shipping back to you) if you were the one who made the error about whether they were authentic?
I realize that you're not sure they're fake. Can you have the bidder hold on to them for a couple of days until you have the chance to research the authenticity? How about going to a store that sells these jeans and checking out the labels? Maybe they're not fake at all.
posted on February 23, 2001 05:57:38 PM
I have a pair of Calvin Klein "CK" jeans and they say "Made in Mexico". No place on the jeans does it say UNITE! Union or Made in the USA.
Of course I dont know if MINE are fake or not. I bought them at a second hand store and love them!
posted on February 23, 2001 07:19:57 PM
Hi,
Thanks for the replies. I have already received the jeans back from the bidder. I will proably refund the shipping both ways to satisfy the bidder. I would prefer to move on and not worry about the extra $3.95 shipping. I just have a gut feeling that they just didn't fit her and she is saying that she doesn't believe they are authentic. Unfortunately, I'm not the original owner so I don't know for sure. If someone out there can verify that they have a pair of Calvin's that they purchased with that label, at least I can relist them. Checking out the jeans at a store is a great idea. I'll try to do that as well. Thanks again for the replies.
posted on February 23, 2001 07:32:04 PM
Hi, I just had a pair of Calvin Klein jeans on eBay that I have not shipped yet...out of curiousity, I unpackaged them to look....Nope, no Unite anywhere. But FAKE Calvin Klein jeans is a new one on me!!!
posted on February 23, 2001 08:33:19 PM
I doubt these are fake and by the way,Calvins are all my wife wears, either 5 or 6's!! I guess I should check this out,always selling hardly buying!
posted on February 23, 2001 11:52:30 PM
I bought a pair of Calvin Klein jeans new at Nordstrom's a few months ago (half price, good deal!). They do have a tag that says UNITE! Union made in the USA. So there it is.
posted on February 24, 2001 03:50:10 AM
YEA! Thank you so much! I think I am going to relist them and just refund the bidder's money, since I already have the jeans back. Plus, she is so POSITIVE that they are fake because of the fit as well. I should have posted here before I agreed to take them back. Thanks again for the replies. I always read these boards,but have never posted.
posted on February 24, 2001 04:49:15 AM
They are real. I just checked mine and 2 pair have that label. They were bought at Foley's so I'm sure mine are ok.
posted on February 24, 2001 09:51:29 AM
Thanks so much for checking the labels. I wish I would have thought to post here BEFORE I told the bidder to send the jeans back! I will let her know that the jeans are authentic. Do you think I should have to refund her return shipping in additional to the initial bid and shipping? I would like some opinions on that before I email her with my new information. Thanks everyone!
Just sitting here in my authenitic Calvins, reading the posts. By the way, I purchased mine in a Calvin Klein outlet. I just pulled the zipper down and took a look at the labels on the interior back waistband. Yup! Says "UNITE..union made" So there ya go!!
IMO, I would not pay for the shipping return, since I believe you have sold authentic Calvin Klein jeans. I would however explain in a nice friendly email that you will graciously refund her for the cost and original shipping on the jeans, but since you have authenticated the jeans and she believes otherwise, that she should absorb the cost of the return shipping. And then, go relist them!!
posted on February 24, 2001 10:45:46 AM
I would not refund the additional shipping if it were a client of mine. The reason: we state in our ads that we are happy to accept all returns if you are not satisfied. Sorry, we do not refund s/h or insurance fees unless the item was grossly misrepresented.
For us the item would not have been mis-represented and we would not refund the s/h/i fees. We would only refund the item price.
I guess it depends on how you worded your auction.
You may want to say:
Hi xxxxx,
I just wanted to let you know that the jeans have been received. I checked with my local Nordstrom and Calvin Klein stores and they do confirm that Unite is an authentic Calvin Klein label and that these jeans are not fakes. Therefore, I will be refunding you the item price since you were not happy with the jeans but will not be refunding your s/h/i expense as the jeans were not misrepresented.
Designers change factories quite a bit and the fit may be different because they are now using a new factory. I am sorry the jeans did not fit. How about a compromise. Generally, in this situation we would only refund the item price. But seeing as how you expected a different fit, I would be happy to refund you your item price and original s/h/i fees. You will then absorb the return s/h/i fees and we will call it even. Does that sound alright to you?
*********************
IMHO only,
That lets the buyer know that the item in no uncertain terms is not fake.
Acknowledges that possibly a new factory = a different fit and that you understand her situation.
Comes to a workable solution so that you are not negged and she ends up satisfied.
posted on February 25, 2001 08:52:13 AM
Hi,
Thanks for all the great advice. I just sent the bidder an email and am waiting to hear back. I offered the price plus shipping since I was unable to verify they were authentic at that time. I let her know that they are indeed authentic and don't feel I should have to absorb the return shipping in addition to the original shipping, ebay fees, etc., since they were not misrepresented. I'm one of those people that is really bothered by negative feedback. I have already left a positve feedback for them. Thanks again for the replies and great advice!
posted on February 25, 2001 09:21:15 AM
Mine have Union made on them too!
The jeans probably didn't fit her. I wouldn't reimburse shipping either, and let her know why.... geeeeez!
But if you ever sell those again or any other clothes for that matter, ALWAYS measure. The waist, inseam etc. Different brands differ in sizing. I like Bongo, and they differ greatly from Levi, CK, or any of the other name brands. So you can say: these are size 7, I measured them and the waist is xx and the inseam is xx. Same with tops, the bust is xx, and from shoulder to bottom hem is xx.
posted on February 25, 2001 09:32:52 AM
Hi Near the sea,
I always put the waist and inseam measurments! When she sent me the initial email she said that not only did she think they were fake because of the Unite tag but because of the fit!
Because I agreed to take them back before doing any research, like posting here, I will refund the initial shipping.
When I buy something on Ebay that doesn't fit me, I just sell it back on Ebay! This person is a seller as well.
Meanwhile, I never realized that my husband had 2 pairs of CK jeans in his closet with the Unite tag! It never dawned on me to check there. She probably still wouldn't have believe they were real. I know the Neg feedback is probably coming.
posted on February 25, 2001 09:39:28 AM
pal-wow, well obviously buyers remorse (not that your jeans were bad or anything) people do that. Dang at this point, I dunno. Did you already leave pos. fb? If not, I dunno, maybe a neutral or something. She could be doing this a lot? who knows. Yes she could have gone on, and resold them.
I too, think its insane for her to say that Calvin Klein Jeans were a fake? God!
posted on February 25, 2001 01:51:27 PM
Counterfeiting designer jeans is a billion dollar a year industry. The main target these days are: Tommy Hilfiger, Versace, and Gucci.
Calvin's were a big target during the 80's. If the jeans were from that era then I would not be surprised if they were fake. Recently, however Calvins are rarely targeted by counterfiters.
