So sick of paypal... (non watch story)

Dogmann · Aug 26, 2015

@djmusicman

As much as this sucks and I'm sure it really does I really would not just take it laying down but protest as strongly as possible to PayPal what you have already told us in as much as you have 100% positive feedback which proves the honest seller you are. Point out to them, why if the Guitar arrived damaged has it taken a week to report it? as that seems very odd to say the least. Finally inform PayPal to look at all the transactions you have had through them over the time you have been a customer and how much revenue they have had from you. Explain as nicely as possible that if they just side with the seller without due diligence and process you will be terminating your relationship with them permanently.

It may not make any difference but then again it just might and really I can't see what taking this stance can cost you. Best of luck with this dodgy buyer and his dishonest attempt and hope PayPal wake up smell the coffee and do the right thing and although most seem to feel they always side with the buyer I really do not believe that is 100% accurate.

Marc

djmusicman · Aug 26, 2015

Thanks Marc, great advice. I don't have much confidence that PayPal will side with me as it seems they always side with the buyer regardless. I've asked the buyer to send photos and had no reply. I also told him that I would report him to the police. Maybe he has let it go, in 5 days he can ask PayPal to step in. Apparently if PayPal withdraw money from my account I can dispute the transaction at my bank.

I've heard stories of buyers sending back different items or even empty boxes. In these cases PayPal does nothing leaving the buyer with the item and the money and the seller with nothing. The seller even ends up out of pocket due to eBay and PayPal fees and postage costs.

Dogmann · Aug 26, 2015

@djmusicman

Your welcome, I have also heard the horror stories you quote and one way to try and cover yourself against them would be to video the arrival of the package as it should be sent signed for as per PayPal rules. Also make the Delivery man witness you opening the package, even a smartphone camera video should suffice.

Marc

kov · Aug 28, 2015

Sorry to read this but thank you for sharing your experience. I was considering to list some watches on eBay but I think I'll try to have this sold other way around... Will definitely avoid all this timeloss and nerves with idiots trying to cheat people...

Hope your story will have a better end !

tegee26 · Aug 28, 2015

Hate eBay so much that I stopped using them all together, unless I must sell something where there is no other avenue.

PP is an entirely another story. Both of their fees are ridiculous imho.

WatchVaultNYC · Aug 28, 2015

djmusicman
Thanks Marc, great advice. I don't have much confidence that PayPal will side with me as it seems they always side with the buyer regardless. I've asked the buyer to send photos and had no reply. I also told him that I would report him to the police. Maybe he has let it go, in 5 days he can ask PayPal to step in. Apparently if PayPal withdraw money from my account I can dispute the transaction at my bank.

I've heard stories of buyers sending back different items or even empty boxes. In these cases PayPal does nothing leaving the buyer with the item and the money and the seller with nothing. The seller even ends up out of pocket due to eBay and PayPal fees and postage costs.

In 7 years and tens of thousands of items sold and paid for using Paypal, I've never lost any dispute except for 1 SNAD case (wherein they buyer abused a typo on my Ebay listing). So I would not go ahead and categorically state that Ebay "always sides with the buyer regardless". You'll want to win the case with Paypal, not with your bank. You will lose the bank dispute, or if you win, you will get a collections letter from Paypal, so you still lose.

My suggestion is the following:
- always be the last one talking on the dispute messenger. It means you are willing to resolve the issue
- always say something like "I am willing to resolve this in a reasonable manner", etc.
- if buyer does not send photos, say something like "I cannot reasonably believe that the guitar is damaged without pictures"..

You are not really talking to the buyer here (although you are). The person you really want to convince is the Paypal agent who will decide the issue once it has been escalated to a claim. Paypal agents are far from perfect, so you want to hold them by the hand to resolve the issue in your favor by what you say to the buyer on the dispute messenger

djmusicman · Sep 11, 2015

Just to update this one. I made it clear to the buyer that I reserved the right to refuse a refund if the guitar was sent back in worse condition than when it was sold. I reluctantly accepted the return on eBay. With the case open the buyer sent me a message saying he'd accept £130 to close the case and then a couple of days later £70 to close the case. I refused both times and told him to send back the guitar if he wasn't happy with it. In the end he closed the case and kept the guitar.

Time Exposure · Sep 11, 2015

Thank goodness! What an ordeal. I'm glad it worked out for you. The good guy should always win, but PayPal kind of blows that theory in the water.
Or should I say the 'Bay?
Sounds like your buyer was a little skeptical about how he would win the case.

WatchVaultNYC · Sep 11, 2015

djmusicman
Just to update this one. I made it clear to the buyer that I reserved the right to refuse a refund if the guitar was sent back in worse condition than when it was sold. I reluctantly accepted the return on eBay. With the case open the buyer sent me a message saying he'd accept £130 to close the case and then a couple of days later £70 to close the case. I refused both times and told him to send back the guitar if he wasn't happy with it. In the end he closed the case and kept the guitar.

Obviously an unscrupulous buyer trying to get a couple of "free" extra bucks out of the transaction. Being clear and strict with your policies is the key to win with scammers. Congrats on winning the case!

keni010 · Sep 11, 2015

I'd ask the buyer to return the item,.... he has to pay return postage under ebay rules I believe (it should be listed on your ebay page) and then you'd need to repay the buyer the cost of the guitar of course. You can then compare the guitar to your original photo's and perhaps demonstrate to ebay and Paypal that the damage, if any, must have happened in transit in which case there is a claim against the shipping company to be made. I can't think of a better way to approach this. If there is no damage etc. and guitar is as you sent it then ebay and Paypal should make the buyer pay for the postage cost back to him and pay his money to you again. Have you asked the buyer to photograph the so called damage / problem?

keni010 · Sep 11, 2015

just read the latest post.....confirms the buyer was trying it on......what an ar*ehole! Good for you holding out, have you posted the g*t's ebay name?

jimmy0x52 · Sep 11, 2015

I had this happen on eBay and the buyer requested I pay return shipping AND refund their money. It was a heavy piece of network equipment that was in service a week before I sent it to them. The likely scenario is they decided they didn't want it or they couldn't figure out how to use it and then claimed it was damaged.

After they sent a claim in I called eBay directly and got the case escalated. They sided with me and that was that.

I also am growing very tired of eBay!

So sick of paypal... (non watch story)

Dogmann

djmusicman

Dogmann

kov

tegee26

WatchVaultNYC

djmusicman

Time Exposure

WatchVaultNYC

keni010

keni010

jimmy0x52

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