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ever been rippd off via paypal?

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LAN_403

EEYORE

Sat Aug 05 2006, 09:32PM

Registered Member #99 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:10PM
Location: florida, usa
Posts: 637

I used to sell laser diodes via ebay...The 808nm 1watt kind. I once had a buyer go against my directions(he hooked up un regulated DC to a diode and killed it) and get mad demanding his money back. Well, I was selling off diodes for rent and food money, and decided id be damned if I gave him back 200$ and go without food, and stuck with a useless diode because he was an asshat.

Anyways, he contacted paypal and paypal froze my checking account while they "investigated". I didnt know until i was trying to pay for a groccery cart full of food!( i pay with check card).

Boy i was mad, and told the guy off, and threatened to file charges and all for that, and also threatened paypal as well. They released me when I forwarded email conversations to them proving he didnt follow directions and blew the diode.

That still shook me up pretty good, and I became very wary of issues like that since...Now, if i feel someone is going to attempt to rip me, I pull out my money all at once from the bank early, and put a stop payment on paypal. Fortunately, Ive only had to do it once. Most poeple are pretty decent.

Another guy tried it when I was away from town, and he needed help with some tesla stuff I sold. He got mad that his email went unanswered for a few days and claimed I didnt send the item(to get paypal on his side). They sent a notice that there was a dispute, but once I forwarded them the guys email(now i got your attention, huh?!Now you better damn answer my questions! else i take your money!), i was again off the hook...

All in all, paypal only had me on anti-psychotic meds just a few times

Matt

Dave Marshall

Sat Aug 05 2006, 09:53PM

Registered Member #16 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 02:22PM
Location: New Wilmington, PA
Posts: 554

I use a 'junk account' for paypal transactions. I put just enough money in there to cover any purchases I've made, and I remove any payments that have been made to me the instant they hit the account. Then even if paypal tries to reverse it or freeze my account, I honestly couldn't care less. Thus far we've only been ripped off once, and after hounding the woman with dozens of emails over a 3 week period, she finally gave me back my money just to get rid of me.

If you know how to work the system, paypal is decent. Dont ever use your primary (or even worse, your only) bank account for paypal, or they'll screw you 8 ways to Sunday.

Dave

Steve Conner

Sat Aug 05 2006, 10:39PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

Can Paypal still freeze your bank account even if you pay into it through a credit or debit card?

ragnar

Sun Aug 06 2006, 12:00AM

Registered Member #63 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:18AM
Location:
Posts: 1425

Bored Chemist wrote ...

2 replies out of 3 aren't about being ripped off by paypal.

rev wrote ...

[subject] "ever been rippd off via paypal?"

VIA paypal. And the ripping-off is usually suffered by the seller. :P

Bored Chemist

Sun Aug 06 2006, 08:37AM

Registered Member #193 Joined: Fri Feb 17 2006, 07:04AM
Location: sheffield
Posts: 1022

Fair enough, but 2 out of 3 replies didn't mention paypal at all.

Carbon_Rod

Sun Aug 06 2006, 09:30AM

Registered Member #65 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 06:43AM
Location:
Posts: 1155

scam one:
1.) They shipped me a defective item.
2.) Contact with seller suggested I should fill out the manufacturers warranty process.
3.) As this is a delay tactic, the item was then shipped back to the seller via registered parcel (you can recall the package anytime or prove it was delivered.)
4.) They claimed the item is on its way again and should arrive in 2 weeks.
5.) item never arrives â€“ 30 days paypal protection gone.

Scam two:
1.) They shipped me a smashed item.
2.) Contact with seller suggested I should fill out the shipping insurance.
3.) The registered parcelâ€™s shipper must file the insurance and may require being shipped back to the seller.
4.) Instead of refunding the money â€“ they send an insurance claim form and tell you to wait..
5.) 6 months later I get $60 back from a $470 plus customs fees.

Scam three:
1.) They ask for the cheapest shipping option (no tracking code usually)
2.) After two weeks insist they never received said item
3.) request a refund or dock you $10 with paypal fraud + negative feedback.

* Always send item with a tracking option to prove it arrived (or the person missed it and
can pick it up at their local postal outlet or FedEx retry)
* Always use bidpay or Paypal if you sell -- money order scams are a pain too.
* Never use seller based website checkout services etc.
* Only look at the bad feedback for a better idea of how they handle problems.
* Do not ship off the continent (local sales can be very fast)

dan

Mon Aug 07 2006, 05:23AM

Registered Member #223 Joined: Mon Feb 20 2006, 06:42PM
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 125

One thing I noticed is that their exchange rates are way off.. I noticed about $2 difference on $80 in between paypals exchange rate and the real exchange rate.(USD to CND) So I guess paypal just pockets the other $2. Plus when you factor in the costs the sellers gets paypal can easily make $3-5 or so per transaction. Extremely profitable business.

Quantum Singularity

Mon Aug 07 2006, 02:38PM

Registered Member #158 Joined: Sun Feb 12 2006, 09:53PM
Location: Central Ohio
Posts: 282

I very much agree with Dave Marshall... best thing is to setup an entirely seperate account if you use paypal since you give them the power to freeze all financial assets in your bank account you give them. I cant agree with the terms so I have never used paypal, not that money order is any safer (well maybe for the seller) but atleast I didnt enroll into something that I couldnt agree with their terms of service. Plus I can send money orders out for free with my banks online bill payer without leaving my computer or spending a cent (but the buyer will have to go through the extra trouble of cashing it).

Here is another website that outlines some problems with paypal... not sure how up to date it is though since it was around years ago when I first heard of paypal:
http://www.paypalsucks.com/

Ben

Mon Aug 07 2006, 03:40PM

Vigilatny
Registered Member #17 Joined: Thu Feb 02 2006, 02:47PM
Location: NL
Posts: 158

I used my old account from college, which has since been closed. Paypal can go f*** themselves if they ever try to get my money. They only have my amex card, which has always sided with me on payment disputes.

Hazmatt_(The Underdog)

Mon Aug 07 2006, 09:38PM

Registered Member #135 Joined: Sat Feb 11 2006, 12:06AM
Location: Anywhere is fine
Posts: 1735

Well, I have to totally apologise for not being more patient. I just recieved 2 transformers from UPS not but 20 minutes ago. I am sorry that I wasn't more patient. I hope that I can still leave feedback.

Thank you.

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