Hosed - You are being warned (paypal)

mightymask · Post by **mightymask** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:36 am

I'm posting this so that you don't fall into the same trap I did. I had an itch to buy a PS3.

I researched.

I've been using Ebay for over 10 years.

The seller had good feedback (96 rating) with several transactions.

He was selling 8 of them at 400 a piece stating he bought the leftovers wholesale through the car dealership where he works. 'Buy a car, get a PS3' was the gimmick.

I waited. And waited. I then started to feel uncomfortable. I've been stiffed only a few times before but Paypal would always refund the full amount. I decided to look into it just in case. I found they had changed their policy.

13.9 eBay Items Eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection. Every item on eBay (except Live Auctions and vehicles) that meets the above requirements is eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection up to $200.00 USD (Basic Tier Coverage Amount), but items are only eligible for PayPal Buyer Protection up to $2,000.00 USD (Top Tier Coverage Amount) and should be identified as eligible items in the eBay listing if:

sellers eBay feedback rating is at least 50;
At least 98% of the sellers eBay feedback is positive;
The seller has a Verified Premier or Verified Business Account in good standing;
The listing was on an eligible eBay site (eBay.com and certain other eBay sites self identified as such)
PayPal is listed as an acceptable payment method; and
The seller is a PayPal User from one of the following countries:

- Argentina - Italy
- Austria - Jamaica
- Australia - Japan
- Belgium - Korea
- Brazil - Mexico
- Canada - Netherlands
- Chile - New Zealand
- China - Norway
- Czech Republic - Poland
- Denmark - Portugal
- Ecuador - Singapore
- Finland - Sweden
- France - Spain
- Germany - Switzerland
- Greece - Taiwan
- Hong Kong - Thailand
- Hungary - United Kingdom
- India - United States
- Ireland - Uruguay

The seller had satisfied all these conditions except he had a 96 rating as opposed to a 98. I contacted the other buyers in the case about this. They all stated we'd all probably get our money back. When all was said and done, I got $200 back just as I read in the policy. I lost $225 because of this. One other poor guy had bought 2 of them so he lost twice as much. Obviously all the contact information was bogus for the seller. A people search was somewhat helpful but it was for a residence where that person no longer lived. The guy that bought 2 of them lived in the seller's state of Indiana so he was still going to pursue trying to find him as he got word that he might be in Kentucky. I've since chalked this up to experience unfortunately.

So long story short, If you're making a purchase for over $200 and you're using Paypal, check the criteria above. Otherwise I hear that if you use a Credit Card, you can issue a 'chargeback' and you can get your money back that way (That's what I heard anyway)

logorzat · Post by **logorzat** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 12:07 pm

Thank you so much for your post. I never knew that about the Paypal buyer protection. I'm sorry you lost that money.

Carla · Post by **Carla** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 1:51 pm

OMG!!! I think that is a bunch of BULL!!! You should have gotten your full refund back!!! Thanks for warning us I had no idea about this. Can you please tell us the persons ID so we know to say away from there actions?

Sorry about what happened to you!!!

Lynxa · Post by **Lynxa** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:12 pm

Jeez, that's a crappy policy for Paypal to have. I guess they're not ready to take that much of a gamble

Personally, I think 96% is an ABYSMALLY low feedback percentage for e-bay. I don't trust anyone with anything below a 98 at the absolute lowest unless reading the feedback shows that it was retaliatory or a misunderstanding.

iwakuralain16 · Post by **iwakuralain16** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:18 pm

Keep in mind with the new feedback changes going into effect on May(where buyers can leave bad feedback and sellers can leave only positive); expect feedback ratings to go down even lower. Instead of sellers who bitch about why didnt didn't get their parcel post package in 5 days after the auction ended and contacting the seller and asking, they will just assholes and give the seller bad feedback just becaues they can now. I am still steaming about the new ebay rules. I will no longer sell on ebay after Feb. 20. I will buy from the remaining sellers there though but That is the seller's choice to give into the F*cked up system they will have in place. Aaah... sorry to rant. i will stop. ~_~

RoboFlonne · Post by **RoboFlonne** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:34 pm

That is Horrible!!!!

Paypal needs to change their slogan to the
"Safest way to pay under $200 online"

Not Sir Phobos · Post by **Not Sir Phobos** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 5:30 pm

iwakuralain16 wrote:Keep in mind with the new feedback changes going into effect on May(where buyers can leave bad feedback and sellers can leave only positive); expect feedback ratings to go down even lower. Instead of sellers who bitch about why didnt didn't get their parcel post package in 5 days after the auction ended and contacting the seller and asking, they will just assholes and give the seller bad feedback just becaues they can now. I am still steaming about the new ebay rules. I will no longer sell on ebay after Feb. 20. I will buy from the remaining sellers there though but That is the seller's choice to give into the F*cked up system they will have in place. Aaah... sorry to rant. i will stop. ~_~

Marie was horrified last night as she read the new rules on ebay as well. That and we've already been %*&#@$ in the %&* by Paypal and ebay in the past we will no longer use their services either.

Ebay and paypal have a monopoly and they know it, so now they are turning up the heat.

duotrouble · Post by **duotrouble** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:52 pm

I'm sorry to hear this has happened to you. Did you call PayPal and explain the situation?

I've had a whirlwind experience with PayPal recently. Believe me, I did my fair amount of cursing them, etc. But I was very polite on the phone and they were extremely helpful. In fact, it all worked out better than expected.

mightymask · Post by **mightymask** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:58 pm

double-post

mightymask · Post by **mightymask** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 7:01 pm

Carla wrote:Can you please tell us the persons ID so we know to say away from there actions?

the id was 'goochfamily' - they have since been stricken from Ebay's records so who knows if/when they'll be back. Just make sure you do your due diligence when making purchases.

bran-chan · Post by **bran-chan** » Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:01 pm

That's why I use a credit card when buying an item from a new seller. You just don't get protection anymore.