I Bought An Item On Ebay Listed As Diecast. I Received A Pvc Plastic Inferior Model. The Seller Insists That Diecast Is A Correct Description... everywhere I Have Checked Is That Diecast Is A Process Using Cast Metal Not Plastic... help!

I'm not so sure that there is a definite correct answer to your question.

I too would believe that "die-cast" would indicate a metal product, not a plastic one, but it could all depend on the industry and their defination of the term "die-cast".

Here is what wikipedia has to say about it:

Die casting

Main article: Die casting

For the casting of low melting point metals (such as pot metal, lead, aluminum, or magnesium) a multi-part die is used in a process called die casting. For automotive parts such as the cases of automatic transmissions these dies may be quite complex, as they must be disassembled in specific order to ensure that the workpiece is released freely from the casting die. Parts or products produced by this method are referred to as die cast. Compared to lost wax casting the marginal production can be quite cheap, once the substantial investment in tooling and materials handling equipment is made. Compared to sand casting the die casting method can reproduce fine details on complex parts and yield a smooth surface, greatly reducing machining and polishing requirements. As some small portion of metal may leak between the mating seams of the die this can result in a sharp edge of metal called flash, which must be removed by grinding and buffing. For small metal toys the term die cast is generally considered a mark of quality, especially when compared to the cheaper stamping of lithographed sheet metal, or bare stamped metal possibly later painted.

I too, would think that die cast would mean something made of metal. But, it sounds to me like this is something that might be best taken up with the authorities on eBay as far as what was advertised as well as the transaction that was made. We can't really define here what is in the rules concerning eBay definitions or what to do when there is some sort of disagreement with a transaction.

Plastic is normally injected molded, but some simple searches of diecast plastic showed there are items that are diecast in plastic.

Die cast normally refers to an item that is made of metallic content, not plastic. Most plastic is injection molded and should be described as such in the sellers listing. You have a valid reason to complain to eBay as the seller is wrong if he/she did not describe the item correctly. There ARE listings on Ebay for plastic items but it is possible your seller could not find the right category. Try to deal with the seller first in resolving your issue and if that fails, write eBay to see if you are eligible for their protection agrrement. If you paid through Pay Pal you may be elible for a refund from Ebay. Hope this helps. Tom

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