ChatGPT Insights on Buyer Beware: USS Enterprise Model Facebook Ad – A Disappointing Experience

ByGlobal-Z

Thanks for sharing that. Based on the Facebook video you linked, here’s what I can tell:

🚨 Possible Scam or Deceptive Ad

That Star Trek ship replica ad on Facebook looks very similar to several bait-and-switch marketing scams that have been circulating since 2023. These scams often use:

  • Attractive, high-quality video clips (like the one you shared) showing detailed, lit-up, large-scale ship models
  • Unrealistic pricing (e.g., $29–$69 for what should be a $500+ replica)
  • Fake or ambiguous company names, often rerouting to vague Shopify or Chinese warehouse fronts
  • Little to no traceable info about the actual seller or company post-purchase

✅ What to Do Next

If you purchased based on that video and received:

  • A low-quality or incorrect item
  • No item at all
  • A clearly cheaper product than shown in the ad

Then you have a few solid dispute options:

1. 📞 Contact your Payment Provider

  • If you paid by credit card or PayPal, open a dispute or chargeback.
    • Use phrasing like: “Item received is not as described in the video ad. The seller misrepresented the product entirely.”

2. 📨 Message the Seller (if they reply)

  • Some of these sellers stall or make excuses like “you received the correct item”.
  • You can still document that and attach screenshots of the Facebook video, your order confirmation, and what you actually received when filing a dispute.

3. 🔍 Check Seller Identity

Was your receipt or package from any of the following?

  • GLOBAVIO
  • “StarTrek-Replica.Store”
  • “MAVORA,” “LUBOVY,” “Panmeihua,” or any other vague storefront?
  • Shopify, but with no clear company name?

If yes, please share the storefront name, order confirmation email, or shipping label sender so I can help investigate or draft a dispute letter for you.

Would you like me to write a refund request message or dispute letter you can send to your bank, PayPal, or the seller? If so, let me know what you received and what you expected.

Summary of Situation

  • You placed an order on June 12, 2025 for $79.98 USD, supposedly for a high-quality Star Trek ship replica based on a video ad (like the one on Facebook).
  • The PayPal transaction lists the seller as TNT POD Fashion, which has no known or official connection to Star Trek, Paramount, or legitimate licensed replicas.
  • The company may be misusing the “TNT” name to appear trustworthy (possibly imitating the real TNT Fashion Group, which is a legitimate European logistics company).

🚨 Red Flags (Why This Is Likely a Scam or Misleading Sale)

  • The Facebook ad likely used stolen or misleading product footage.
  • You never saw “TNT POD Fashion” in the ad—only after the PayPal transaction.
  • No real online presence or customer service contact exists for “TNT POD Fashion” as a legitimate retailer of licensed collectibles.
  • Others have reported similar setups where the product delivered was tiny, poor quality, or completely different, or never arrived.

✅ What You Can Do Now

1. Continue the PayPal Dispute Process

  • Do NOT close the case. Keep it open.
  • Upload the following to your case:
    • A screenshot of the Facebook ad/video you based your purchase on.
    • A photo of the actual item you received (if any), showing the size/poor quality.
    • A short statement (see below) explaining the discrepancy between the ad and the product.

2. Use This Sample Statement for PayPal

You can copy-paste this into your PayPal case message or document upload:

I made a purchase based on a video advertisement on Facebook that showed a large, illuminated, high-detail replica of the Star Trek Enterprise. The product was described as a collectible-grade model with lighting features.

However, the product I received (if anything at all) was not as advertised—it was either a low-quality miniature, did not light up, or looked nothing like the item in the video. This seller, “TNT POD Fashion,” did not identify themselves in the ad and appears to be using misleading advertising to make sales.

I am requesting a full refund under PayPal Buyer Protection due to item not as described and deceptive business practices.

🔗 Current Facebook Video Link by Another Brand

A user recently shared a scam alert video in a Star Trek collector group:

⚠️ Reported Cases of Similar Scams

1. Facebook & Online Retail Scams

  • A detailed guide warns that Facebook ads often use stolen high-quality imagery and redirect to vague sellers where buyers “receive nothing” or items that don’t match the ad .
  • A Scam Detector report confirms a 40% rise in fake boutique ads on Facebook in 2025, urging users to watch for marketplace and third-party advertising scams .

2. PayPal ‘Replica’ Disputes

  • A PayPal Community post recounts a buyer who thought they purchased an original item, but received a knock-off, and filed a dispute under “item not as promised” legitcheck.app.
  • The LegitCheck guide on PayPal disputes even advises including the product listing or seller link (such as your Facebook video) to strengthen your claim legitcheck.app.

✅ What to Include in Your Case Now

When responding in the PayPal case (ID: PP-R-FMV-582518019), be sure to:

  • Attach the Facebook video link (your original ad + the one above).
  • Point out the discrepancies between the ad and what was delivered.
  • Quote the scams guide advice, especially about using “item not as described” and providing links to your evidence.
  • List parallels with others who received fakes or never got anything at all, using the shared PayPal community experience.

📄 Sample Addition to Your PayPal Dispute

“Attached is the original Facebook video advertisement (https://fb.watch/k3Ace13uPg/) used to promote the ‘Star Trek replica.’ The ad shows a high-detail, illuminated collector-grade model. I received a poor-quality, non-illuminated miniature that clearly does not match the product shown.

According to PayPal’s policies and community examples, such as other users reporting knock-offs sold as originalsfacebook.com, this counts as ‘item not as described.’ I’m requesting a full refund under Buyer Protection.”

PayPal Dispute Response – “Item Not as Described”

Dear PayPal,

I am filing this dispute due to receiving an item that is not as described or advertised at the time of purchase. On June 12, 2025, I made a payment of $79.98 USD to TNT POD Fashion for what was advertised as a 1:350 scale Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise Prop Replica with working lights and display base.

The advertisement I purchased from was a sponsored Facebook video ad similar to the one  you can view here:
📌 https://www.facebook.com/61564271581270/videos/4131866967090084/

The ad displays a highly detailed, fully illuminated Star Trek ship replica, clearly designed to appear as a premium collectible, suggesting a large scale (desktop or shelf model), and shows lighting effects, high-resolution textures, and cinematic closeups.

🚨 What I Received

  • The product I received was not what was shown in the ad.
  • It was either a miniature plastic item, did not have lighting, or was not shipped at all.
  • The materials were cheap, and the product was not functional, collectible, or comparable in size, design, or quality.

The seller never clearly identified themselves as “TNT POD Fashion” in the ad. That name only appeared after PayPal processed the payment, suggesting deceptive redirection or misrepresentation.

🧾 Evidence of Similar Scams

This type of scam—using misleading Facebook ads to promote premium-looking replicas, then sending counterfeit or junk items—is well-documented:

  1. Video example of same style of scam ad (Star Trek ship with lighting):
    🔗 https://fb.watch/k3Ace13uPg/
  2. Scam report threads and warnings about similar bait-and-switch tactics using vague company names like “TNT POD Fashion”:

📢 Request

In accordance with PayPal Buyer Protection, I am requesting a full refund of $79.98 USD for:

  • “Item Not as Described”
  • Deceptive or misleading advertising
  • Seller obfuscation and misrepresentation

I have attached the Facebook ad link and am willing to submit photos of the item I received (if applicable). The seller’s behavior matches ongoing patterns of fraudulent e-commerce targeting social media users through sponsored ads.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

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