Archive for the ‘PayPal’ Category

Dear eBay Queen:

I recently sold a guitar amp on eBay for right around $1600. It is a good amp and is no longer made so it has become somewhat collectible. I packed it with the utmost care, even removing the tubes and packing them in a separate little box. I was a bit leery of the buyer to start with because he had a few negative feedbacks. He was at 98.3%, so I ignored it.

So he receives the amp about two weeks ago, and he emailed me today saying the speaker is blown and two tubes are broken. I was surprised about the tubes because I packed it so well. The speaker being blown was a red light for me because I knew that it was not. So, I reply saying the amp was perfect when it left my possession and if there was any damage it would be a shipper problem (the amp was insured).

Without any further communication, or waiting for me to respond, he opened a PayPal dispute. In the dispute, he was requesting a refund of $65. I did not know or understand what was going to happen next! PayPal immediately froze my account for the full amount of the auction. My account is frozen and the $1600 is no longer mine. If it were frozen for $65 I would have fought this scammer right in PayPal, but, I had more auctions closing and I wanted my account clear to get those funds. I refunded the $65 with a note saying he needs to return the “blown” speaker. I EVEN OFFERED TO PAY RETURN SHIPPING. I contact him a week later asking for a tracking number for the speaker. He replied stating he hasn’t shipped the speaker, but what carrier do I want to use. I reply. A week later, and I’ve still heard nothing. I inquire and he replied, saying he must have thrown away the speaker. Well, now I know for sure that he was lying from day one! The last email I sent him just asked for a simple picture of the new speaker in the amp. Of course he replied saying “I don’t have access to a camera.”

Sorry for the long post. I know that I am screwed out of the $65 and that is fine. I am just hoping that you can help me figure out what to do next.  I’m sure that this isn’t the first person to try this partial refund scam. It has happened a few times with guitars and pickups. But, this is the first time PayPal’s policies have screwed me, the seller. I have always and will always be honest and willing to make good on any real issues when I sell things. Unfortunately, there are people out there who are taking advantage of eBay’s new no feedback for buyers from the seller and PayPal’s total buyer protection policy.  What should I do?

Pat

Dear Pat:

I don’t think you’ve been scammed, although I think the buyer should have explained what he wanted upfront without the PayPal claim.  If I had to guess what happened, I imagine that your tubes arrived broken, and the buyer took the $65.00 you refunded to buy more tubes.  You received your 1600.00 (less the $65.00) back from PayPal right? Why would the guy send you back the product and let you keep the majority of the money?  I believe this situation worked out pretty well.  In almost any other scenario you could have been out the $1600.00, shipping, and have a broken item.

If you should ever have situation like this again, I would contact PayPal and see if they can clear up any confusion you might have regarding the transaction.  Another thing you might want to consider is that PayPal didn’t freeze your whole account; they just placed a hold on that transaction.  That particular hold would not affect any other transaction you might have.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 221157728205 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page) Do you smoke a pipe? I’m not sure why this one sold for 15,000 dollars, but it did.  Check out this 1988 Bo Nordh Pipe Smoked slightly Used. SOLD $15000.00 http://www.ebay.com/itm/1988-Bo-Nordh-pipe-Smoked-slightly-used-/221157728205

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul. Do you have a question for the eBay Queen? Email: questions@asktheebayqueen.com

Dear eBay Queen:

I received an email from PayPal yesterday, and I thought it might be a spoof email. After doing a little research, I’ve figured out that it is very real. Here is what I received:

“We’re writing to let you know about a change to your PayPal account.

The money may be available sooner if:

1. 1.      We can confirm that the item was delivered.
2. 2.      Your buyer leaves positive feedback. (Applies only to eBay items)

This change isn’t necessarily permanent. We’ll review your account every 35 days and re-evaluate if we should continue to hold your payments. If we decide to stop holding payments, we’ll email you to let you know.

PayPal”

Is this something new with PayPal?  Do I have any recourse? I have sold since 1999 and I have 100% feedback.  How would you handle this situation?

Dana

Dear Dana:

I am very sorry to tell you it is real.  I contacted PayPal about this policy.  They couldn’t comment on your case, but said there were a variety of reasons a seller would be subjected to the 21 day hold policy.   Most commonly it’s because the seller is new, sells in a high risk category or has had issues with refunds and returns in the past.  The PayPal rep even confirmed that sometimes a hold is put on funds if a sellers numbers change.

For more information on the PayPal 21 day hold policy go here.

Dear eBay Queen:

Yesterday I had one of my Amazon buyers email me asking where he book was that he purchased on 2/5. Nice guy, not rude. I checked the tracking and it shows delivered on 2/11. So, I sent him the tracking details (which he already had access to). I looked the address up on Google and it was a single family residence w/ an individual mailbox out front.

I mentioned that given the size of his mailbox, the package would not have fit and suggested he check where other over-sized packages are left, including around his front porch behind the side bushes, etc. (Nicely, of course)

He wrote back that he had already seen the tracking info, but despite it showing as delivered, he never received it. He had received other books, but not that one. He asked if I’d call the post office.

I’m going to take the tracking number and ask the clerk when I’m there today; do you know if Amazon will do anything since they marked it as delivered? Do you know what Amazon will do if he disputes delivery with them and I provide the tracking #?

Jill Palmer, New York

Dear Jill:

I would contact Amazon immediately to let them know what is going on.  It’s been my experience that they will refund the buyer the funds out of your account, even if the item shows delivered, but by contacting them you will not receive a strike against your account.

I think you are on the right track by contacting their post office.  It could very well have been delivered to a neighbor that has forgotten to take it to them.  I hope they find your package!

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 110774756328 (enter this
number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page.
Any cool old photos laying around your house? Check out this Samuel
Gompers signed Photo/Founder of AFL (1850-1924) Photograph SOLD $19995.00  Check it out HERE

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul, Kansas.

Dear eBay Queen:

I purchased a pair of Converse tennis shoes for my son.  When I received them, I realized that they were not a men’s size 8, but a women’s size 8.   They were listed by the seller in the men’s category and a size 8.  I contacted the seller and asked to return them, as they were not what I expected.  I didn’t hear back from the seller for several days, when she finally responded she sent this email:

“Hi, it’s pretty clear these are a size 8, it says so in the shoe! I don’t understand why you want to return these, as they are as described.  Go ahead and send them back, but I am not going to be happy about this.”

• I mailed the shoes January 16^th with a delivery confirmation.
• I show she received the shoes back on the 20^th of January.
• I emailed on the 22^nd.  No answer.
• I emailed again on the 27^th and 31^st.  No answer.
• I opened a claim on February 3^rd.  She finally responded with this.

“What is your problem lady? Don’t you know what patience are? You’ll get your money, when I’m ready to send it back.  Thanks a lot for wearing the shoe for a month before sending them back. I can’t wait to leave you negative feedback.”

What is she talking about?  I received the shoes on 3 days before I sent them back, and there was a weekend in those 3 days!  I’m not the best eBayer, but even I know that a seller can’t leave negative feedback for a buyer anymore!  What would you do in a situation like this?

Randy, Ottawa, Ks

Dear Randy:

I would ignore all communication outside of the PayPal with this Seller.  Has the seller responded to your PayPal claim?  They only have  a few days to respond to the claim and then you will be able to close the case in your favor.  Have you entered in your delivery confirmation # on the PayPal site so that PayPal knows your seller has received your item back?  If not, make sure you do that immediately.

I am really sorry that you’ve been treated this way.  The good news is that you will receive your money back through PayPal, and you won’t receive any kind of strike or negative feedback from this seller.   The seller however, will have a ding against their account for having a case and not responding before it was closed.

Dear eBay Queen:

I have been selling on eBay for years just here and there. I decided to come back and try to sell full time due to my husband losing his job. I’ve posted about 100 items, and my fees are over $80. I opened a store in the hopes that would help offset some of the fees.

I haven’t had any big ticket items because I just don’t have the money to buy anything that has a high return. I’ve been selling stuff around the house, but I’m not making any money. It’s all going for fees. Can you help me understand how to go about making money? I thought I was making a little profit, but I found out that I wasn’t it. I’ve put all this work into listing and I’ve got nothing to show for it. What do I need to do?

Jan

Dear Jan:

Sometimes it takes a little help to get your selling off to the right start. Are you posting 100 items a month?  If so, a store is probably not the right way to go.  Non store owners get 50 free listings a month.  Sometimes eBay even runs 2 or 3 promotional specials each month, that will give you even more free auction listings.

I have also found that for the most part items do not get multiple bids like they used to, so you need to set your start price high enough to cover your expenses and make a profit. I used to start all my items at 99 cents to reduce fees and entice bidding.  Back then I almost never took a loss, but in today’s economy it is pretty risky to do.

Strange eBay item of the week: eBay item: 180751971872 (enter this number in the eBay search box in the top right corner of the home page.  Do you have any old election buttons? Check out this Franklin Roosevelt 1932 Campaign Button. SOLD $6158.92 HERE

Suzie Eads is a nationally known eBay marketer and eBay trained Education Specialist. She lives in Rantoul, Kansas.