What is PayPal's Problem?

[Mew*]

Ok, I got scammed $125.39 USD WITHOUT A DOUBT from a professional scammer. I mean, this dude knew what he was doing. He sold at least 54 people high end electronics (iPods, Garmin GPS, LCD TVs etc.) saying they were refurbished and they all sold at auction for over $100. So this nut has zero feedback and probably over $7000 fly into his PayPal account.

Next day he leaves positive feedback for everyone (that is how I know that he sold at least 54 things). Also some guy with 6 feedback that purchased an LCD TV him leaves him positive feedback saying how great the transaction went... but the item ended just yesterday. Hmmm... shill bidding account? He didn't send and tracking information or say that he shipped it. What he did do was open up an empty eBay store(says he's working on listings and you'll receive your orders shortly)... wow, now I knew that this was a legit seller. What kind of scammer would do that? Well, my theory is that he used the store so that he could put his account into vacation mode. So now when someone tries to contact him or file a dispute, I think he'll get bonus time ! So this guy never responds to anyone's questions. By nine days after the sale he has accumulated about 3 negative feedbacks. I decide file a dispute with PayPal claiming non receipt of item and that I have evidence that the seller is fraudulent since this is all too obvious.

So the next day a couple guys put the nail in the coffin and give more negative feedback. The guy gets banned from eBay. Ebay removes the feedback he has left for everyone. EBay DELETES ALL THE AUCTIONS HE HAS SOLD. That is so stupid. So if you type in the item number that I bought, it will say that it is an Invalid Item number.

Oh, and here is the seller's profile. I never gave him negative feedback because I gave him a chance to respond to my email unlike the others. But by the time I though negative feedback would be appropriate, he was no longer a registered member and I couldn't do so.

I still have never received the item after 21 days I believe. The PayPal dispute says that the seller has until August 3 to respond... well that has passed... and it still says that. When will PayPal step in and either refund my money or say that the seller's account is empty and that they actually don't have any true $200 buyer protection. Can anybody tell me why they're still waiting for the guy to respond to the dispute?

 

[TheDarkTwins]

I would call Paypal if I were you. Plus this should also be a lesson to not buy high end items from someone who has 10 or less positive feedback remarks.

Drew

 

[Lawman]

They have to give him time to respond. Part of their contract. If he doesn't respond, you will get your money back. Calm down....it will occur. It is just Aug 4 now.

Keith

 

[Mew*]

I would call Paypal if I were you. Plus this should also be a lesson to not buy high end items from someone who has 10 or less positive feedback remarks.

Drew

Well, I learned some new techniques to spot scammers, that will be very helpful. But I continue to buy expensive stuff from low feedback sellers because that is where I get all the good deals! They're the ones that make mistakes on the titles... that is what I seek out.

They have to give him time to respond. Part of their contract. If he doesn't respond, you will get your money back. Calm down....it will occur. It is just Aug 4 now.

Keith

Yeah, ok. I'll try to be more patient. I was just looking forward to seeing this morning if anything changed but nothing different has happened.

Another problem is that I paid with PayPal balance so I wouldn't be able to do a charge back.

 

[Lawman]

Those sellers have low feedback for a reason. I understand you can get "deals" sometimes. The oppo can happen too though, as you have now found out. Scammers exist. Buyer beware.

Keith

 

[Prime]

I would never buy anything from someone with 0 feedback. That was a risky move in the first place.

 

[Ryuzaki]

PayPal is not safe for buyers in general. Their entire system is designed to "protect" the sellers.

 

[Mystery Thing]

I would never buy anything from someone with 0 feedback. That was a risky move in the first place.

Agreed. I think the lowest I've ever bought from was +15, and the lowest where the combined order was >$100 was well over +100.

PayPal is not safe for buyers in general. Their entire system is designed to "protect" the sellers.

Not entirely. If you sell something and then ship it without a tracking number, and the person says they never got it, you automatically lose. Really, the entire system has huge flaws both ways.

 

[homeofmew]

you will get your money back it will take time, fine a claim wait a while, or call them.
i never got one of my text books i needed for college once got the $ back easily.

 

[Mew*]

We were able to recover $125.39 USD and this amount has been credited to
you. Please allow five business days for this adjustment to be posted.

If you are due any additional funds, we will make our best effort to
recover the balance from the seller.

I GOT ALL ME MONEY BACK $$$$$ :biggrin:

The reason I was so scared is because I'm pretty sure that if the seller doesn't have the money in their account, then you don't get your money back... you only get it back if they can recover it.

My guess is that PayPal got suspicious of this dudes account and locked it up so that he couldn't move the money around, or maybe they reversed and attempts he made to transfer funds to a bank account.


Did any of you guys ever read the PayPal agreement? I checked it out recently and there is some ridiculous stuff in there!

 

[PikaPower56]

I would never buy anything from someone with 0 feedback. That was a risky move in the first place.

I guess I got lucky then 'cause a few years ago I bought a Rayquaza ex DX for $10.50 from someone with 0 feedback (it was their 1st auction) and didn't have any problems.

Also, I'm glad you got your money back Mew*.:smile:

 

[Mew*]

I guess I got lucky then 'cause a few years ago I bought a Rayquaza ex DX for $10.50 from someone with 0 feedback (it was their 1st auction) and didn't have any problems.

Also, I'm glad you got your money back Mew*.:smile:

Thanks.

Yeah, I wouldn't doubt people just because they have low or no feedback. It is pretty obvious by the description that a person is new and is honest. For example, many inexperienced people will put their email address in the listing in plain sight since they apparently don't know about the eBay messaging system. Also another tell that they're legit is if they use eBays terrible image upload service where they pay to add multiple pictures. A lot of times they'll have terrible grammar and write terrible titles, and they'll be selling other items related to the one their currently selling (example, a guy is selling a PSP in one auction, and his PSP games in separate auctions). One more key, and I stay away from these guys, is when they put a ridiculous BIN price and a 99 cent starting bid...but with a reserve. Those things never sell and they eventually learn a lesson.

Those are some signs of an honest newbie.

I buys stuff from new sellers all the time. They actually give better service than most power sellers from my experience!

 

[Mystery Thing]

One more key, and I stay away from these guys, is when they put a ridiculous BIN price and a 99 cent starting bid...but with a reserve. Those things never sell and they eventually learn a lesson.

Those are some signs of an honest newbie.

Or somebody trying to dodge the listing fees, since starting it at $0.99 and coughing up the $3 or whatever it is for a reserve price can be cheaper than starting an auction at the reserve price. Depends on the reserve price, obviously, but that's the theory behind it.

 

[Mob2099]

PayPal is not safe for buyers in general. Their entire system is designed to "protect" the sellers.

I'm sorry, but I think you are very wrong. If the seller does not have proof that an Item was shipped.
The seller will loose the complaint against a non-received item. The seller is out money and item.
It is very easy for a buyer to report a fake complaint, get the goods and money back without having to prove anything. It’s all up to the seller to prove everything.

This is why shipping prices increase more and more and less and less sell to foreigners. The cost of tracking and the foreign orders cannot be tracked.

This info is from experience! And not as a buyer!

 

[G-Dog4377]

I bought a TSD at about $22 two months ago and never got it. I opened a dispute, escalated it to the claim at the 19 day mark, and only got back $15, with the same message as Mew* received. Has anyone had experience with this kind of thing? I am just curious as to whether I will get the rest of the money back or not.

 

[Mew*]

Or somebody trying to dodge the listing fees, since starting it at $0.99 and coughing up the $3 or whatever it is for a reserve price can be cheaper than starting an auction at the reserve price. Depends on the reserve price, obviously, but that's the theory behind it.

Yeah, but it just isn't an effective tactic. I see so many reserve auctions get no bids, and whenever I see one I skip it because I know the seller is trying to get a lot of money. I'm cheap and go for bargains :biggrin:.

I'm sorry, but I think you are very wrong. If the seller does not have proof that an Item was shipped.
The seller will loose the complaint against a non-received item. The seller is out money and item.
It is very easy for a buyer to report a fake complaint, get the goods and money back without having to prove anything. It’s all up to the seller to prove everything.

This is why shipping prices increase more and more and less and less sell to foreigners. The cost of tracking and the foreign orders cannot be tracked.

This info is from experience! And not as a buyer!

You're exactly right. That is why it is risky business shipping overseas on eBay if the buyer is using PayPal.

I bought a TSD at about $22 two months ago and never got it. I opened a dispute, escalated it to the claim at the 19 day mark, and only got back $15, with the same message as Mew* received. Has anyone had experience with this kind of thing? I am just curious as to whether I will get the rest of the money back or not.

I don't think you'll get the rest of your money back unless the guy gets the money back in his account somehow, like by selling an item or adding funds to that same email address. I know my uncle got ripped on a PSP, and several months later, PayPal magically was able to recover $63 from the sellers account, so if the guy that ripped you off is stupid and will try to reuse the account, you could get some more money back.

I just think it is stupid how PayPal brags about their buyer protection when there really isn't any from them.

 

[Ardoptres]

You're exactly right. That is why it is risky business shipping overseas on eBay if the buyer is using PayPal.

So you are saying people outside the US isn't as trustworthy as those IN the US?

Sorry if i didn't get something.

 

[JandPDS]

Paypal is a scam, they take money and promise nothing in return, so when they do nothing for you, you have no recourse against them. My wife got scammed 3 times and paypal did noting each time. We no longer use them anymore.

 

[bullados]

So you are saying people outside the US isn't as trustworthy as those IN the US?

Sorry if i didn't get something.

No, we just don't trust the foreign postal service(s) to properly track packages for us. Not all of them, but most.

 

[Mew*]

So you are saying people outside the US isn't as trustworthy as those IN the US?

Sorry if i didn't get something.

No, not at all. It's just that it is so much harder to protect yourself. I wouldn't mind sending something small and not too valuable to a foreigner, but I really wouldn't want to risk doing anything too valuable. When I send something worth $50 or more to somebody in the US I'll usually put a tracking number. I don't sell stuff over $250 so I think tracking number is supposed to be sufficient proof.

And it's really a shame that there are people looking to rip people off and that we have to worry about it. It seems that a few people spoil it for the rest.

Paypal is a scam, they take money and promise nothing in return, so when they do nothing for you, you have no recourse against them. My wife got scammed 3 times and paypal did noting each time. We no longer use them anymore.

Yeah, that's a shame. But it still is safer than check or money order, right?