I can't begin to explain the frustration and disappointment PayPal has delivered to me. A lot of this post is to vent but also in the hope that somehow someone from PayPal will actually read details of fraud that is committed on eBay and subsequently enforced by PayPal. Here is my situation: I sold a new, unopened limited edition Intel processor that I purchased hoping the price would go up (this never happened so I just wanted to break even). I shipped the item. It was received and within 8 hours of the tracking information showing it was delivered, the buyer said the item was defective. I had doubts at the time it was truly defective but was forced by eBay's policy to accept the return even though I did not list that option in the listing. At this time I noticed that the eBay buyer account had been created on the same day that this transaction was made – this raised some suspicions, but objectively I decided the suspicions were at that time, unwarranted. I attempted to ask the buyer through eBay what hardware the he was using and what cooling was used on the processor that could cause “defective” behavior but had no response. In what I thought would be the end of this, I used eBay to purchase return shipping for the buyer as was required – this becomes relevant later. A few days went on and I had no indication the return was sent. I thought maybe they got the processor to work and had given up on the return. Instead I got a notification that the buyer escalated this transaction to PayPal. I argued that the buyer had time to return the item via eBay and had chosen not to do so and that as the item was never opened it was likely still covered by the manufacturer warranty. I lost the dispute and again the adjudication was for the buyer to send the item back to me. This is where PayPal’s lack of administering reciprocity between buyer/seller disputes is taken advantage of and effectively enforces internet fraud. I believe another week went by until I checked email and realized that PayPal had told me that my return has a tracking number. I checked the number. It says it was delivered. I received no package. Here is where it begins to become evident that it’s likely a scam: The tracking number – according to PayPal’s “case history” was input to the system on the same day it was “delivered” The tracking number says the package origin was New York – I sent the purchase to California originally. The tracking number says that package was “Left at reception/Mail Room/Front Desk” – I live in a single family home so this does not make sense. The only information that I can see and PayPal can see with just a tracking number is the delivery zip code and city I go online to the dispute center anticipating that there is an option to say I didn’t receive the package – there isn’t. I look for a field to add a comment on the case – there isn’t. The only option I have is to select a single radio button that says “I have received the Item” – I have not. It takes me much more effort than I thought it should to finally find a number and talk to an actual person on the phone. I explain the situation and she suggests that I go to the post office and get a letter stating that the tracking number did not deliver to my address and the dispute would be overturned in my favor. Furthermore she agreed that it likely did not come to the address provided in the system because she looked at my address and agreed the status of the package being left at reception was questionable. She added that she would put the case in appeal and send me a link to upload documents from the post office – neither of these things actually happen. I go to the post office and get more information as well as documentation: The tracking number that was uploaded to PayPal is for a package that seemed to originate from an online retail warehouse in New York as the address and a picture I was provided align with records for a specific company. The package was addressed to and delivered to an IHOP. Not my home – even the package pictures shows “IHOP” as the name on the package. The post office manager provided me with a picture as well as a letter with USPS letterhead stating the package was not delivered to my address, but to an IHOP. It now occurred to me why the package was not sent back while the return was with eBay. The shipping that I paid for could not be sent to another address in my zip code to mask the fraud as eBay and myself provided the shipping information in a purchased shipper. I looked into the buyer some more afterwards now apparent it was some kind of scam. His unique email had no hits on google. However searching just the domain of his email address “ecdnd.com” had multiple results of eBay complaints (different email handles on same domain) of the same scam that had been done to me with the same mailing address I originally sent the package to. These records go back more than half a year from the first few I looked through. A day later, the status in the case changed to state that the money was returned to the buyer before I had a chance to upload documents. I again called PayPal dispute customer service and since then it has been a constant loop of multiple calls with the representative reviewing and agreeing with my grievances, but missing uploading the documents or attaching it to the case and the appeal denied each time because they only looked at the original tracking number showing it was delivered to my city and zip code and not any additional evidence or explanations I provided. Finally one representative said she “personally” would work the case and was going to move to get a response from the buyer to explain the tracking issue or upload a different tracking number (which I don’t believe exists as I have not received any package containing the item I sold). She said they had 3 days to respond. Those 3 days were up today. I was again denied: Unfortunately, we had to deny this appeal because the information supplied has already been provided and is insufficient to appeal this resolution. Any further appeals for this reason will not receive a response. I have no recourse, no help from PayPal customer service and evidence of fraud being committed. I have followed every step provided to me from PayPal. My last course of action will be to file complaints to consumer protection agencies such as the BBB, FTC maybe other outlets available to me. It’s a bit over $400. It’s not life or death money for me, but I am infuriated that I have been scammed, that I have evidence to show such and PayPal is ignoring it and enforcing the theft from me. This is compounded by the fact that it appears the same person has done it for many months, and likely will continue to do so because simple validity fraud checks are left out of PayPal’s dispute process. I used to wonder why people would use Craigslist but maybe it has some merit via in person transactions – with different kinds of risk. Any insight or suggestions provided is greatly appreciated.
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