First, go to thenorthfaceguru .com website. Click on forums, click on "Counterfeited The North Face Products." There is a thread title: "I have been screwed!! NOW WHAT?? Read these FAQ's" which is worth your time.
The thread hasn't been updated since January 2009 so I want to point out that according to the eBay Buyer Protection Policy, "Buyers are not obligated to provide third-party confirmation that an item is counterfeit to open a claim. However, in some cases, a buyer may have written confirmation that the item is counterfeit from a reliable third party (such as the manufacturer or law enforcement). In those cases, buyers agree to cooperate with eBay to ensure the proper disposal of the counterfeit item...Any costs associated with this destruction or disposal may be paid by eBay, in our sole discretion."
In other words, the buyer is not required to prove that the item is counterfeit to open a claim, but I'm not sure how far you'll get without doing so. My main point is that you don't have to send the jacket back to the seller to get a refund (and you shouldn't, after all, the seller has just committed a crime and you are now returning the evidence). I strongly suggest sending your jacket to the North Face Warranty Department for authentification, which they do for free. You only have to pay to ship it to their office. The process takes about three weeks; include a note with your item that you would like it authenticated and provide a return address. eBay may even pick up the tab for shipping.
US address:
The North Face®
Warranty Department
14450 Doolittle Drive
San Leandro CA 94577
Canada:
The North Face Canada
3260 Rue Guenette
Saint-Laurent, Quebec
H4S 2G5 Canada
The North Face Warranty Department will send the jacket back to you with a letter verifying whether the jacket is authentic or not. thenorthfaceguru recommends getting such documentation from The North Face first and then opening a dispute with PayPal over the phone. (Again, read the entire thread, he explains everything, and why you shouldn't open a dispute immediately.) You have 45 days from payment date to open a case.
As long as you get that verification letter from the Warranty Department, I'm reasonably certain you'll get your money back. I suggest you return to thenorthfaceguru's site and educate yourself.
Here's My Guide on How to Spot a Fake North Face Jacket
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