You seem to be jumping the gun. Unless Paypal has already taken care of it, do not refund until you get the item back.
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Advice on Dispute from eBay Buyer (iPhone 5)...
- Thread starter brent1977
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You seem to be jumping the gun. Unless Paypal has already taken care of it, do not refund until you get the item back.
I'm not refunding anything. No way I'm giving him anything until I have the phone in hand and have time to inspect it.
This is a new PayPal issue. I received the payment and it cleared giving me a $287 balance. I transferred to my bank account leaving $0 balance. When the buyer filed his claim, PayPal moved the cleared payment back to pending resulting in a -$287 balance. Then they also decided to put a -$287 hold/charge in the pending list.
So my balance is -$287 available with another -$287 pending = -$574 pending.
It also appears that my PayPal account has already been limited (can't add funds, can't edit payment methods) after just three days of negative balance.
What a mess....
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Oh, and I had a $7 MiFi antenna adapter cable in my cart I was going to buy from an eBay seller. If I try to check out, PayPal wants to charge me $294 for it - $7 for the item and $287 to eliminate the negative balance.
I had my turtlebeach headset listed for $50. Took me a month, but I finally sold it. Most offers were from people who wanted it cheap, but didn't need it.
That sounds about right. Your previous post sounded like you were trying to zero out the negative balance with a CC, which is unnecessary because Paypal will just take the money from your checking account.
This is why I don't trust Paypal with my checking account, especially that buyers now have 6 full months to dispute a purchase. I don't have a checking account linked and only my CC on file, but I can always cancel a CC if they freeze my account.
It doesn't seem right to me, at all. I can see reversing the original payment or putting it back on hold. What concerns me is that they reversed the original payment AND put a pending entry to remove another $287. As it stands right now, they will be removing $574 ($287 original payment + separate $287 debit) from my account to refund the guy $287.
Definitely thinking of removing my bank account after this.
Don't worry, it's most likely a placeholder in case one of them doesn't work. They're not actually going to remove $574 total.
I've never linked PayPal with my checking account and in fact closed a previous PayPal account and opened a new one once I reached my $10,000 lifetime spending limit before linking it is absolutely required. All I have linked is a CC, which I can easily cancel and replace with a new number.
Hopefully, you're right. Once I saw that -$574 on PayPal, whether or not the buyer returns a broken phone no longer seemed like the biggest issue...
Just opening a free checking account that you use only for paypal.
We bank with Bank of America. I have an account that I use only for paypal and then our regular checking account. I can move money from paypal into that "paypal only" checking. From there I can log into BofA and move the funds into my main checking. The "paypal only" checking has overdraft turned off. If anyone tried to pull more money from it than is available, it will always be declined.
If you don't sell much via paypal, this is slightly tedious (but only slightly). If you do, or you sell high value items, I like it because if my PayPal is somehow compromised, I never have to actually leave any money in it sitting in limbo. As soon as payment clears most of it (leave some for fees) gets dumped into the checking setup for paypal, from there transferred to my main checking, and is rendered virtually untouchable.
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Have you tried contacting paypal via phone and asking about the discrepancy? Based on what you have described I see no reason for your balance to be minus double the contested charges...
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Back when I shipped more stuff the USPS folks where I did all my shipping knew me pretty well and had no issues with me film myself taping up a box, walk over and get it scanned in. If you don't want to scan it, you can always still box it up in the post office, walk over to the inside bin and film yourself dumping it in. Unless it's a very large box, this should pose zero issues.
As mentioned, a third party can always box your product for you too, however they won;t necessarily certify things like IMEI and such, I wouldn't think.
Again, reviving an old thread but just with an update for those that expressed interest the outcome...
To recap: buyer received phone on 11/3, filed claim through eBay for return/refund for "not as described" on 11/12 (without contacting me or anything first). I suggested some possible solutions but received no cooperation so agreed to the return (also on 11/12). PayPal has already adjusted my balance for the full refund pending the return. Hadn't heard anything more until today...
Return status shows buyer has until 11/20 to ship the phone back. Just got a message from the buyer this evening (through eBay but not through the return process)...
"I like the phone so I did some checking and the speaker can be replaced for $59.95. It will cost me $15 to send back so if your willing to credit my paypal acct. $44.95 I will keep it, or if u prefer I will ship back."
When he first filed the dispute, I had the option of issuing a partial refund (obviously for just a situation like this). He didn't want to discuss anything and only persisted in demanding a return and full refund. Once I agreed to the return, all options went away. The only thing I can do in my account is view the status of the return (started but not shipped).
So, it looks like he expects me to send him money via PayPal outside of eBay and their return process. Then, I guess I'm supposed to trust him to cancel/close the return - assuming he even has the ability to do that.
There's also the dubious claim of the return shipping expense when eBay already made me agree to pay the return shipping. And there's still the timing - nine days to decide it's defective and needs returned, seven more days to decide he'd rather keep it with a partial refund...
I replied just telling him that shipping should be covered and that eBay's system doesn't give me any option to issue him a partial refund anymore.
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That's an interesting idea and something I may try. I rarely sell on eBay.
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Not yet. I did contact via email but just got a form reply. I may wait in the hopes that things work out once it's all done. If they double-charge me, I'll definitely be calling.
To recap: buyer received phone on 11/3, filed claim through eBay for return/refund for "not as described" on 11/12 (without contacting me or anything first). I suggested some possible solutions but received no cooperation so agreed to the return (also on 11/12). PayPal has already adjusted my balance for the full refund pending the return. Hadn't heard anything more until today...
Return status shows buyer has until 11/20 to ship the phone back. Just got a message from the buyer this evening (through eBay but not through the return process)...
"I like the phone so I did some checking and the speaker can be replaced for $59.95. It will cost me $15 to send back so if your willing to credit my paypal acct. $44.95 I will keep it, or if u prefer I will ship back."
When he first filed the dispute, I had the option of issuing a partial refund (obviously for just a situation like this). He didn't want to discuss anything and only persisted in demanding a return and full refund. Once I agreed to the return, all options went away. The only thing I can do in my account is view the status of the return (started but not shipped).
So, it looks like he expects me to send him money via PayPal outside of eBay and their return process. Then, I guess I'm supposed to trust him to cancel/close the return - assuming he even has the ability to do that.
There's also the dubious claim of the return shipping expense when eBay already made me agree to pay the return shipping. And there's still the timing - nine days to decide it's defective and needs returned, seven more days to decide he'd rather keep it with a partial refund...
I replied just telling him that shipping should be covered and that eBay's system doesn't give me any option to issue him a partial refund anymore.
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That's an interesting idea and something I may try. I rarely sell on eBay.
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Not yet. I did contact via email but just got a form reply. I may wait in the hopes that things work out once it's all done. If they double-charge me, I'll definitely be calling.
Sounds like he pulled this whole scam in order to get the phone even cheaper than what he paid. He already got the device and he's playing this while holding your money and phone hostage so he can get it for less.
I had a buyer do that to me too.
I put up over 8-9 picture from every angle of the phone. Slight wear and tear over the years etc.
he claimed there was scrapes and dents and wanted me to refund him $60.
I told him no. He came down to $30 and I agreed just to get it over with and get some of my money.
He did screw me over with this bs and many people pull scams like that on eBay. They get the product, they block your payment and then play this game while they have you by the b@llz.
I'm never selling on eBay ever again
I had a buyer do that to me too.
I put up over 8-9 picture from every angle of the phone. Slight wear and tear over the years etc.
he claimed there was scrapes and dents and wanted me to refund him $60.
I told him no. He came down to $30 and I agreed just to get it over with and get some of my money.
He did screw me over with this bs and many people pull scams like that on eBay. They get the product, they block your payment and then play this game while they have you by the b@llz.
I'm never selling on eBay ever again
Definitely sounds like that. Even if I wanted to go along just to be done with it, though, I don't know that it's possible. I'm not sure he has the option/ability to cancel the whole process even assuming the offer is legitimate. And there would be no record of the arrangement so he could always just deny it and continue to demand the return/refund.
I think in the dispute center he or you can initiate a partial refund and after that he can close the case.
I had the option to send a partial refund - but only at the outset. That all went away when I chose to agree to the return/full refund. He may still have the option, but I suspect he doesn't. If he did, then his offer to settle for a partial refund would have come through the return process rather than around it using direct buyer/seller contact.
Doubtless, arranging something like this is what eBay had in mind when they allowed the buyer and seller to communicate immediately following the filing of the claim. Once I agreed to the full refund, why would we be continuing to negotiate?
Probably the buyer was counting on me putting up more resistance. He was most likely expecting me to refuse the full refund and ultimately agree to the partial refund. I bet I messed things up for him by agreeing to the refund right away.
Obviously you can do whatever you want, but if I may...
I would urge you to make the call. Most folks trying to scam are going to take your "behind the mask of the internet" approach. If you call you have made personal contact with a rep, one that the other guy most definitely is NOT making if he is trying to scam you. I definitely wouldn't wait for a worst case scenario to happen before calling. They should immediately be able to explain the charges to you. There is no legitimate reason I can think of for the charges to be the way they are.
May do that. If there is something wrong with the holds/pending charge, though, I don't see any way it can be because of any scamming by the buyer. It's not like he has direct access to my account or the power to reverse the original payment or anything.
If there's a problem, it pretty much has to be a problem with the automated process of the return - maybe because the buyer waited so long to file the claim and the funds were already released and withdrawn.
The scamming and the holds were meant to be mutually exclusive reasoning for calling. Sorry, I didn't make that clear. Calling them, you should be able to fix that second charge, no problems. Further, having talked to a real person, and perhaps even explaining that the buyer is now wanting a refund direct through paypal would establish a repoire with a live person.
Ahh.. I follow. Wouldn't I need to talk to PayPal about the balance issue and eBay about the return? The return is still an eBay return rather than a PayPal claim/dispute.
eBay and PayPal are splitting, though I think these issue are still currently handled by paypal (and still run as one). Trying to physically call someone at eBay is futile IME. Paypal has been able to handle the few disputes I have had to deal with.
Talked to PayPal, and they assured me that the extra $287 wouldn't be taken out once the return is finished. Still not entirely convinced.
Was also transferred over to eBay support for the return process question. Not sure the rep knew what she was talking about. Initially, she told me to offer a partial refund even though I had already said I didn't have that option anymore. When I explained again, she instead told me to have the buyer close the return first and then send him the partial refund. I pointed out that this would essentially be going around the return process, but she didn't seem to view it as an issue. I find that odd given how often their emails warn against going around eBay.
Not sure whether to offer to give him the partial refund after he closes return or not. Doubt he'd be willing to do it in that order, anyway.
I've seen this happen (based on several members' posts) so this is nothing new. It's their way of ensuring Paypal won't be left holding the bag in case one method doesn't work.
I have personally been scammed this way. Be VERY careful about not using the eBay/PayPal mechanism.
The one thing that both eBay and PayPal do the best is make sure that they are never exposed to possible loss. The rules are written ever so carefully to make sure they come out ahead!
Been lucky and afgter over a thousand transactions, I have never had a problem. But I know it can happen at any time.
Don't give him a partial refund outside of the returns procedure, just accept the refund at his expense and say your refund will be processed upon inspection of the device. It sounds to me like this guy is pulling a fast one and trying to get some money out of you to bring the price down. It seems a lot of effort but these scammers probably do this to several devices at once. If you get the phone back and the problem isn't there, I would refund him only 75% for wasted time and report him to ebay. My guess is he will go away if you just ask for it back. 
If you get the phone back and the problem isn't there, I would refund him only 75% for wasted time and report him to ebay. My guess is he will go away if you just ask for it back.
Exactly.
I also think if you ask for it back he will not send it and eventually after the time expires you will get the payment.
But he could also send you an empty box so its still a risk with these people.