This is an update to the previous review written in December
Since I have gotten nowhere with Paypal, I opened a chargeback with my bank, and also filed claims against Paypal with the Federal Trade Commission, Better Business Bureau, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and California Attorney General's office. I also wrote to several Congressional legislators to ask if they could intervene. At some point, Paypal reopened the case and said they will investigate further, but haven't taken any action. I also filed a claim against the seller with the FTC, BBB and the Massachusetts Attorney General's office consumer complaints, which asked for more documentation.
My bank came back to me the other day with the seller's objections, in which she stated a number of lies, first claiming this item's market price was $6500, but it was on markdown and final sale and no returns are accepted and that the stated refund policy on her website is not applicable to the items she sells in her physical store. There was NO mention made or any indication anywhere that this had been priced higher and was on markdown or final sale and that no refund was possible. There was nothing written in her listing nor on her Instagram page, nor on the receipt, nor on the website, nor in any exchanges I had with her. Normally sellers will clearly state No Returns, All Sales Final, etc. There was none of that here. I would never have purchased anything from her if there was a clearly stated policy or any indication that all sales were final. Furthermore, on her IG page, she has links to her website and her shop's physical address. Thus, her physical shop, her IG page and website are all inextricably linked.
She also claimed NO reseller or secondhand shop on the planet allows refunds. Not true. There are several that do, and I cited at least three examples in my response to the bank, and shared screenshots of their policies. I also provided links to sites that have sold this same bag and none of them were selling for $6500. When this bag came out in 2007, it wasn't even that much. It's true, I have seen a couple of these bags selling for higher prices, but they were both listed as vintage collectibles and in pristine condition, not heavily used like the one she sold me.
But one of the most egregious statements she made to my credit provider was that she's more than happy to offer an exchange, store credit or to consign the item. She wrote "Please return the item to me if the buyer agrees to consign or get store credit." Errrr...the delivery confirmation states otherwise: that the item was delivered to her several weeks ago. This is another outright lie from her side. But just for good measure, I have asked both the USPS and my country's postal service now to look into this matter further and find out who signed for it, because with Registered post, there is always a signature required. So this is apparently what she keeps claiming; that she never received the item. The item was shipped to her shop. She had my email address. She could easily have contacted me and said she never received anything and even offered the options to exchange, credit or consign. My bank asked what my position is on that and I told them not acceptable and that the only acceptable resolution is a full refund.
The next step would be to file a police report and initiate a small claims court action.