HORRIBLE ebay selling experience...advice?

[jls886]

Okay, heres the deal. I sold a pair of tickets on ebay on November 26. I mailed them out November 27 certified mail so they would have a tracking number and also be required to sign. The buyer has been very rude and mean from the get go. On December 1 they tell me they don't have them. On December 3 they opened a dispute with paypal that they haven't received your item, I responded and they dropped the dispute. Today they have sent me at least fifteen messages through ebay and filed a claim with ebay, paypal and the post office that they haven't received their tickets. I have responded to every single message and question from them, but one of their arguments is that I don't respond to their messages. They keep asking for a refund and they have listed with paypal that I said I would refund their money and haven't. I only said that they could send the tickets back to me and I would refund them. I have sent them two separate offers to give them a partial refund, like a discount. They never responded to my offer...but then I get a message saying that as far as they are concerned they have tried to resolve this, and I could have at least offered them compensation for their time...you have to be kidding me!

So...that was long-winded! I don't know what to do. They are threatening negative feedbacks and all of these claims. They told me that paypal has already told them that they will rule in their favor. I have never had this happen and I have no idea what to do....I feel so helpless. I have just now told them that from now on I will only communicate with them through a dispute thread. I'm so sorry this is so long, but does anyone have any experience with this or any advice??

 

[DianeV]

I'm not sure but does certified mail have online tracking info? If so what does it say? Paypal requires something online that shows it was delivered or they will refund no matter what

 

[TangaroaTiki]

Did they ever receive the tickets? Did you check the tracking?

 

[jls886]

There is online tracking info, but unfortunately the post office only updates when it is accepted in the city where it is sent, and then when it is delivered. It doesn't tell you anything between cities. I submitted the tracking info to paypal and it says "in transit." I'm just so nervous that paypal will refund their money and they'll get to keep the tickets. I have always heard that paypal always sides with the buyer, thats why I'm kind of flipping out.

 

[jls886]

Nope, if you put in the tracking info it just says "item was accepted November 27 in Missouri" or something like that. This is the worst thing I have ever had to deal with! Most buyers are so understanding, but this one just keeps being so mean and complaining.

 

[TangaroaTiki]

That doesn't sound good. If it doesn't show it was delivered, paypal will probably side with the buyer. I hope the tix weren't that expensive. But who knows, maybe it will be delivered soon. Good luck! Paypal disputes are no fun.

I'm the seller involved in a paypal dispute started by the buyer, due to significantly not as discribed. Toatl BS - just buyer's remorse. It's been two weeks now & the buyer never returned my item, and I'm waiting to see what paypal does.

 

[ghost1000]

Was it insured? Sounds like it may have gotten lost somewhere.

I haven't dealt with that situation before but it certainly sounds like they are being a "Squeaky Wheel" about it. I know most disputes with ebay, etc you have to wait a long while after close of the auction (at least a month). I would go ahead and call paypal and explain the situation and see what they have to say about it also.

A negative is not the end of the world as long as you have plenty of other positive feedback. So I wouldn't be worried about that. You can always make a comment in response to their negative to tell your side of things also.

 

[TupperMom7]

When is the event that they bought the tickets for being held? If it's a ways off, tell them to cool it. I wouldn't give in and I wouldn't get too upset. Did they buy insurance on the tickets? If not, then you have proof that you sent them out and if they got lost in the mail, it's the buyers tough luck that they didn't have insurance. I don't know what happens if PayPal gives the money back - do they take it out of your account? That hardly seems fair if you have proof you mailed it out. Did you check on PayPal.com and see what it says - or email them and ask them? If the buyer is sending you emails and saying that PayPal told them they are getting their money back, they may not be telling the truth. Just keep all documentation to cover yourself.

 

[HayGan]

The post office should be able to verify delivery for you. This is in regards to certified mail from the post office...

With Certified Mail™ you can be sure your article arrived at its destination with access to online delivery information. When you use Certified Mail, you receive a receipt stamped with the date of mailing. A unique article number allows you to verify delivery online. As an additional security feature, the recipient’s signature is obtained at the time of delivery and a record is maintained by the Post Office™. For an additional fee, you can request a copy of the signature record before or after delivery with Return Receipt
Have you called the post office and told them that you need to verify delivery of this item? I would start there because you are going to need that to prove your case.

 

[jls886]

Well I got my negative feedback...oh well. I have over 400 positives so I'm not too upset about it. I am filing a claim with the post office just to see where they are. After 5 days they allow you to do that and a postal inspector apparently will hunt down your envelope. The funds are right now being held by paypal...and yes, they come out of my account. Luckily I had enough in there to cover it. I guess they will go through their deal and file to one side or the other. I'm going to try to call paypal and see what I can learn. I'm just so steamed that this person can cause all of this fuss. I am such an honest seller, I have tons of feedback about my quick shipping and wonderful customer service. They have 17 feedbacks and 1 is negative. I wish I could have predicted this and just not ever sent them. I just have this feeling in the pit of my stomach that I'm going to be out the money and they're going to go laughing all the way to the concert.

 

[jls886]

Oh...and THANK YOU for all of your quick responses. It has at least helped me calm down a little bit after the twenty or so messages from them today. I just need to get it all out.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Did you keep copies of the tickets? There may be a way for you to cancel those and have Ticketmaster (or whomever) reissue them if they were 'lost' in the mail. If that's possible it will keep them from going to the concert if they're being dishonest and lying about not having received them.

 

[Darcy03231]

This is one of the biggest reasons why I no longer take paypal.

 

[hollieplus2]

There's this thing I like to call "KARMA" and it really likes to make it's way around people like that. You may not win w/ paypal but they will be the real losers.

 

[jls886]

Did you keep copies of the tickets? There may be a way for you to cancel those and have Ticketmaster (or whomever) reissue them if they were 'lost' in the mail. If that's possible it will keep them from going to the concert if they're being dishonest and lying about not having received them.

YES!!! Thank you...I hadn't even thought of that, but it is possible! In the event that paypal sides with them I will have the tickets cancelled. If paypal sides with me, I'm good and they can keep them.

I'm the seller involved in a paypal dispute started by the buyer, due to significantly not as discribed. Toatl BS - just buyer's remorse. It's been two weeks now & the buyer never returned my item, and I'm waiting to see what paypal does.

I hope your dispute turns out like you hope...this is no fun! Fortunately, the good outweighs the bad and most people are honest and understanding.

I talked to paypal on the phone and I feel a little better. Since I provided a valid tracking number, paypal will wait until they know from the post office where the tickets are. I asked them what happens if, once the post office says they have been delivered and I have a signature, the buyer keeps claiming they still have not received them...and they side with the seller if there is proof that they have been delivered. I feel so much better!

 

[Not so Dumbo]

In a way maybe it's a good thing they already gave you a negative. Because no matter what you did to make it right they were still going to give you one. It's just the way these types of people are. At least this way you can stop playing nice and start fighting back.

Sorry that this happend to you, I just wish everyone out there could be nice...... I mean come on, it's Christmas.

 

[Sandy321]

Good Luck, it sounds like you do so many things right - just hard to deal with a whiner!!

 

[Patti_C]

Oh people can be so rude, I had a lady last year that didn't get her doll when she wanted it, I state and do mail out with 48 hours, I had the delivery confirmation #. She kept e-mailing me and being mean. She wanted a refund also and I told her it was being tracked and she would be getting it in a few days. When she did get it, which it did take longer than priority should, she e-mailed me again and said how sorry she was and the doll will be perfect for her girl for Christmas, I told her sorry was a little late since she already gave me negative feedback. I got a little irritated then.

 

[LanaJae]

My daughter has had trouble with some people who have claimed they didn't get items because usps.com has not updated their information - one time it updated about a week later and it showed that the person received the item 2 days before they wrote to say they hadn't. I just don't trust the PO anymore because if they forget to scan, then you have buyers (mostly on tickets or electronic items for some reason) who will take advantage of that situation.

Hang in there - sorry this happened to you!

 

[jls886]

Well I have now informed him that I am through communicating with him...its just so nonproductive. I'm just going to let it play out through paypal and see what happens. I've also told him that my previous offer to return the tickets is now void, the sale is final and I will not refund him anything. I am just so amazed that it really has only been 9 days since I sent the tickets...and only 6 full business days! Whatever happened to cutting someone some slack and understanding that they don't have full control over the post office? Oh well...I'm so done with him, I'm just going to see what happens and hope he goes away when he gets his tickets.

Thanks again for all of your responses!! I knew I wasn't the only one with a bad experience!