Electronics & Appliances Shopee

Not sure whether anything much on Shopee has been posted in the past, but thought I would share my recent experiences in the hope that it might help other members with their shopping choices and to be prepared for what might happen when using Shopee.

Several weeks ago I bought a pc via Shopee. Arrived on time, did not power up. Went through the returns assessment process with Shopee and the seller, which involved lots of painstaking gathering of evidence - chats with the seller; pictures of the item; pictures of the packaging etc. Process for return via Shopee is to take to an accredited MLhuillier agent who arrange the return. Shopee sent an email saying I should use the attached return shipping label, but there was not one attached. Nonetheless, after spending 90+ minutes at an MLhuiller agent in town the shipping label was duly generated by the Shopee system, item returned and money transferred back to my account.

Recently purchased an inverter for brownouts, having seen an informative video by a well-known local blogger. The correct (best) spec of inverter recommended (pure sine wave), but there was due warning to make sure that the small print spec for the item matched the headline advert for this type. Browsing through both Shopee and Lazada, I was shocked to see how many inverters were headlined as pure sine wave, but in the spec noted as modified sine wave, which is not so good with certain types of appliance. False advertising all over the place. Eventually found one that matched the spec and at 5000w was what I was after. The price was good.

Obviously it was shipped from Chine, as they all are, so took a couple of weeks to arrive. On opening the box, I just removed the manual and sure enough, on page 4, it said that the item was a modified sine wave type. Straight back to Shopee to request return/refund - seller disputed, but Shopee eventually found in my favour.

So, off I went to MLhuiller to return the item, armed with all the details I needed. In all, I visited four different MLhuiller agents and I still have the item. These were the responses when I explained in each one what I wanted them to do:

1. Sir, the item needs to have bubble wrap'. Me: 'But there was no bubble wrap in the box when I received it'. 'Sorry sir, but that's the policy, there must be bubble wrap'. Took back the item and went off to downtown to buy bubble wrap.

2. After finally finding bubble wrap in Uymatiao, went to closest MLhuiller agent to return item. 'Sorry sir, brown out. We have no system access'. Not their fault.

3. Set off with bubble wrap flapping in the wind and went to Market Place MLhuiller branch. Explained what I wanted them to do. After the two behind the counter chatted for a few minutes, I got 'Sorry sir, we have not had our Shopee agency account activated yet'. Me: 'But you appear on their list of accredited agents'. Sorry sir'!

4. Set off just up the road to the next MLuiller agent before Robinson Mall. Explained what I wanted them to do. Gave them all the details that Shopee had sent me to facilitate the return. 'Sir, we need the purchase ID number'. Me: 'I think you just input the return ID number I've provided'. 'No sir, we need the purchase ID number'. Fortunately I was able to find that in the Shopee app on my phone and gave it to them. 'Sir, this is an invalid purchase ID number'. Me: 'But it's the number in my account'. 'But the number is showing as invalid sir'. Me: 'I don't have any other numbers. Can you please call Shopee to clarify?' 'Sir, we cannot do that'. Me: 'Why not, the last time I returned an item at a different branch, the agent called Shopee 11 times'. 'Sir, we need the puchase ID number from the seller to you'. Me: 'But there is no such number. The number comes from Shopee'. 'Sir, sorry but we cannot process it without that'.

Sorry if that's a bit long-winded, but I hope that it serves as a warning that if you buy from Shopee, you run a huge risk of being scammed for an unsuitable or inappropriate item, i.e. one that is NOT what you thought you were paying for.

That aside, providing that you take a video of yourself opening the package on arrival, take copious pictures just in case and gather as much evidence as you can, there is high probability of Shopee accepting the return from you. If not, who knows.

But, this is the exciting part, once you have Shopee's consent to return, you are then awaiting a return shipping label that will probably not arrive from them. Then, you are in the lap of the Gods as to whether your chosen MLhuiller agent will be bothered to do the return for you. Having seen the lengthy process on my first and successful return, I can quite hear the thought process churning around in the MLhuiller employees' heads - 'shall we spend a couple of hours going through this, or fob him off with some excuse or other as to why he should go somewhere else, so we can go back to our phones and something much more important (anyone else noticed that rife habit in shops, offices etc?).

Needless to say, Shopee is now off my shopping list. I'll try Lazada, as at least returns are via LBC, who should have more experience in logistics processes (we'll see!).

Hope that all helps some in their shopping choices, or at least warns of some of the potential pitfalls ahead.

Moderator - I could not find an appropriate thread heading for online shopping, but if there is one, feel free to move.

 

Sounds like your asawa's experiences were pre-MLhuiller days. I got the distinct impression that they are new to it. Maybe a newly awarded contract. As far as I know the return (if you can achieve it) is free. My successful one certainly was.

 

Interesting. One other thing I've noticed when returning an item to Shopee, they try very hard to get you to open Shopee Wallet, so they will automatically transfer the refund there and therefore the money refunded has to be spent with them again. I've never opened one of these, so they have to transfer to our linked bank account, even for a COD purchase. But they do try VERY hard to get you to think you need to open a Shopee Wallet account.

 

Nice! I had a couple of rants yesterday too in MLhuiller joints. Only I should point out to you that HandyMan upstairs in Robinson Mall is in fact a Robinson store, so you still spent the money at the same retailer (assuming that's where you were). It does make you feel better after though.