Ive been on these forums a week now, mainly researching a dispute I've had and the majority of things I've encountered, from a buying perspective, can be summed up relatively simply. 1. Follow the eBay process, i.e. pay using the PayPal button 2. Don't leave it too late to open a dispute. Scammers are slippery, you'll hear all sorts of reasons why they can't ship. Generally, you should open a dispute as soon as you think there's a problem but not before you email the seller on the third day after the auction end asking for an ETA. Personally I'd give them three more days or three days after the estimated arrival date, if it's listed within the auction. 3. Never wait later than 45 days to open a dispute. 4. Never, ever close a dispute until you're happy. That doesn't mean you're happy that the seller has promised a refund or part credit, it meas you have what you want, in your hand or in your PayPal account. 5. Ring PayPal. Don't rely on these forums and don't rely on the automated process. I've rang them four times in the last two weeks and every time I felt they gave a [paypal swear filter coming up...] **bleep** [...told you, that word was four letters rhyming with hit]. In my case, I opened a dispute on the 30th Dec after paying within five mins of auction end on the 21st Dec £565.00 for an iPhone 4s. Auction stated it would arrive the next day; insured special delivery. I escalated to a claim on the 3rd Jan and was advised today, the 6th Jan, that PayPal has found in my favour and I'll be credited over the next few days. The credit is showing in my PayPal account already, and negative eBay feedback has been left by me on the sellers eBay account. Trust and work with the system as a buyer and it shouldn't fail you. One thing I woud say is that I was sure this fraudster [positve feedback 17; 100% rating] would ship a block of stone to show PayPal he had shipped the phone and therefore providing tracking details. I had a friend, a serving sergeant in the police force, willing to witness me opening the package. This never happened as nothing arrived but I would recommend if you get nothing from silence from a seller and then three days after you open a dispute you get a delivery, be careful. Get a reliable, independent witness [non family] and be prepared to file a police fraud report. PayPal won't entertain a claim without a police report, and with good reason.
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