Chinese scammer

[ckaeel]

I already know the answer; Paypal is garbage and it cannot be used as purchase protection, but I'll let this message here for others to know to avoid Paypal and Chinese scammers.

I order a touchscreen which arrived damaged. I'm certain it was sent like that as the packaging was in good shape.

I opened a case on Aliexpress and despite my evidence they requested me to contact the company which shipped the item from China (weird; that's not my job).

I opened a case on Paypal, added pictures with the new damaged touchscreen and Paypal requests to send the item to China at my cost ...an item which cost only $5.

In conclusion, it cost me $5 to learn that you cannot use Paypal as purchase protection; I guess I dodge the bullet for future purchases.

At this stage I see no other reason to use Paypal.

[kernowlass]

@ckaeel 

Guess you didn't actually bother to read up on that buyer protection to see what it does and does not cover you for?

In the event of a dispute you choose your seller and not Paypal so you need to bear in mind possible return trackable costs before you go ahead and buy from that seller / country.

Paypal state this >>
IMPORTANT: You may be required to return the item to the seller or other party we specify as part of the settlement of your claim. PayPal Buyer Protection does not entitle you to reimbursement for the return shipping costs that you may incur.

Although they will compensate you for some of the cost if you have activated this at some point before you made that transaction.
https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/refunded-returns

You also have the option to do a chargeback via your card issuer instead of a Paypal dispute if you funded your Paypal payment via a credit card.

[DocRonald]

The USPS also says that it is normal to see people scammed by the Chinese seller sending a small envelope with crap stuff in it to your address or even some other state. This gives the impression that they sent the item, and you received it. I am in a dispute now showing pictures and yet PayPal does not have a person for me to talk to directly. If they did, it would be solved immediately. Always take pictures of the package and item you received. If it went to another address, the local postmaster can pull it up and verify the size and weight of the package. They will write you a letter that PayPal can see. The Chinese are bad and will steal from you if they can.

[kernowlass]

@DocRonald 

Paypal is just a payment processor that gives you 'some' buyer and 'some' seller protection.
So disputes for non receipt of item are mostly automated. Seller provides tracking that shows delivery = seller wins.
So then its your turn to do some work to assist Paypal in recovering your purchase price from your seller.

Firstly ring Paypal customer services and tell them that the number is fake or that the item was shown as shipped before you purchased it. With that information they may well just issue you a refund.

Secondly if they don't then... APPEAL
To submit an appeal on the dispute that was closed, PayPal asks that you obtain a detailed report from the shipper/courier (on their letterhead or some other form of official stationary) that includes the address the seller gave them for the shipment. Or one that includes a statement mentioning your address and saying the item was delivered to a different address. THEY DON'T HAVE TO SAY WHICH ADDRESS IT WAS SENT TO, JUST THAT IT WAS NOT DELIVERED TO YOUR ADDRESS.

Check tracking in below link to see where it went.
https://www.17track.net/en

When you have that, contact PayPal via phone (log on to your account and click contact at the bottom of the page, or via Facebook (send a Private Message to PayPal) or via Twitter (send a Direct Message to @AskPayPal) and say you want to appeal the denial of the dispute based on the shipper saying the item was delivered to a different address. Once it's submitted (you will be provided with directions on how to do that), the dispute will be reviewed further and a determination will be made.

You also have the option to contact your card issuer if you funded your Paypal payment that way and see if they will do a chargeback for you?

[RayD8r]

I've had 4 bogus orders for tools from "oriental" fake (or something) online "stores" recently. I've learned my lesson to not order anything that seems to good of a deal to be real but in all 4 cases PayPal refunded every cent that they took for goods not received. The last 3 were from the same place and it took awhile and was kind of stressful for a bit thinking I was going to be out almost $300 but in the end they did me right. Sorry you had a bad experience but at least it was only $5. I'm not a wealthy person but $5 is the least of my worries. I was trying to buy tools to start working on my own as this current situation has put quite a dent in my normal income. I was looking for the best bang for my buck and thought I'd found the deal of the century.

[ckaeel]

Indeed I didn't read the buyer protection; I was applying the common sense and I thought Paypal will protect its image.
"May be required" is not "MUST be required", especially in situations in which the seller either sent a damaged item, or, the item arrived different than what was ordered, or the seller sent a counterfeit item  ...things which are indubitable the fault of the seller.

Those scammers bet on the fact that if the goods are not very expensive the seller will let it go (especially if he has to send those goods back to China).

[kernowlass]

@ckaeel 

Actually if you were applying common sense then you would realise that paypal cannot give you 100% protection, not even your credit card does that, they all have terms and conditions.

So common sense would be to read up on what paypal does provide and then risk assess your own transactions.

You seem surprised that scammers do everything they can to scam you, err yeah thats the whole point of the scam.

Try risk assessing >>>

Chinese Web Sites or on Social Media ads easy to spot (once you know the below signs) so buyer beware.

1. No return address on the returns policy. The site will look as if its in your country (where they despatch goods from) but they will ask for returns to go back to China (returns depot) at a shipping cost often more than the item is worth.
2. No contact telephone number. if you click on contact the most you will get is webmail or an email address.
3. Rarely company address information.
4. Great pictures of items at bargain prices that turn out to be tat.
5. Fake reviews.
6. Google and you can often see previous company names as they change them once enough claims roll in and Paypal stop them using their services and start over.
7. Send fake tracking numbers to win item non receipt of item claims.