Bought some ‘Lowa Boots Black Waterproof Gore-tex Zip-up Snow Winter ~ Size UK 9 1/2’ on Fleabay in April this year with the intention of using them this winter for sea fishing off the pier. Paid with PP, delivery was quick, they fit fine & felt warm enough so I left positive feedback & chucked them in the cupboard.
I’ve used them twice (exactly twice) since the start of November & the soles are falling apart. I reckon I must have walked at most 1km in them, from the car onto the pier & back, twice.
I emailed the seller asking for a refund saying they weren’t fit for purpose & that I was now dubious about their authenticity. She didn’t reply after 2 days so my wife emailed her about another item she had for sale & guess what, she got an answer within 5 hrs. So I mailed her again, once more voicing my concerns. I also mentioned, rightly or wrongly, that I had spoken to a family member who’s a trading standards officer about the issue (he said what I already knew, to speak to her first)
Soon after I received the following email….
Your email has raised several points and I will endeavour to answer each in order.
Yes I did receive your message through eBay yesterday and due to its content, it was not one I could answer quickly. I would have contacted you very soon and it was not necessary for you to get your wife to fish for a response from me. I needed to acquaint myself with your purchase and the condition of the boots etc.
The Lowa boots were 100% authentic. You were happy when you received the boots. You have owned them for approximately 8 months. How often you have or have not worn the boots is impossible for me to know. How they have been treated over 8 months is impossible for me to know. I could take your word for it, but you seem rather underhand in your manner for me to trust your word. I have come to this conclusion due to 1) asking your wife to contact me regarding a bogus issue 2) attempting to intimidate me by saying you have a friend in Trading Standards 3) threatening my good standing with my eBay feedback, which is against eBay regulations. Have you forgotten you have already left me positive feedback which can’t be withdrawn?
Any way, back to the issue of the boots. You have owned them far too long to be able to expect, or in your wording ‘demand’ a refund.
If you have any other course of action please take it without contacting me in such an intimidating and threatening manner.
For a start, yes I was happy when I received the boots which is why I left positive feedback.
Oh yes, I always wear winter snowboots in the summer months don’t I?
I don’t have a ‘friend’ in trading standards (ok so he is a friend but he is also my BIL)
I didn’t ‘demand’ a refund, I said I expected one.
Anyway, I’ve emailed Lowa to see if they can clarify if they ever even made that style of boots in the first place & if they didn’t I’ll be reporting her to Ebay.
Well, you gets what ya pays for I suppose. 😕