I'm getting screwed by Paypal and Ebay

[Achilles97]

I sold something on Ebay for $350. The buyer paid $350 to my Paypal account. As soon as I told him the item shipped and gave him the tracking number he placed a dispute saying that I have not shipped the item and Paypal put the money on hold. This was only 3 hours after the auction ended, how can they put my money on hold because he says I haven't shipped it three hours after the auction ended?

I then sent Paypal the tracking number and told them I shipped the item, and I sent a copy to the buyer. 10 minutes later the buyer places another dispute saying that his Ebay account was hacked and he did not authorize the purchase. I then got an email from Ebay saying that all bids place by the buyer are administratively canceled and all bids are void. I told Ebay that I already shipped the item to his confirmed address on his account. I then demanded that Ebay retrieve my shipment if they insist on intervening into the transaction.

I called Paypal and they said it's their policy to protect the buyer. The guy on the phone used the example:
"If you sell a can of air, the buyer can say he didn't receive it, and you can say you sent it, but no one can prove that the package contained the air that was paid for, so we will side with the buyer".

It's now been two days and nothing has happened. The user has the item and will likely get the payment back all because he said that he didn't make the purchase, even though he was communicating with me through email, the same email address on his Ebay account.

I just cannot believe this. Basically all someone has to do is:

1) Say he didn't make the purchase, someone else used his account without permission
2) Say the auctioned item was not in the package

and Paypal will give them their money back, charge you, and not give any concern to the item you shipped.

Any suggestions? I don't know what to do now.

Thanks!

 

[Steve]

Maybe squaretrade.com can help you out.

 

[Cobalt]

Time to get the police involved. Or... where is he located? Maybe one of us can pay him a visit. :evil:

 

[Ns1]

call the post office see if they can do anything for you?

 

[Kipper]

How did you ship it? FedEx? UPS? USPS?

If you have a signature of some sort to confirm delivery you can nail the guy - he SIGNED for the package.

 

[EyeMWing]

If you shipped USPS, he's committed mail fraud. Enjoy.

 

[farmercal]

In the future, I suggest you take the money out of your Pay Pal account BEFORE you ship the item to the buyer. Then at least you do HAVE the money in your pocket.

 

[virtueixi]

Nice threesome.

 

[MrBond]

I don't understand that policy - if that's true it's useless to even use paypal.

I thought paypal would side almost exclusivly with the seller as long as you shipped it to the sellers confirmed address and used a trackable shipping method (UPS/FedEX, delivery confirmation number is not good enough)?

 

[Achilles97]

I shipped the item via UPS.

What if he says the item wasn't in the box or some crap like that? I just think it's stupid that Ebay/Paypal is taking my money when I proved that I shipped it to his confirmed address. At least they should put the money on hold until UPS returns my shipment. It's like they won't even acknowledge that I shipped the item, they are not concerned whatsoever with the item, just this guys money because he says that someone hacked his ebay account AND email account and he happened to discover it 10 minutes after I emailed him the tracking number.

I can't believe this.


EDIT:

I would call UPS and have them stop the shipment, but then I will have no case against Ebay/Paypal who is still "investigating" the situation. I want the guy to accept the delivery and Paypal to release my money.

 

[BigJ]

Why didn't you immediately call his local Post Office Hub and have them stop the shipment?

 

[Achilles97]

Originally posted by: BigJ
Why didn't you immediately call his local Post Office Hub and have them stop the shipment?

I would call UPS and have them stop the shipment, but then I will have no case against Ebay/Paypal who is still "investigating" the situation. I want the guy to accept the delivery and Paypal to release my money.

 

[Mrvile]

Ouch sounds bad. Call around - post office, police, etc. to see what you can find out. What was the item btw?

 

[The_Dude8]

Originally posted by: farmercal
In the future, I suggest you take the money out of your Pay Pal account BEFORE you ship the item to the buyer. Then at least you do HAVE the money in your pocket.

paypal can withdraw the money from your bank account if the buyer files a dispute with them saying you didn't ship the item, eventhough you did ship it.

 

[2cpuminimum]

Paypal is a huge rippoff, the problem is it's the most universally accepted currency. Keep us updated. It looks like checks/money orders and a "will ship after the check clears" policy are the only reliable way to go.

 

[DAGTA]

Originally posted by: Achilles97

Originally posted by: BigJ
Why didn't you immediately call his local Post Office Hub and have them stop the shipment?

I would call UPS and have them stop the shipment, but then I will have no case against Ebay/Paypal who is still "investigating" the situation. I want the guy to accept the delivery and Paypal to release my money.

So you'd rather risk losing a $350 item plus shipping than just lose shipping and get your item returned to you?

 

[Maximus96]

wow that sucks. I usually withdraw the money before shipping just to avoid these kinds of headache.

 

[Rebasxer]

You have the guy's address, so the posibilites start there.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: The_Dude8

Originally posted by: farmercal
In the future, I suggest you take the money out of your Pay Pal account BEFORE you ship the item to the buyer. Then at least you do HAVE the money in your pocket.

paypal can withdraw the money from your bank account if the buyer files a dispute with them saying you didn't ship the item, eventhough you did ship it.

I don't know if that is absolutely true, but that's why you have two bank accounts. A Paypal-linked bankaccount, and your primary bankaccount. Once it leaves the Paypal linked bank account, Paypal cant do a damn thing.

 

[PetunZ]

Originally posted by: DAGTA

Originally posted by: Achilles97

Originally posted by: BigJ
Why didn't you immediately call his local Post Office Hub and have them stop the shipment?

I would call UPS and have them stop the shipment, but then I will have no case against Ebay/Paypal who is still "investigating" the situation. I want the guy to accept the delivery and Paypal to release my money.

So you'd rather risk losing a $350 item plus shipping than just lose shipping and get your item returned to you?

 

[Yossarian]

Originally posted by: Achilles97


I called Paypal and they said it's their policy to protect the buyer. The guy on the phone used the example:
"If you sell a can of air, the buyer can say he didn't receive it, and you can say you sent it, but no one can prove that the package contained the air that was paid for, so we will side with the buyer".

that guy doesn't know what he's talking about. tell him to read up on paypal's seller protection policy. for a $350 item though you are fvcked, because signature confirmation is required.

Seller protection policy

 

[Achilles97]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: The_Dude8

Originally posted by: farmercal
In the future, I suggest you take the money out of your Pay Pal account BEFORE you ship the item to the buyer. Then at least you do HAVE the money in your pocket.

paypal can withdraw the money from your bank account if the buyer files a dispute with them saying you didn't ship the item, eventhough you did ship it.

I don't know if that is absolutely true, but that's why you have two bank accounts. A Paypal-linked bankaccount, and your primary bankaccount. Once it leaves the Paypal linked bank account, Paypal cant do a damn thing.

A similar thing happened to my friend and they put a negative balance on his Paypal account.

 

[vegetation]

UPS? Have the shipment voided and returned to you. Act fast.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Achilles97

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: The_Dude8

Originally posted by: farmercal
In the future, I suggest you take the money out of your Pay Pal account BEFORE you ship the item to the buyer. Then at least you do HAVE the money in your pocket.

paypal can withdraw the money from your bank account if the buyer files a dispute with them saying you didn't ship the item, eventhough you did ship it.

I don't know if that is absolutely true, but that's why you have two bank accounts. A Paypal-linked bankaccount, and your primary bankaccount. Once it leaves the Paypal linked bank account, Paypal cant do a damn thing.

A similar thing happened to my friend and they put a negative balance on his Paypal account.

This at least gives you time to argue and prove your case with Paypal. They'll probably be more prone to talking things over with you since they'll temporarily be in the hole. This also allows you to not be out the money while the Police get involved (if necessary). The only way Paypal gets the money is if they talk to a colletion agency, which I don't think happens too often.

Basically, it's extra protection for yourself until you can get the situation resolved.

 

[Leros]

I got screwed out of $200 with something similiar to this. I no longer use paypal wtih ebay.