I sold a child's bike trailer on eBay yesterday and the buyer has paid into my PayPal account. However, PayPal are going to keep my money on hold for 21 days.
I have to deliver the item in 1 day and I can see that time has to be allowed so the buyer can check he hasn't been sold a pup (so to speak). However, the delay seems very extreme when I have been trading on eBay since 2003.
Firstly Ebay and Paypal are 2 separate companies and have 2 separate policies for holding funds for new sellers. If yours was an Ebay transaction then its an Ebay hold and Ebay authorise when paypal can release the funds.
Secondly you really shouldn't accept paypal for an item that is to be collected as you will have no paypal seller protection.
If your buyer opens a dispute for non receipt of item and you can't provide a tracking number that proves delivery then you would have to refund them.
That is why Ebay allow you to list 'cash on collection' and if a buyer pays with paypal by mistake then you can refund them and re-state cash when they collect (OR you deliver).
Then you would have cash in hand / no risk of a dispute / no wait / no fees.
Advice is voluntary. Kudos / Solution appreciated.
