Payment holds - HOW am I supposed to keep my business running?!?!

[audiodeity]

I can't believe this new policy. It's ridiculous. Holding EVERYTHING I GET for up to 21 days?

I quit my normal job 5 months ago to start selling on eBay full time. How am I supposed to buy more inventory to sell. How am I supposed to pay for Fedex ground shipments, packing materials, gas, etc. Not to mention food. If theyare going to be keeping all the money that I'm supposed to get.

They've already got $200 in hold from this morning. Now im supposed to pay to ship these and everything else I sell and wait and hope to get paid?! Im going to run out of money. Im going to go out of business??!

Does anyone know if there is anyway around this?

[devyl]

Unfortunately there's really only two ways:

1: stop using paypal, and have your customers pay via Western Union, money order, or check.

2: Explain the situation to your customers and hope they will leave positive feedback after the purchase of your item(s) to clear the funds.

[chukar65]

Hello: My suggestion is for you to keep up the protest, find other ways to get payment, although I tried that and they've gottcha there too..they took all of my auctions off because I made a sharp criticism of paypal on my auctions..Put a note in comments with an email address and just say regard payment please email..but I imagine it wont be long and they'll spot and remove that ...or...your auction..Research other auctions and payment methods..leave in protest, most wont do that...its like trying to get all of the farmers in the nation to get together...cant!  I would also contact your representative about the legality of paypal taking your money, depositing it in a money making account, while you sit and sweat it out....but again, who will do that?  I plan to question the illegality of all of this...and....and...have them pay back everyone who they owe back interest to..Sorry about the problems...keep on going!  Bill

[pikachoo]

I totally agree. I just received a message from paypal that ALL MY FUNDS FROM NOW on will be held 21 days. No, it wasn't just with one item or a certain listing. They informed me every penny I get that is rightfully mine they will hold and decide when & if I deserve it? That's bull crap! I have 100% feedback and have fed paypal tons of money in fees they charge over the years. I have had several power seller accounts and been a member of ebay since 1998. This is how I make my living and support my 6 children. And I'm here to tell you 6 children can't wait 21 days for food & shelter or for the electricity bill to be paid. They will starve to death and be out in the street!

The thing that bothers me is the notice mentioned the criteria paypal uses to slap this hold on funds, and I do not meet any of there criteria. There is no legally binding reason between me & paypal for them to have stolen my money, which is exactly what it is. They admit it's rightfully mine, but yet fail to release it to me the legal rightful owner. There ought to be some smart legal rep out there who can & will stand up against  these unorthodox practices against us honest members and take legal action if necessary.

[live2shop]

i was under the impression that they hold funds for up to 21 days OR until positive feedback was left? is this true. anyway, because i caught wind of this policy as a buyer (i've never sold anything on ebay) i leave feedback immediately so the seller gets their funds and keep my fingers crossed that nothing goes wrong and if it does, the seller resolves the issue. so far so good. and i usually buy from 'my trusted' sellers.  i'm sorry this is causing so much frustration and financial issues for the sellers.

[pikachoo]

Paypal can and will hold funds regardless of the amount of time that's passed, any feedback left, or proof of delivery. They have been known to hold funds for a minimum of 6 months or longer. Seacrh the internet, for the complaints to the federal trade commission  & better business buraeu are endless. Paypal requires proof of delivery, and absolute 5 star feedback rating before they will even discuss removing any hold on funds for an item sold on ebay. Then they must review the complete transaction and will suggest allowing up to 30 days for a decision to me made. But first before you can even get this process started, you must make 9 phone calls and wait till you can talk to a rep who is willing to even discuss the matter. they will put you on hold, hamg up on you, tranfer you around the world and back and so on & so on. It's not worth it. And in case you don't realize the severity of the situation and how it affects us honest sellers let me give you an example.

THEY HOLD EVERYTHING! Except their fees of course....oh yeah! They get their cut immediately. But say I sell an item to a nice lady in Australia. The selling price is only $24.95 which I listed as a fair buy-it-now deal. No big deal you say? Well most folks agree $24.95 is not a big deal, and can mostly hold out 21 days for that measly price right? Wrong! For it cost $92.75 to ship this item to this lady, which she's already happily paid via paypal and sent directly to me just for such purpose. However, paypal is hording this money, stashing it under the rug, and will not allow me, the rightful owner to have access to this money she sent to cover the shipping cost. See the delima? Yet paypal will not release the money UNTIL the item has been shipped, delivered, and 5 star feedback received. Then it still takes an act of congress to get it released. I don't know about you, but I don't have an extra $92.75 to ship this item and then wait 21 days to be reimbursed. And that's just for one item. I sell hundreds and there is no way in hail I can front the cost of shipping on these items. If I could I wouldn't be selling on ebay now would I in order to make a few extra needed bucks.

[chukar65]

I think enough of us have the same feelings about whats going on. Then why?.....doesnt someone, some group, some people with money, do anything?  I will find out who my state reps are..and I will call them...I dont expect they will respond positively, if they are connected to ebay, paypal....but I will try!  How about the rest of the people on here...?

Complaining on line, complaining to ebay...and paypal...wont do....its fine to express our dissatisfaction....on line, but more has to be done...pressure has to be brought....and it'll take a different kind of communication than this...so I would ask everyone to bring pressure to ebay through friends, through this community, through some people who have clout, and money.............if this isnt done...we continue to lick the hand of our master!!  Bill

[pikachoo]

...we must appeal to the Governor of California to aid us in our endeavour. Paypal & ebay have gotten so big which has obviously swelled their heads too much. It's like the old old tree that grew too big and the limbs were dangling over the roof. There is only one way to stop it. Chop it down, pull it up by the roots, or trim it down to size.

[chukar65]

the last comment was "we" must call the government, state or federal...who is we...we is the people on the paypal community...we must stop making our comments here and direct them to a higher power...in mass!  So again, contact your lawyer, if you have money, contact your state rep, contact someone with clout!  Why continue to waste time on here with paypla ....ebay watching...listening...GO TO WORK!  I WILL...AND I'LL LET YOU ALL KNOW WHAT I FIND..BUT...................AGAIN, ON HERE PAYPAL, EBAY ARE WATCHING...SO DO IT ON THE SIDE...BUT........................................DO IT!

[adiwan]

I think Paypal is OUTRAGEOUS. They have held my funds on many occassions with proof of delivery and an email from the buyer saying products received in good order! 30 and 45 days

I believe three things need to be done and can only be done by collective action:

1. A Class Action Lawsuit (CAL) - people have filed frivolous lawsuits and won sizeable concessions and compensation but PayPal behaviour is and has been egregious.

2. Pursue Paypal by legal mechanisms and hound them into being reasonable

3. Form LapYap as a cooperative and put immense pressure on Paypal; I do not believe we can drive them out of business but they certainly will try their darndest to drive LapYap out; we need competition and competition now

I know we are all stressed for cash so I have a plan of action which should not stress our already stressful lives:

1. Set up a web site and gather a large base of people to support LapYap and CAL

2. Find excellent attorneys who can support us on a contingency basis

3. Seek Volunteers who can donate time for the upkeep of the web site and other administrative tasks

I will set up the web site asap, probably this weekend and post updates on this forum