I sold a broken Video Card (as described) on eBay in April to a buyer in the Netherlands for $670, and shipped the item EXACTLY as instructed by eBay for using their Global Shipping Center. They buyer paid the shipping costs charged by eBay, and everything was fine. A couple weeks later the Buyer opens a dispute with PayPal because Pitney Bowes evidently charged him an extra $115 for import charges and fees; these fees were NOT disclosed by eBay at the time of purchase (not MY fault), so neither of us had any idea. When you look at the receipt of payment on the eBay translation, there is a notation of 3rd party fees charged by Pitney Bowes. When he opened up the case, it opened up the full case, and caused a dispute with the whole transaction.
PayPal spams me so much with e-mails, that I have some of their e-mails filtered, and it turns out, the initial dispute e-mails were being filtered and I just never saw them (I was also in the middle of moving); I didn't notice there was even a dispute filed until the day it was closed, and I only know that because PayPal used a different e-mail format, that didn't get filtered, that ended up directly in my inbox (where I saw it). I called PayPal, and they're worthless; apparently if you don't reply to the initial dispute e-mails (no matter the reason), they automatically side with the Buyer, and you're SOL; they're AWARE that Buyers use this as a loop hole (the Agent let it slip out), but if you don't respond to the INITIAL dispute request, you automatically lose. I called them on June 4th to reopen the case, which they did, I sent them the required information (shipping confirmation, receipt, receipt with 3rd party charge on it, etc.), and they still denied it because of lack of response to the INITIAL e-mail. Their reason was that there is nothing they could do now. How is that?! They SEE it's fraud, why does it matter WHEN it happened? Why can't they just pull the funds out of his account and return them to me, like they did with MINE to him??!! The funds never came out of my CC account, nor checking account (PayPal held them), so I can't even put in a stop payment and open a fraud case. If there a potentially fraudulent transaction with a CC or through a Bank Account, they'll then refund the payment and go after the one who committed fraud. Why can't PayPal do that? What the <removed>?!
Normally I'd just chalk it up to crappy business practices, and my fault for not seeing the e-mail; I'd still be really **bleep** off, but I should have covered my own **bleep**. HOWEVER, when the Buyer initially opened up the dispute he wrote in the comments that the issues was NOT with me; he calls me out, by name, and says it's NOT my fault, but Pitney Bowes. PayPal saw this when the initially sided with him, so even though he stated it wasn't MY fault, PayPal still decided with him, gave him a FULL refund, and let him keep the item. I argued with the Agent about this, and I just ended up hanging up on them as they kept trying to blame ME. They told me straight up that just because the "open" up the case to do an "appeal," doesn't mean anything is going to actually happen.
See below:
4/19/2018 09:06 EDT - Buyer: This message is dedicated not to *name omitted*, but to Pitney Bowes, Inc. Apparently when I open a dispute about the payment to Pitney Bowes, Inc. it will open the original Paypal transaction as well.Reason for opening this dispute is about the "Import charges" charged by Pitney Bowes, Inc. Simply put; they are absurd!The Pitney Bowes, Inc. were:Import charges: 151,14 USDShipment and packaging: 24,21 USDFirst off; I fully understand the shipping and packaging price, however I don't understand the import charges. They are completely unjustified.First off; the videocard is defect and not working, as described by the seller. Also according to European Law the amount which can charged for import is 2.5% maximum.This would mean 2.5% of 669.75 USD is 16.74 USD.Maybe there are some other little charges, however the amount of 151.14 USD is totaly unacceptable by Pitney Bowes, Inc.!Furthermore; not only was the product defect (as described), but the declared value was also way lower, according to the shipping notice. Declared value on the commercial shipping invoice is: 362.50 USD.So I am expecting Pitney Bowes, Inc. to at least return 100 USD. This is more than reasonable considering the insane amounts Pitney Bowes, Inc. is charging.Once again, this is not for the seller, but for Pitney Bowes, Inc. When I opened the dispute about the Pitney Bowes, Inc. transaction, PayPal opens the complete / original payment as well."
I contacted the buyer, and he never responded; however I'm SURE he noticed the EXTRA $670 in his bank account, so he is just as guilty as the rest of them, in my opinion, and has committed fraud.
My advice is to stalk whatever mailbox your PayPal e-mails go into until the funds clear and are physically in your bank account, and DON'T sell to International Buyers as you have even LESS legal recourse than if you sold to a US buyer (who am I going to report mail fraud to, the FBI, United Nations? hahaha). DON'T expect PayPal to help you without your DIRECT intervention; no matter what the original case notes say. There is VERY LITTLE "Seller Protection;" you get one shot.
PayPal knows the game/scam, but don't seem to care; they'll blame YOU if you don't happen to see the e-mail and respond. They'll take the money from the SELLER and refund it to the BUYER, but apparently can't do the opposite even when they SEE it was fraud. No crap the Buyer isn't going to respond; not many people would do something that would make them lose $670 when they got it for free with a loop hole.
I lost the WHOLE $670, as well at the item.
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