JoeFriday
Agent Provacateur
I'm sure most of you already feel this way, but I thought I'd tell a personal story of how Paypal just told me "sorry that we screwed you, but tough sh*t"
I sold a non-camera item on ebay about a month ago.. the buyer seemed decent enough in his emails and made payment through Paypal a few days after the auction closed.. as soon as Paypal deposited the money, I had them move it to my bank account.. the next day I sent out the item, being the prompt ebay seller that I am.. a few days after that, the buyer put positive feedback on my ebay account and I did the same for him.. everybody is happy
a week later, after the money had already moved to my bank account, ebay put a hold on the buyer's account and reversed the payment.. taking money out of my Paypal account to do so
so now the buyer has my merchandise (valued at $300) without having paid anything.. and Paypal couldn't care less because they aren't out any money either (other than $9 for their cut of his non-existent payment).. I can't even put negative feedback on the guy's ebay account at this point
I called Paypal to see what I can do.. they said if I followed their 'Sellers Protection Plan' I would be covered.. meaning, I would have to provide shipping information (tracking number and signature).. but I don't have that information.. so they said "sorry, but you're screwed".. in those exact words
now is it just me, or doesn't it seem wrong that Paypal would give you the money.. then retract it after the fact? shouldn't they be required to verify the payment first, or be liable themselves if it turns out to be fraudulent?
bottom line: NEVER trust Paypal
I sold a non-camera item on ebay about a month ago.. the buyer seemed decent enough in his emails and made payment through Paypal a few days after the auction closed.. as soon as Paypal deposited the money, I had them move it to my bank account.. the next day I sent out the item, being the prompt ebay seller that I am.. a few days after that, the buyer put positive feedback on my ebay account and I did the same for him.. everybody is happy
a week later, after the money had already moved to my bank account, ebay put a hold on the buyer's account and reversed the payment.. taking money out of my Paypal account to do so
so now the buyer has my merchandise (valued at $300) without having paid anything.. and Paypal couldn't care less because they aren't out any money either (other than $9 for their cut of his non-existent payment).. I can't even put negative feedback on the guy's ebay account at this point
I called Paypal to see what I can do.. they said if I followed their 'Sellers Protection Plan' I would be covered.. meaning, I would have to provide shipping information (tracking number and signature).. but I don't have that information.. so they said "sorry, but you're screwed".. in those exact words
now is it just me, or doesn't it seem wrong that Paypal would give you the money.. then retract it after the fact? shouldn't they be required to verify the payment first, or be liable themselves if it turns out to be fraudulent?
bottom line: NEVER trust Paypal