Paypal dispute process validation

[Let'sgoflying!]

I am just wondering if their method of mediating disputes has been shown to have any validity.

I negotiated for a factory new engine and tried very hard to make some progress with the seller when it would not run and then when it smoked and quit, and then when it would not run faster than 1000rpm but struck out. Each time, I was polite, detailed the issues and noted how I thought the engine was probably a lemon based upon its visits to the authorized repair center but still after many weeks I do not have a functioning engine!
So I went through Paypal's dispute process - I wrote explaining how I figured if I paid $600 for a new engine that I thought it was not unreasonable that I have the engine and that it works.
Apparently I am on my high-horse about this because Paypal also rebuffed me - within an hour of my submission I received a reply that says my claim was denied. There was no explanation why and there was no cc of the sellers response.
Just, No. Wait, I think they did say, "Sorry".

Foolish me - apparently if you buy what is advertised as brand new, functioning gasoline engine you are really only permitted to expect a lump of scrap metal and associated travel expenses (multiple trips to service center).

Thanks, the rant helped my blood pressure.

 

[Ted]

Dave, I'm surprised that you had that issue. In my experience, PayPal has almost always sided with the buyer, even when the buyer got exactly what was described and just decided it wasn't good enough.

My suggestion: I pay for things with PayPal and use my credit card as the method of payment. When you do this, you can go to your credit card company and explain that you didn't get what you paid for. We had a dispute recently for an item that was not at all what was described, and was actually counterfeit. There were three charges associated with the item. PayPal refunded the largest one, but said that we waited too long on the other two. While doing the PayPal dispute, we also filed a dispute in parallel with the credit card company, who then refunded the other two charges. If one doesn't work, the other probably will.

Either way, I'm sorry you had to deal with this. What a pain.

 

[poadeleted21]

There is no shortage of paypal horror stories, google "paypal sucks", although on this one seems to me like the seller should buck up for it. I won't use paypal to buy a #2 pencil, If you'll note my earlier posts today i wrote I was willing to sell a GPS 100 bucks under ebay value just to keep from dealing with eBay, mainly because of PayPal. It's my understanding that all a seller has to do is get a shipping delivery verification and at that point it becomes the buyers problem. I know a popular PayPal scam that I've seen as recent as the past 6 months was for the seller to ship an empty box making it really difficult to prove nothing was sent.

 

[Ted]

There is no shortage of paypal horror stories, google "paypal sucks", although on this one seems to me like the seller should buck up for it. I won't use paypal to buy a #2 pencil, If you'll note my earlier posts today i wrote I was willing to sell a GPS 100 bucks under ebay value just to keep from dealing with eBay, mainly because of PayPal.

I try to avoid selling on eBay, but that's mainly because buyers ask lots of stupid questions and I don't like paying eBay fees.

It's my understanding that all a seller has to do is get a shipping delivery verification and at that point it becomes the buyers problem.

That is not true at all. A few months ago I sold a fuel tank for a motorcycle that was as described, and I put it on eBay with pictures. The guy filed a dispute saying the paint job was very poor and not as described. I offered him a partial refund. PayPal ended up giving him a full refund (out of my bank account) and had him return the tank to me. So, that is not true.

I know a popular PayPal scam that I've seen as recent as the past 6 months was for the seller to ship an empty box making it really difficult to prove nothing was sent.

In dealing with eBay/PayPal/etc. for the past 10 years, I can say honestly that it's gotten a lot better. When I first started using eBay and paying with money orders, I had a number of problems, including when people would get my payment and then never send the item, and I had no recourse. Paying for things with PayPal and your credit card gives you enough recourse that I've not had issues as a buyer anymore, and most sellers on eBay (especially the high feedback ones) really do try to get positive feedback every time. I still have issues as a seller, though.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Thanks, I was planning on filing a dispute with amex tomorrow.

 

[poadeleted21]

I try to avoid selling on eBay, but that's mainly because buyers ask lots of stupid questions and I don't like paying eBay fees.



That is not true at all. A few months ago I sold a fuel tank for a motorcycle that was as described, and I put it on eBay with pictures. The guy filed a dispute saying the paint job was very poor and not as described. I offered him a partial refund. PayPal ended up giving him a full refund (out of my bank account) and had him return the tank to me. So, that is not true.



In dealing with eBay/PayPal/etc. for the past 10 years, I can say honestly that it's gotten a lot better. When I first started using eBay and paying with money orders, I had a number of problems, including when people would get my payment and then never send the item, and I had no recourse. Paying for things with PayPal and your credit card gives you enough recourse that I've not had issues as a buyer anymore, and most sellers on eBay (especially the high feedback ones) really do try to get positive feedback every time. I still have issues as a seller, though.

Google "paypal empty box" there is no shortage of the scammers on both sides, sellers sending empty boxes and buyers "returning" empty boxes.

 

[Ted]

Thanks, I was planning on filing a dispute with amex tomorrow.

If you file it with AmEx, you will almost certainly win.

Google "paypal empty box" there is no shortage of the scammers on both sides, sellers sending empty boxes and buyers "returning" empty boxes.

I've never had that scam, but I've been scammed (or at least screwed) as a buyer and seller before.

 

[steingar]

I've had uniformly good interactions on Ebay and Paypal. However, I am both quick and up-front in my disputes. I buy watches. I get one that doesn't run as advertised, it goes back. I have honestly had problems, but they have been easily resolvable with no hard feelings on either side.

Lets say I bought a watch that I claimed didn't work, but I was going to fix it. Lets say a month later I claim I tried to fix it but it still wouldn't work and now I want my money back. How does the seller know I didn't cause more damage in my own ministrations? Something doesn't work as advertised, it goes back now, or I own whatever is wrong with it.