PPC Submitter : Friday, November 5, 2010, 10:14

PayPal Refunds Buyer Before Expected Delivery Date

So during a very financially strapped time I decided to sell my iphone on ebay. All was well, it sold for 200 dollars.

What I didn’t realize was that the buyer was from the Ukraine.  But I received the money via PayPal to a confirmed address, so I went ahead and shipped the item USPS international.

The expected shipping time was 15-45 days, apparently due to customs and such. I assumed the customs number was a tracking number, which I later realized only tells you when it left the US.

So a few weeks later the buyer files a complaint through paypal stating “where is my item?” I responded to the buyers dispute, and emailed them directly a few times as well. However, I never received a response back, and a week later they escalated the dispute and paypal refunds their payment within an hour!

PayPal did not investigate the matter at all. I have my customs receipts, and proof that I shipped the phone to the buyer. The time frame for the international delivery wasn’t even met when PayPal refunded their payment. After 21 days they got there money back, and the estimated delivery time was 15-45 days after I shipped it!

There were no questions, PayPal did not look into the matter. Now my account is negative 200 dollars and I am out a great phone. On top of that, the buyer will probably receive a free phone, if they haven’t already. I feel sick about this.

Come to find out, the ebayer signed up 2 days prior to the sale, and their account was canceled 2 days later! I didn’t realize this at the time, big mistake.

Warning! Never accept international bids with new account holders! Never ship without delivery confirmation! Paypal doesn’t care about any evidence EXCEPT tracking and delivery confirmation. It’s sickening and I will NEVER ship international again. I will always put tracking on packages, even if it costs more.

Submitted By:: RW

Location: White Bear Lake, MN, USA

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