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Sold 13" MBP on eBay - Buyer Says It's Dented

chris975d said:
Are you positive that the laptop he's showing you is yours? Does the laptop in the pictures he's sent to you show YOUR actual serial number? Or is it possible that he's pulling a swap out on you? And I still don't understand how you're not able to get a live person at Paypal. It's very easy to do so. Hell, just select any of the options the system is giving you (for seller OR buyer), and there should be an option to say "agent" there. Doesn't matter what "department" you get, any of the reps can help you.
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It's my serial number - I doubt it is a photoshop, though could be. I'm still waiting on a video of him showing the serial number and rotating the laptop around etc.

There's no options to say agent - it's really a deadend thing. If I go into transactions, or account security it gives me options to change something and then sends me an email on how to do it.

I've left it ringing for ages too and nothing..

Cheers for suggestions though.
 
Kilamite said:
It's my serial number - I doubt it is a photoshop, though could be. I'm still waiting on a video of him showing the serial number and rotating the laptop around etc.

There's no options to say agent - it's really a deadend thing. If I go into transactions, or account security it gives me options to change something and then sends me an email on how to do it.

I've left it ringing for ages too and nothing..

Cheers for suggestions though.
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I guess the overseas Paypal customer service call center is different from the U.S. call center. Because it's no trouble to get someone here. I've called at 3:00 in the morning before and still got a live person.
 
I've been down a similar road.
PP will side with the buyer - they always do.

I think you're going to have to take the laptop back, but the buyer is responsible for return shipping.
Once you get it back, double and triple check it is the same machine.

My situation was the item took too long to get to the buyer - so in three days the money was yanked out of my PP account. Once the item arrived, I complained to PP and I got my money.
 
Unprocessed1 said:
You could always hint you'll take "legal-action" if he decides to continue to take you for a ride - tell him his responsibility for the item was his as soon as he opened the package - even if he dropped it, or maybe say you know he's defrauding you and you intend to get the authorities involved. You should be trying anything and everything to save your money.

I'm lucky enough that I have accidental insurance on all my electronics, so if someone tries to scam me like this, I can just have Apple fix the broken MBP and pay the $50 deductible and they cover the expensive repair charge. I recommend everyone get accidental insurance before you sell a high value electronic (great to have in general too - they're not expensive either!) instead of possibly losing hundreds to get your MBP fixed.
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That's a pretty big bluff...especially if the buyer is being completely genuine and it was some fluke transit problem.
 
TechieJustin said:
I've been down a similar road.
PP will side with the buyer - they always do.

I think you're going to have to take the laptop back, but the buyer is responsible for return shipping.
Once you get it back, double and triple check it is the same machine.

My situation was the item took too long to get to the buyer - so in three days the money was yanked out of my PP account. Once the item arrived, I complained to PP and I got my money.
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How is your item arriving "late" like the item arriving damaged? Not to mention the item was damaged and the box wasn't.

OP: Seems that you may have to take back the machine. It truly does suck that this has happened.
 
jessica. said:
How is your item arriving "late" like the item arriving damaged? Not to mention the item was damaged and the box wasn't.

OP: Seems that you may have to take back the machine. It truly does suck that this has happened.
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because paypal will side with the buyer - no matter what.
My issue wasn't as severe - it was a day late and PP yanked the funds out of my account.
If the OP doesn't play ball and concede the same thing will happen.
 
Finally got through to PayPal (left it on the automated guy for 2 and a half minutes without saying anything).

She said the dispute is with eBay and that I'd need to contact eBay. If the funds were to be refunded, he'd have to file a dispute with PayPal (which he can't do until the eBay dispute is closed). So if he wants to escalate this, he'll need to file a dispute with PayPal who'll investigate.

Here's hoping PayPal won't side with the buyer..

Another thing I can bring up is since I shipped it from UK to France, it would have to have gone through customs. Customs may have opened the unit up. I'll need to check with the buyer if the packaging had any customs logos on it. No doubt he'll say no..
 
Kilamite said:
Finally got through to PayPal (left it on the automated guy for 2 and a half minutes without saying anything).
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Good to hear you finally managed to get through!

And that's a very good point about customs. If it was opened up there then it would certainly explain how the laptop could have been damaged without and marks on the packaging.
 
Doesn't eBay OWN PayPal???

Kilamite said:
Finally got through to PayPal (left it on the automated guy for 2 and a half minutes without saying anything).

She said the dispute is with eBay and that I'd need to contact eBay. If the funds were to be refunded, he'd have to file a dispute with PayPal (which he can't do until the eBay dispute is closed). So if he wants to escalate this, he'll need to file a dispute with PayPal who'll investigate.
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PayPal likes to pass the buck as much as possible. So unfortunately, they will make you exhaust the process with eBay first since they're "just the payment processor" (i have heard that line more times than I care to ever hear them again in my life).

Sorry man. I hope it works out for you.
 
I have had paypal push the funds through to my account before by just providing them with a tracking number and showing it has been delivered. If they can do that, remove your bank account from your paypal account and then go from there so the funds cannot be yanked away from you. I purchased a powermac from ebay and it came damaged. I just settled with some money back from the seller so try and do that with this guy. If he won't go for that I agree with a couple post up about threatening legal action.
 
Still waiting for him to reply from my response on Sunday.

Only thing I can do is wait for him to escalate it and get eBay involved.
 
Little update:

The video shows it is definitely my laptop. I've asked for his phone number and might give him a call later on, try and judge what kind of character he is.

It seems that if this gets escalated (which it will..) it will be my word against his.

I've started preparing for the worst and seeing how much Apple will charge to give me a new bottom case panel (I called them and it seems a 3rd party one will void warranty).

Once I get a quote from Apple, I could suggest this to the buyer as an option for him to go down, but be strong and firm that this in no way indicates I'm accepting liability at all, but merely trying to resolve the situation and offering possible courses of action.
 
That is why you ALWAYS get DELIVERY CONFIRMATION & INSURANCE!!!

I had someone file a dispute against me (just a $20 item). Said they never received the item. Ebay contacted me, asked if i had proof of delivery (this was before i included Delivery confirmation on ALL my auctions). I sent them in. (receipts of the post office info) I also pointed out to ebay that i have been with them for 10 years and 100% feedback, and the person i was dealing with just started ebay recently and had some bad feedback.

I won my case.

Also, i DO NOT sell high dollar items on ebay. The fees are outrageous.
 
Bennieboy© said:
cant really offer odd's, you might win, ask the buyer to provide photo's showing both the dent and serial number in question if thats possible, so he cant screw ya with some other machine, then try listing it on craigslist, ebay's becoming a nightmare for selling the last few years ;)
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Do you have your serial number? Sounds like he is trying to pull a switch-a roo.
 
I've got a question on PayPal holding funds and not pushing them through until the buyer is happy.

I guess the way I grew up, when you sell something, you get the money first, and when it clears, THEN and ONLY THEN do you send the item.

But from what I'm reading, buyers 'tentatively' buy the product, PayPal holds the money, you send the item, and THEN you get your money if and only if the customer is satisfied?

This makes no sense to me...?
 
this only happens on certain items or if you don't do business that often, but i think it is on high dollar items.

They changed this a few years ago. Ebay/Paypal will not release funds until A) 21 days have passed or B) buyer leaves positive feedback.
 
HBOC said:
this only happens on certain items or if you don't do business that often, but i think it is on high dollar items.

They changed this a few years ago. Ebay/Paypal will not release funds until A) 21 days have passed or B) buyer leaves positive feedback.
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And this is precisely why I have virtually stopped using eBay as a seller. Pretty much the only thing that goes up there these days are video games. Craigslist hasn't let me down yet.
 
I maybe in the minority here, but when I sell things on Ebay that are worth anything, it is I that purchases the insurance, not the buyer....I dont know how or why a buyer would purchase insurance on an item he has never seen..It is the sellers responsibility to deliver what was advertised, if it isnt, that is why the seller is insured, not the buyer...

My 2cents....
 
Mac N Tosh said:
I maybe in the minority here, but when I sell things on Ebay that are worth anything, it is I that purchases the insurance, not the buyer....I dont know how or why a buyer would purchase insurance on an item he has never seen..It is the sellers responsibility to deliver what was advertised, if it isnt, that is why the seller is insured, not the buyer...

My 2cents....
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I have a product that a buyer wants. He can either collect it in person, or have it delivered. If he wants it delivered, he can choose how quick he wants it, depending on how much he wants to spend on postage. He should really take out postal insurance on the item too.

eBay even gives you the option in the end bill for the buyer for any optional postal insurance.

I'm not the one who wants the item, I'm not the one who's wanting it delivered. Why on earth would I pay postal insurance?
 
I agree with this - when a buyer wins the auction and the item is shipped, its basically FOB (free on board) Origin. That is to say, the buyer owns it from the time it leaves the sellers hands. The buyer is responsible to insure it gets to them in perfect shape, lest they take the risk it doesn't. That being said, given ebay's buyer bias in claims, I would probably just build insurance into my reserve price, in the event the seller is too cheap to spring for it (knowingly) or they are trying to scam me.

I also agree with what has been said above - ebay is a complete rip off for sellers these days and I haven't sold OR bought anything from them in a long time. My opinion is they should reevaluate both their policies and their fees. Though I am guessing whatever they are doing is maximizing their returns so what do I know?
 
Actually starting July 2009 the seller is responsible for the item until it arrives according to new eBay policies:

http://pages.ebay.com/sell/July2009Update/Details/#1-9

Optional buyer charges for shipping insurance removed: The insurance option creates the perception that buyers need to purchase shipping insurance as a protection on eBay, an experience they're not accustomed to on other ecommerce sites. In fact, sellers have always been responsible for their items until they arrive safely in their customers' hands. That's why shipping insurance will no longer be included in the purchase flow as either an option or requirement for buyers.

Of course you can choose to purchase insurance on shipments, but not ask buyers to buy insurance separately. In some categories like Antiques, Collectibles, and Jewelry, shipping insurance for sellers is essential. When appropriate, you can include the cost of insurance in your item or shipping price.
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Kilamite said:
.....

I'm not the one who wants the item, I'm not the one who's wanting it delivered. Why on earth would I pay postal insurance?
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so you're protected in case you get a buyer who damages the product and then claims you shipped him a product that wasn't as advertised?
 
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