RFF Scam or Buyer's Remorse?

[JimG]

A new member (I guess new, I don't recognize the name) answered my classified ad saying he would buy a lens from me. The next day he says he changed his mind and demands I return his payment by PayPal. I don't mind returning his payment, but could I be getting scammed or is this simply someone who doesn't know what they want? What do you think. JimG

 

[T_om]

A new member (I guess new, I don't recognize the name) answered my classified ad saying he would buy a lens from me. The next day he says he changed his mind and demands I return his payment by PayPal. I don't mind returning his payment, but could I be getting scammed or is this simply someone who doesn't know what they want? What do you think. JimG

Was he a verified buyer in the PayPal program?

If not, I would contact PayPal BEFORE any refunds. The way scams usually work is for you to be paid in 'funny money' and the refund you make is paid out, of course, with your good funds.

I do not know how this could be made to work through PayPal unless the scammer paid PayPal with bad funds (stolen credit card for example) and then ends up with PayPal giving them good money from your bonifide account.

I have no idea what is actually going on, but as I said, I would contact PayPal.

Tom

 

[Kim Coxon]

If a payment is made through Paypal by credit card and then a refund made, it goes straight back to the credit card. If a stolen card was used, the buyer would have no gain as the person who "lost" the card would get the money back.

I suspect that the most likely answer would be that the buyer changed his mind. Circumstances may have changed, he may have found another cheaper elsewhere or seen something he likes better.

Kim

Was he a verified buyer in the PayPal program?

I do not know how this could be made to work through PayPal unless the scammer paid PayPal with bad funds (stolen credit card for example) and then ends up with PayPal giving them good money from your bonifide account.

I have no idea what is actually going on, but as I said, I would contact PayPal.

Tom

 

[Andrew Sowerby]

Seems like a pretty elaborate scheme to concoct for a couple hundred $$$. I'm with the others -- buyer's remorse is the most likely explanation.

 

[rover]

Did you ship the lens? If so refund the $ on return of the lens and clearing of the payment through Paypal.

 

[JimG]

Did you ship the lens? If so refund the $ on return of the lens and clearing of the payment through Paypal.

I'm sooooo confused, he changed his mind again for the 3rd time and now says he wants it again. I emailed him and told him I'm shipping the lens. I hope this works out. I actually had to double up on my blood presure meds today. Jim

 

[Kim Coxon]

I would make sure you have full tracking information in case he changes his mind again 😉 .

Kim

I'm sooooo confused, he changed his mind again for the 3rd time and now says he wants it again. I emailed him and told him I'm shipping the lens. I hope this works out. I actually had to double up on my blood presure meds today. Jim

 

[JimG]

I would make sure you have full tracking information in case he changes his mind again 😉 .

Kim

I am Kim, and insurance to. Unfortunately the buyer is in Canada so I hope it's not going to be anything like what Frank and Ted are going through. Jim

 

[RicardoD]

JimG,

All this Canada business is just reminding me that if I ever ship outside the US again to use UPS or FEDEX with the much better tracking and status info compared to USPS. You pay more but who needs the headache that FrankS is going through.

 

[Kim Coxon]

I think it depends more on the type of service you use. When I send "international signed for" the the US from the UK, I can track the parcel to the doorstep on USPS and I have been able to do the same with parcels from the US to the UK.

Kim

JimG,

All this Canada business is just reminding me that if I ever ship outside the US again to use UPS or FEDEX with the much better tracking and status info compared to USPS. You pay more but who needs the headache that FrankS is going through.

 

[back alley]

actually when i get a package from the states, after it enters canada i can continue to track it on the canada post website.
so no problems sending into canada.

 

[Socke]

Was he a verified buyer in the PayPal program?

If not, I would contact PayPal BEFORE any refunds. The way scams usually work is for you to be paid in 'funny money' and the refund you make is paid out, of course, with your good funds.

I do not know how this could be made to work through PayPal unless the scammer paid PayPal with bad funds (stolen credit card for example) and then ends up with PayPal giving them good money from your bonifide account.

I have no idea what is actually going on, but as I said, I would contact PayPal.

Tom

Exactly this happend to me, luckily I was fast enough to report the payment I didn't expect to PayPal and it didn't cost me anything. But my PayPal account is still locked :-(

 

[RJBender]

Exactly this happend to me, luckily I was fast enough to report the payment I didn't expect to PayPal and it didn't cost me anything. But my PayPal account is still locked :-(

Volker,
How long will it take to get it unlocked?
Can't you open a new Pay Pal account with a different e-mail address?

R.J.

 

[MP Guy]

Dont refund untill the money clears. Wait 3 days. Was this person in Canada?

 

[JimG]

Yes, Canada. I think it's OK. I guess alot of people just have a hard time feeling cofidant about their decisions so they waffle back and forth. It's gotta to hard going thru life that way.

 

[SolaresLarrave]

Sounds to me like this fellow must find life pretty intimidating.

I'd give him another day to make sure he knows what he wants. And ship via USPS instead! 🙂

 

[David Murphy]

JimG,

All this Canada business is just reminding me that if I ever ship outside the US again to use UPS or FEDEX with the much better tracking and status info compared to USPS. You pay more but who needs the headache that FrankS is going through.

These services are very difficult for the small seller tio use for international shipments and the charges are astronomical compared USPS

 

[JimG]

These services are very difficult for the small seller tio use for international shipments and the charges are astronomical compared USPS

That's true Ricardo. A member in Israel wanted to buy a kit from me but shipping by UPS with insurance was $96. Almost as much as the camera. Jim

 

[ampguy]

Hi David

Hi David

Maybe more expensive, but not more difficult. All the intl. docs are online and printable, or a fedex counter rep will walk you through in < 1 minute.

We only use USPS Intl. for throw away items, t-shirts, magazines, where there is no need to track or verify the item was ever received.

These services are very difficult for the small seller tio use for international shipments and the charges are astronomical compared USPS