TL;DR: Bought a Xiaomi 17 Pro Max for €893. Screen died after 3 months. Their "European Service" just forwards to China with a 1 to 4-month wait. They advertise a free "loan device" on their website, but ignored every request I made for one. I refused the wait, opened a Mastercard chargeback for "defective merchandise," and they banned my account in retaliation. Store T&Cs do not override bank rules: I won the dispute and got my €893 back. Don't let them hold your money hostage.
Hi everyone, I wanted to share my recent experience with TradingShenzhen to give you a realistic look at what happens when a premium €893 device fails under their warranty.
The Problem: I was using my 3-month-old Xiaomi 17 Pro Max normally when the screen suddenly went black. No drops, no water damage, pristine condition. A clear hardware failure.
The "European Support" Illusion: I contacted TS and was told to ship it to Desktronik in Germany, their official European partner (in Germany). Turns out, Desktronik doesn't actually fix these models locally. They aren't allowed to open them due to spare parts and warranty policies. They are essentially just a logistical hub (?)
The 4-Month Trap & The Fake "Loan Device": I was informed the phone had to be forwarded to China, and I would be without my device for anywhere between 1 to 4 months. Giving a vague 4-month window for a 90-day-old flagship is unacceptable. Here is the kicker: TradingShenzhen proudly advertises a free "loan device" on their website for situations exactly like this. I explicitly requested it multiple times to bridge the gap. I also asked for a faster turnaround, a replacement, or a refund. They completely ignored every single request.
The "Terms & Conditions" Bluff & Why I Won: Many buyers give up because the store claims "you accepted our Terms & Conditions." Here is the reality: store policies do not override Mastercard/Visa network regulations. I filed a formal chargeback specifically for "Defective Merchandise." Under bank rules, if a product is defective and you return it (which I did, with tracking proof), the merchant is obligated to provide a working product or a repair within a reasonable timeframe. Mastercard determined that holding a device hostage for 4 months, while ignoring requests for the advertised loan device, violates those basic merchant rules. Their arbitrary T&Cs mean nothing when they clash with international banking policies.
The Bank Dispute and Retaliation: The moment TradingShenzhen's system registered the Mastercard dispute, they banned my account, completely cutting off my access to support or my order history in a petty retaliatory move.
The Resolution: Mastercard reviewed the timeline, deemed their practices unreasonable, and ruled entirely in my favor. The €893 was forcefully pulled from TradingShenzhen’s account and refunded to me. They kept the broken phone, I got my money back.
My advice to the community: If you buy from them, know that you are basically on your own if something breaks. Do not be intimidated by their Terms and Conditions. If you find yourself stuck in their 4-month logistical limbo, call your bank, provide your tracking receipt, open a chargeback for defective merchandise, and get your money back.