Can I return this to sender?

[Gozu Tashoya]

So I ordered some DVDs from an Amazon zShop and got some cheap HK bootleg instead (worthy of a Pit thread itself, but this isn't about that), and when I asked the seller what I should do to get my money back, I got the following reply:

I am sorry this product is not what you are looking for.
Please send the package back to us for a full refund.
Do you still have our original packaging of this package? If so, please
use the same packaging and leave a note on the package - refused,
return to sender, so that you don't need to affix postage to send the
package back to us. The post office will charge us the shipping cost instead.

Now, my question is simply this: Is this a kosher thing to do?

My impression is that the package wasn't, as I imagine the USPS will see it, "refused." (I accepted the package, opened it, and refused the contents, if anything.) Would following the seller's advice technically be mail fraud?

*sigh* Somehow I imagine I'm going to be out the return-shipping costs....

(Unless, of course, someone can figure out a way I can stick it to the seller. :D)

[zoltar7]

My postmaster has told me that you can endorse mail "refused, return to sender" until you open it.

After you open it you're supposed to pay postage to send it back.

[UncleRojelio]

My postmaster has told me that you can endorse mail "refused, return to sender" until you open it.

After you open it you're supposed to pay postage to send it back.

Hence, I've never, ever actually returned a Columbia House reply coupon. I just keep sending the unopened DVDs back until they quit sending them in first place.

[Gozu Tashoya]

My postmaster has told me that you can endorse mail "refused, return to sender" until you open it.

After you open it you're supposed to pay postage to send it back.

Feh, that's what I figured. Thanks, zoltar7.

Ah well, better $5 in postage than X amount of time in federal PMITA prison. ;)

[ZipperJJ]

My dad ordered some DVDs off the television (dear lord, he's getting old..) and recieved the initial "first one is only $4.95". He promptly called the seller and quit the "plan." They told him he wouldn't get any more - but he did.

He called them again after receiving the second DVD and they told him to do the same thing the zShop seller told you to do. The mailman took it as far as I know.

[Joe Mahma]

My dad ordered some DVDs off the television (dear lord, he's getting old..) and recieved the initial "first one is only $4.95". He promptly called the seller and quit the "plan." They told him he wouldn't get any more - but he did.

He called them again after receiving the second DVD and they told him to do the same thing the zShop seller told you to do. The mailman took it as far as I know.

Yes, but he didn't open the second one, correct?

[fluiddruid]

I work with situations just like these, and no, the correct Post Office policy is that they will not take back opened packages as Refused. Now, some people will re-seal the packages and send them back because not all postal clerks seem to be as good about following this policy, but the official word is no.

The company should provide you a return label or a refund for the cost of the return shipping.

[Jayrot]

It's worth noting that this "company" has already established itself and fraudulent, disreputable, and downright criminal by selling bootleg copies. As such, you should not expect any honesty or trust from here on out.

You can consider yourself lucky that you even received a response, and certainly you should do what you can do get your money back. But, it's easy to forget that a scammer is always a scammer. There is absolutely no reason to expect that they'd honor anything.

Depending on how much money is at stake (and how much you care), you may want to send it back with Delivery Confirmation. An old trick is for them to say they never received the return and can't refund your money without proof of a "defective product".

[Jayrot]

Here's one example:

http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=5359210&postcount=4

[gotpasswords]

Meanwhile, you have notified Amazon that one of their z-shops is apparently on the shady side, right?