Paypal/Ebay Problems

[fwdguy]

Anyone else have had a claim/dispute with Paypal/Ebay?

I just lost 24.99 even though I won the claim they tell me they can not collect it from the seller and my only option would be to contact the FBI for fraud.

I told Paypal they dont know much about customer service.

Now this was not a Model Railroad purchase by the way and my first encounter with a problem with Ebay/Paypal.

It seems to me I was ripped off by the seller and even more so by Paypal/Ebay.

Mark

[gvdobler]

I don't think Ebay has any enforcement clout. People just reregister under a different name.

[ereimer]

i won an auction but was unhappy with the shipping charge so i emailed the seller to get him to reduce it (the item was an ipod internal cable , 2" long and might have weighed about as much as a kadee coupler ) from the $20 he was asking for . basically i asked him to put it in an envelope , put a stamp on it and mail it . he wouldn't go for it , so i let it sit for a week without paying for it then emailed him again asking if he'd take $10 for the shipping charge . he said ok so i paid for the item . never got it , he never returned any further emails . i went through both ebay's and paypal's routines to try to get some response . basically all they do is email the person and if you don't get a response they don't do anything else . since i don't want any bad feedback myself , i can't even leave bad feedback for him . so i'm out $40 , and i know some people will say its partly my fault and i can't really disagree with that , but it still burns me up

[chateauricher]

Isn't PayPal linked to a credit card ? Why don't you contact your credit card company and tell them about the problem ? You could even put the transaction in dispute.

At best, you'll get credit for the amount charged (ie: a refund).

At worst, you're still out the money.

Well worth the effort, if you ask me.

[Virginian]

Sigh. Pay by credit card. ONLY. Then you are protected. If you don't like the shipping charges, why bid on an item?

[Anonymous]

I don't know how your credit cards are, but most won't get involved if the amount is under $50.

[Anonymous]

it doesnt matter if they "get-involved" if you say something is fraudulent they have to pay you back or disprove you. the burden of proof is on the credit card company.

[Anonymous]

PayPal topic comes up very often here. And every time it comes up I post a link to a site describing horrors doing business the "PayPal Way".
http://www.nopaypal.com/faqs.shtml
The more people know, the less will be ripped off.

[Adelie]

In my dealings with Ebay and Paypal, I've had only one problem with a computer parts vendor. My suspicion is that the vendor went out of business after accepting my payment. I filed a claim with Paypal, filled out their online form, filled out another one a few weeks later that they said was going to the FBI, and I received a credit back almost immediately after filling out the second online form (by email, if I remember right). In my opinion, they did everything they could in that situation.

That particular vendor had a large number of feedbacks and was close to 100% positive at the time, so something went wrong quick. I'm very careful about who I buy from in general, and ebay is no exception to that.

[Anonymous]

Has anyone experienced losing money even after buying insurance? In my case, a seller kept asking for my patience until 90days had past and feedback could no longer be left and then he stopped answering my emails.
These types sound very sincere. Because the seller is the policy holder, they receive the insurance payout and Ultimately, they get paid twice-once from the buyer and once from the insurance payout.
This time, 90 days is almost up and Im leaving neg feedback, even if it means getting retaliation feedback from seller.
VS

[csmincemoyer]

Dave, I respect what you're saying but just because someone has a 99% approval and over 100 feedback doesn't mean anything. I purchased a Walthers New River Coal Mine for about $35.00 from a model railroader just like us who had a personal problem that he had to dispose of his collection. He's not in the auction business so had very little feedback, bottom line is just be careful.

[Anonymous]

yeah i just started on ebay, and have found some weird/interesting tactics by some people. you gotta figure buying online your taking a chance anyway. ive boughten about 50-60 items on ebay/online and ive been ripped off about 7 times for about $150 or so, it sucks but i know what im getting into, people are just not honest or forget.

[ham99]

The only time I had a problem [in over 100 transactions], the seller kept giving excuses for delays in shipping, even false tracking numbers. I was contacted by e-Bay due to complaints from someone else, and they were checking to see if other buyers were having problems. They told me that I would be contacted by the police department in the sellers town, and two days later I was. I filed a report with the police investigator, and about a week later I received my purchase. A couple of days later I received another call from from the investigator to verify I had received my item. I was pleased with the way they handled the situation.

[fwdguy]

Well, I started this subject. I filed a report with the FBI. Who knows where this one will go.

The link for internet fraud is http://www.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp

Mark

[Anonymous]

I have over 350 dealings on ebay and have used PayPal on most of them. I had to file a complaint twice. Once through PayPal and I got my item.

The second time I had paid using a USPS money order for two packs of KD couplers that the seller wouldn't send to me. After 4 emails and a phone call I filed a complaint with the USPS on line. I got my couplers real fast and an apology from the seller like he had never, ever talked to me about this before. Now he refuses to sell to me but that is ok with me. It is his loss.

If you are going to deal on ebay, you have to refuse to be taken . The amount doesn't matter to me , it's the principle of the thing. If somebody sells me something and I paid for it, I'm going to get whatever it takes.

One action you could take would be to send this guy a registered letter demanding your merchandise or money returned within 10 days. If he doesn't comply, file a complaint in small claims court or with your local magistrate. You can get a judgement against him and then have it enforced. Sounds silly but it works. He will be liable for the court costs also. You have to refuse to be taken.

[davekelly]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ham99

The only time I had a problem [in over 100 transactions], the seller kept giving excuses for delays in shipping, even false tracking numbers. I was contacted by e-Bay due to complaints from someone else, and they were checking to see if other buyers were having problems. They told me that I would be contacted by the police department in the sellers town, and two days later I was. I filed a report with the police investigator, and about a week later I received my purchase. A couple of days later I received another call from from the investigator to verify I had received my item. I was pleased with the way they handled the situation.

Wow. Thanks for posting this.