OT - I can't believe that PayPal allows this !!

[PurpleDog]

My eBay ID is grilphace, and I have a perfect record on eBay with over 995 positive feedbacks.

I sold a new factory sealed G585 Lenovo laptop on eBay last night. The buyer paid for it promptly. I then received an email today from the buyer who wanted to make sure this laptop had 4GB of ram. I wrote him back and said no, my auction clearly stated that this model had only 2GB of ram. He then wrote back and told me to cancel the transaction and that I was selling “out of date” equipment. He told me NOT to ship the laptop to him; that he would refuse it. He told me he paid PayPal with a Visa card and that he was going to contact Visa and dispute the charge.

I called PayPal – I’m a preferred member. They advised me not to ship the laptop and that the seller would – if he disputed the charge – win the dispute. I’m shocked and amazed this is allowed !

Anyone have any advice ?

 

[starry_solo]

My eBay ID is grilphace, and I have a perfect record on eBay with over 995 positive feedbacks.

I sold a new factory sealed G585 Lenovo laptop on eBay last night. The buyer paid for it promptly. I then received an email today from the buyer who wanted to make sure this laptop had 4GB of ram. I wrote him back and said no, my auction clearly stated that this model had only 2GB of ram. He then wrote back and told me to cancel the transaction and that I was selling “out of date” equipment. He told me NOT to ship the laptop to him; that he would refuse it. He told me he paid PayPal with a Visa card and that he was going to contact Visa and dispute the charge.

I called PayPal – I’m a preferred member. They advised me not to ship the laptop and that the seller would – if he disputed the charge – win the dispute. I’m shocked and amazed this is allowed !

Anyone have any advice ?

Nope, PayPal and ebay are pretty much on the buyer's side for things.

 

[richmond282]

I know this makes you mad, but at least he contacted you before you shipped it. Honestly, I would cut my loses and just refund the money. It's not worth the hassle.

 

[disneychrista]

Not sure what kind of advice you are looking for. If you this was an auction and it had another bidder offer them a second change. If not...relist it or do what I do, stop dealing with ebay and paypal.

 

[PurpleDog]

Because there are so many laptops out there, with varying specs, I triple checked the specs and made 100% sure my description matched exactly what I was selling. This buyer will be allowed out of this transaction with no negative repercussions whatsoever. That's bull**it.

 

[usnuzuloose]

So much has changed with Ebay I quit selling.

 

[Lizzybean]

So much has changed with Ebay I quit selling.

Me too.

 

[PurpleDog]

What burns my rear is that I've spent 11 years earning a 995+ perfect rating. This guy just joined eBay - first purchase was from me - and yet eBay would take his side in a dispute.

There has been many many times since I joined eBay that I wished I had not made a purchase. But no, I played by the rules and paid for the item and then resold it ... sometimes at a $$ loss to myself.

Now I know all I have to do is make sure the purchase is paid for with my Amex through PayPal and I can just not accept it.

 

[twinmommyks]

Me too. Was a power seller for over 5 years but finally gave it up.

 

[Lizzybean]

I think the issue with eBay is they have been working to rebrand themselves as an ecommerce (as opposed to an "auction" site).

People want to go there and buy a product just like they would at amazon but get a better deal. If the product isn't exactly what they wanted they want to return it like they would at Target. eBay is helping to perpetuate this image even though this isn't how the business model works for the sellers. Sorry for the OT rant but I hate to hear stories like this.

 

[Maria1985]

I think the issue with eBay is they have been working to rebrand themselves as an ecommerce (as opposed to an "auction" site).

People want to go there and buy a product just like they would at amazon but get a better deal. If the product isn't exactly what they wanted they want to return it like they would at Target. eBay is helping to perpetuate this image even though this isn't how the business model works for the sellers. Sorry for the OT rant but I hate to hear stories like this.

That makes two of us.

 

[Yoshi]

Because there are so many laptops out there, with varying specs, I triple checked the specs and made 100% sure my description matched exactly what I was selling. This buyer will be allowed out of this transaction with no negative repercussions whatsoever. That's bull**it.

So many buyers don't read descriptions. I have put important information in the description in bold letters, underlined and with a larger font (like when selling a PC game expansion pack that requires the original game to play) and then someone buys the item and is surprised when the game doesn't work since they needed the original game or if I sell a Rock Band game and put that instruments are not included and then get asked if a guitar is included with the listing.

I think the issue with eBay is they have been working to rebrand themselves as an ecommerce (as opposed to an "auction" site).

People want to go there and buy a product just like they would at amazon but get a better deal. If the product isn't exactly what they wanted they want to return it like they would at Target. eBay is helping to perpetuate this image even though this isn't how the business model works for the sellers. Sorry for the OT rant but I hate to hear stories like this.

I guess that explains why they want everyone to accept returns now. I lost my 20% top rated seller discount because I refuse to have a 14 day return policy when I sell items in a very price sensitive market and once I sell something, I want it gone and don't want to spend my time processing and shipping and item, only to have to have it returned and then go to the trouble of relisting it. I'm waiting for the day that they force you to accept returns in order to sell on their site. I'd like to leave EBay but there is really no other option since I hear that Amazon is even more buyer friendly than EBay.

 

[GOOFY D]

What burns my rear is that I've spent 11 years earning a 995+ perfect rating. This guy just joined eBay - first purchase was from me - and yet eBay would take his side in a dispute.

There has been many many times since I joined eBay that I wished I had not made a purchase. But no, I played by the rules and paid for the item and then resold it ... sometimes at a $$ loss to myself.

Now I know all I have to do is make sure the purchase is paid for with my Amex through PayPal and I can just not accept it.

I agree. It is so frustrating how ebay treats its sellers. You cannot even leave negative feedback for buyers, but they can leave whatever they want for you with no reprecutions. It is pathetic.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

This isn't such a big deal. Report this guy as a non-paying bidder and get your fees refunded, then relist. I agree that your auction description was clear that this laptop had 2 GB of RAM. You also might want to review ebay's rules for choice auctions, which you are violating in your current domain name auction (also offering to sell both names at once is fee avoidance).

I agree that ebay isn't what it used to be. I started buying and selling in 1996 and it has changed tremendously. I haven't sold anything in several years; just not worth the hassle.

 

[girli565]

It sucks but I would just refund and relist the item. Let the buyer know you will fiile a case with ebay so you can get your fees refunded, all he has to do is agree with it.

 

[Eastern]

That's why I don't want to sell on ebay. It's not worth the aggravation.

 

[Lewisc]

E-Bay and Paypal may seem to favor the buyer. Giving the buyer the benefit of the doubt makes the system work. The system wouldn't work if buyers thought they could easily be taken advantage of.

I agree the OP didn't do anything wrong. The buyer probably realized he overpaid and had buyers remorse. Assume he was in a store that had an "all sales final" policy. He changed his mind before he got the check out line. No problem. Assume he changed his mind after he paid but before he left the store. I'll speculate a store would void the transaction.

I agree with the PP, report the buyer as non-paying and go on.

I suspect the buyer overbid and the PP realizes he might have trouble getting another buyer at that price.

 

[girli565]

You can't report him as non-paying if he actually paid, like you mentioned, but you can file a case in the resolution center once you refund the money stating that you both agree to the refund due to "xyz" and that you'd like your fees refunded. It'll take a few days but once he clicks that he agrees your fees will be refunded.

 

[EllenFrasier]

Just be glad you had not shipped the item! Refund his money and block him from bidding on any of your auctions again. PayPal always sides with the buyer until the remediation center on Ebay tells them otherwise.

 

[maggiew]

I agree. It stinks and isn't really fair to you. But look on the bright side. At least you didn't mail it. You would have spent a lot more time on this problem if you had.

Maggie