I'm out $60, but I learned the inexpensive way compared to some people

[steveola]

Paypal doesn't care, they just move money and take their vig, Facebook doesn't care they made their money on the ad.
I bought a laptop stand for $32 and it was only a cheap plastic dollar store fold up frame even though the video showed it had two wooden platforms for structure.
I complained, they offered 40% back, then the Paypal site wouldn't let me accept it, no matter how many times I tried over a week.

Now the only option is ship it back "because it is the seller's policy."  $90 to ship it back.

I'm glad there isn't a K-Y emoji.  Three companies all involved in perpetrating the same fraud.

I smell a class action suit in their future, I hope it is all worth it.

I'm glad eBay cut Paypal loose, now I pay for everything with a credit card.

If I see something I like on Facebook, I look for it on eBay or Amazon where I have some recourse.

[Sovanrith]

Gameing

[kernowlass]

@steveola 

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

Paypal would not be able to check every individual seller / merchant / company in over 200 countries worldwide that adds paypal to their website to accept payments.

So they give you 'some' buyer protection but the onus is on you to risk assess your transactions.

They do stop bad companies from using Paypal when enough claims start rolling in.
However as they are in China (mostly) then its easy for them to just start over with a new name, so stopping them does not really do anything.

The best thing is to not buy from them in the first place, to recognise them -

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.


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/us/smarthelp/article/FAQ3544

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.

[steveola]

I've decided if I see something on Facebook that interests me, I'll look for the same item on eBay where I have some recourse.

(though you still have to be careful because China sellers are pretending to be in the US)

Paypal I'll save for when it is most convenient, domestic corporate websites.

Paypal doesn't give cashback, so we're migrating those purchases to credit card, where we also have some recourse.

Steve

[kernowlass]

@steveola 

I don't like ebay very much, I prefer Amazon, always got great customer service on there and easy to return items.