First time poster, long time lurker here.
I'm building my first energy storage system and recently ordered a Seplos Mason 280 DIY kit along with a set of pre-made 2 meter 50mm2 cables (mainly so I wouldn't have to worry about their odd connector). I ordered via Alibaba, talked to Cassia from Seplos.
Fast-forward 6 weeks and the package arrived, but they accidentally sent me the Mason 280L white vertical unit instead of the black rack-mount version! The cable was also "wrong" - it came with M8 lugs in both ends since the vertical unit uses standard connectors. The space I'm installing everything in cannot accomodate a vertical unit, so I asked them if I can return this one and they send me the correct version.
I opened a dispute on Alibaba and asked Cassia to either send me the correct unit and let me return the one I have, or alternatively let me keep the vertical unit and get 50% discount on a new correct unit (along with the correct cable ends). I figured I can either sell or try to use the vertical unit at some point, and in my opinion I'm being generous in even considering to keep it. The initial response from the seller was if I would be content with the vertical unit and a 50 USD discount...
Today I got a response that Cassia's manager apparently doesn't approve of a 50% discount, and countered with 25%. I said I wouldn't accept that and that I then insist on returning the unit.
I'm running out of options here. I can ask Alibaba.com to mediate but I'm afraid they'll just side with the supplier and I'll be left 700 USD shorter with a unit I don't want, or possibly with a meaningless rebate. What would you do? Has anyone had similar experiences? Is it practical to return two large parcels all the way to China (I'm in Finland).
Any help appreciated! Including if anyone in Finland is willing to take the vertical unit off my chest so to speak :D
Attached a screenshot of the official order just in case there's any doubt as to whether it's unclear which version I actually intended to order
Update 2024-01-10:
After four weeks of excruciatingly slow communication back and forth with both Seplos and Alibaba's trade assurance dispute handler the conclusion is that I won't be getting any money back and I won't be able to return the product. The closest to a "return" they could come up with is that I ship the product to another customer, who then gets a discount from Seplos because it's technically a used unit. Meanwhile, I would get nothing.
I made careful copies of all conversations, filed a chargeback request with Nets (MasterCard's "handler" in Finland, or whatever) as a last resort. I have very low hopes of ever being able to get a single cent back.
Lessons learned:
I'm building my first energy storage system and recently ordered a Seplos Mason 280 DIY kit along with a set of pre-made 2 meter 50mm2 cables (mainly so I wouldn't have to worry about their odd connector). I ordered via Alibaba, talked to Cassia from Seplos.
Fast-forward 6 weeks and the package arrived, but they accidentally sent me the Mason 280L white vertical unit instead of the black rack-mount version! The cable was also "wrong" - it came with M8 lugs in both ends since the vertical unit uses standard connectors. The space I'm installing everything in cannot accomodate a vertical unit, so I asked them if I can return this one and they send me the correct version.
I opened a dispute on Alibaba and asked Cassia to either send me the correct unit and let me return the one I have, or alternatively let me keep the vertical unit and get 50% discount on a new correct unit (along with the correct cable ends). I figured I can either sell or try to use the vertical unit at some point, and in my opinion I'm being generous in even considering to keep it. The initial response from the seller was if I would be content with the vertical unit and a 50 USD discount...
Today I got a response that Cassia's manager apparently doesn't approve of a 50% discount, and countered with 25%. I said I wouldn't accept that and that I then insist on returning the unit.
I'm running out of options here. I can ask Alibaba.com to mediate but I'm afraid they'll just side with the supplier and I'll be left 700 USD shorter with a unit I don't want, or possibly with a meaningless rebate. What would you do? Has anyone had similar experiences? Is it practical to return two large parcels all the way to China (I'm in Finland).
Any help appreciated! Including if anyone in Finland is willing to take the vertical unit off my chest so to speak :D
Attached a screenshot of the official order just in case there's any doubt as to whether it's unclear which version I actually intended to order
Update 2024-01-10:
After four weeks of excruciatingly slow communication back and forth with both Seplos and Alibaba's trade assurance dispute handler the conclusion is that I won't be getting any money back and I won't be able to return the product. The closest to a "return" they could come up with is that I ship the product to another customer, who then gets a discount from Seplos because it's technically a used unit. Meanwhile, I would get nothing.
I made careful copies of all conversations, filed a chargeback request with Nets (MasterCard's "handler" in Finland, or whatever) as a last resort. I have very low hopes of ever being able to get a single cent back.
Lessons learned:
- no matter how careful you are when ordering something on Alibaba, there is a possibility that the seller will simply screw up and send you the wrong shit anyway
- you will have no recourse
- Alibaba will not help you, tell everyone to go fuck themselves immediately and file a chargeback request.
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