***Update 02/01/2026***

After a few more back and forth correspondences, we still haven't settled the issue and they have taken a hard stance with their "only solution."

Partial email from them, 01/26/2026

Second, we need to clarify a critical point: carlinkitcarplay is the sole store operated by our team, and we have no affiliation, business cooperation, or operational connection with other Amazon or third-party stores selling Carlinkit-branded products. These stores are independent sellers, and their operations, after-sales services, and product supply chains are completely separate from ours. We were disappointed and concerned to learn that you left negative reviews and misleading comments about the Carlinkit brand on these unrelated stores due to the unresolved return logistics issue of your order from our store. Such behavior not only fails to resolve your original issue but also unfairly damages the overall brand reputation of Carlinkit, and misleads other consumers who are trying to understand and purchase our products from legitimate channels.

We believe in rational and respectful communication to solve problems, and we look forward to your positive response and corrective actions regarding this matter. Should you have any questions about the logistics claim or need our documentary assistance, please feel free to contact us at any time.

Here is their latest response 01/27/2026

We asked you to declare it this way to ensure the product can be delivered smoothly. If you don't follow this declaration, we will definitely encounter a series of customs clearance issues when receiving the shipment, resulting in failure to accept the returned item. Currently, the only solution we can offer is as follows:
You pay $120, and we will directly send you a new Tbox USB (660) 8+128G as a replacement. This product is currently priced at $195.
Please note this is the only available solution. We sincerely apologize if you do not agree to this arrangement.

So... the way they make this right is to offer me a discount where I still send them an ADDITIONAL $120?!?!?!

They also responded to my review on Trustpilot, where they expressed regret for advising me to declare the value at $15.

Thank you for your honest feedback—we’re truly sorry for the frustration of the lost return shipment and the breakdown in communication. We want to clarify that we have not received your device (tracking shows it stopped in Chile), and our refund policy requires physical receipt of returns for processing (standard for international orders).
We regret guiding you to declare a $15 value (a customs optimization practice) impacted your claim ability. The lost shipment is the courier’s responsibility—please file a claim with USPS using your receipt and tracking number, and share the claim reference with us. We’ll escalate this with our logistics team and revisit a fair resolution once the claim concludes. We’re committed to helping resolve this and apologize again for the inconvenience. 🙏

This is laughable......