Something doesn't make sense, because even in a cheap telescope one can see the difference between a planet and star. Stars are pinpoints of light at any magnification, planets usually appear as illuminated disks, even if they are quite small in low power. The difference is obvious, usually.

I hate to mention the basics, but I would check the alignment of the finder scope on some distant object on earth before peering skyward, unless you choose some obvious alignment target such as M42 or Alcyone in the Pleiades.

-Veeger