Paypal/Ebay question!!!!

[Teacher03]

I am so frustrated at paypal right now. I am an occasional seller on ebay. I have 100% positive feedback, never have had a problem. I recently sold two items for a total of around $100. It's been around 5 days since payment, and paypal still has my money pending. I called, and they said it is because the addresses on both items are unconfirmed and until the buyers have left positive feedback or confirmed their addresses, my money will be held. The thing is, the addresses ARE confirmed according to my paypal account. So paypal has their money, the items have been shipped, but the earliest I can expect my money is December 8.

Does anyone have any advice, or am I just at the mercy of my buyers and paypal? I emailed both buyers and asked them to contact paypal so I guess I'll have to wait and see. I know it's not much, but I really needed that money right now !

 

[klynn]

Ebay has had this policy in effect for quite some time.

Here is the ebay announcement from March 2008 when the policy went into effect:

In addition, for a small number of transactions that have a higher risk of buyer dissatisfaction, we may delay the release of funds paid through PayPal. This hold will be placed on only a small percentage of transactions for up to 21 days. Then the funds will be released if there is no dispute. The funds may be released earlier if the buyer leaves positive feedback, or if PayPal can confirm delivery of the item. Sellers enrolled in the PayPal Money Market Fund will earn interest on any pending funds in their PayPal accounts.

Your payments will not be held if you meet the following requirements:


You have been an eBay member for 6 months or more, and
Your total Feedback score is 100 or greater, and
Your buyer dissatisfaction percentage is less than 5%.
Or


Your average DSR is 4.5 or greater and
Your have received 20 or more DSRs in the last 12 months.

 

[a1tinkfans]

I am curious to know if Seller used shipping thru USPS and it shows as "shipped" in their transaction history...I never knew Paypal could do this....interesting but seems crazy since some buyers never even bother to leave feedback at all.
I am not really understanding Paypals logic here...must be missing something. WHY is paypal doing this, for selling to "bad" people or as they say Higher risk people????

Meanwhile OP: sorry this happened to you...I would send a reminder to buyer to Thank them for the transaction and to please remember 2 leave positive feedback when they receive their item. Good Luck!
I know that in over 300+ auctions, I have never had that happen to me.....

 

[DisneyGerry]

They both are a pain and many times make up rules to suit themselves. They are fine when all is going well!!!

They love it when they are taking in the money.

I find both to have some of the worst customer service out there as well.

 

[rflorek]

I am curious to know if Seller used shipping thru USPS and it shows as "shipped" in their transaction history...I never knew Paypal could do this....

It's not the shipping that Paypal is concerned with, it's the delivery. That's why you have to purchase some sort of delivery confirmation when shipping eBay goods.

 

[Teacher03]

Ebay has had this policy in effect for quite some time.

Here is the ebay announcement from March 2008 when the policy went into effect:

In addition, for a small number of transactions that have a higher risk of buyer dissatisfaction, we may delay the release of funds paid through PayPal. This hold will be placed on only a small percentage of transactions for up to 21 days. Then the funds will be released if there is no dispute. The funds may be released earlier if the buyer leaves positive feedback, or if PayPal can confirm delivery of the item. Sellers enrolled in the PayPal Money Market Fund will earn interest on any pending funds in their PayPal accounts.

Your payments will not be held if you meet the following requirements:


You have been an eBay member for 6 months or more, and
Your total Feedback score is 100 or greater, and
Your buyer dissatisfaction percentage is less than 5%.
Or


Your average DSR is 4.5 or greater and
Your have received 20 or more DSRs in the last 12 months.

That's the thing, I meet all the requirements. This is the first time that paypal has held my payment. I last sold something in July with no problem.

I mailed USPS and all I have is the receipt. The buyers did not purchase insurance. The buyers also have all positive feedback. It's just frustrating.

 

[rflorek]

I mailed USPS and all I have is the receipt. The buyers did not purchase insurance. The buyers also have all positive feedback. It's just frustrating.

Did you include delivery confirmation? Without proof of delivery, you have no support for Paypal. If you printed your mailing label through Paypal and use Priority Mail, the DC is free.

 

[rflorek]

The buyers did not purchase insurance.

You can no longer require the buyers to purchase insurance. You either have to build a charge into your listing for insurance, and eat the cost yourself. It's a new rule from either September or October.

Insurance is protection for you as a seller, not for the buyer. As a seller, it's your responsibility to make sure that item item is delivered in the same condition as it left your house.

 

[klynn]

From Ebay:

Why is my payment pending?
A PayPal purchase can appear as "Pending" in My eBay or Selling Manager for various reasons. Here are the two most common:

The buyer paid with an electronic check (or eCheck). The system will display "Pending" until the check clears—usually in about 3 business days.

A payment was sent with an unconfirmed address, and the seller needs to log in to PayPal to accept the payment. Find out how to claim a PayPal payment.

Once the payment is completed, the status in My eBay or Selling Manager will change to "Paid." If the payment fails, the status changes to show that the transaction is unpaid, and the buyer can send another payment.

Why is my payment being held?
Most PayPal payments are processed immediately. However, if you're a new seller, if you're selling an item in a fraud risk category, or if you've received some low Detailed Seller Ratings (DSRs), your payment may be held until we are confident that the buyer received the item.

Here are some reasons we might hold your payment:

If you've been an eBay member for less than 6 months, and haven't sold very much on eBay yet

If you've a Feedback score of less than 100, and don't have a record of good performance

If you've a buyer dissatisfaction percentage* of 5% or greater

If your average detailed seller rating (DSR) is less than 4.5

If you've received fewer than 20 detailed seller ratings in the last 12 months

If your item is in a high-risk category, such as gift certificates, video games, cell phones, computers, or consumer electronics

If there's an open dispute or claim on the transaction

If the payment is being held in reserve

When will my payment be released?
In most cases, PayPal will release the payment:

24 hours after the buyer leaves positive Feedback

3 days after PayPal confirms that the item was delivered

21 days after the payment was sent as long as there was no dispute, claim, chargeback, or reversal filed for the transaction

 

[Teacher03]

You can no longer require the buyers to purchase insurance. You either have to build a charge into your listing for insurance, and eat the cost yourself. It's a new rule from either September or October.

Insurance is protection for you as a seller, not for the buyer. As a seller, it's your responsibility to make sure that item item is delivered in the same condition as it left your house.

I can only hope that the buyers are honest, and they seem to be. As I said, they both have positive feedback. I'm not sure if I will use ebay or paypal again, it just doesn't seem worth it anymore.

 

[mom2rtk]

I would venture to say they have probably had some fraudulent sellers "sell" an item, then take then clear out the account before a chargeback could be made.

Was the item some sort of electronics? These have a higher incidence of fraud, and are included I belive in this new policy.

 

[Teacher03]

I would venture to say they have probably had some fraudulent sellers "sell" an item, then take then clear out the account before a chargeback could be made.

Was the item some sort of electronics? These have a higher incidence of fraud, and are included I belive in this new policy.

It was a cricut cartridge and a slice cartridge-scrapbooking supplies. Maybe they are also included in the policy. I guess I will just have to wait until Dec. 8th.

 

[a1tinkfans]

It was a cricut cartridge and a slice cartridge-scrapbooking supplies. Maybe they are also included in the policy. I guess I will just have to wait until Dec. 8th.

Good Luck! Sorry you are having to wait...that is just plain CRAZY IMHO!

 

[Dancemom03]

If the buyers haven't left feedback yet and you've sent an email to make sure it was received and is satisfactory, you might try requesting their contact info and calling them.

Lots of times people just get busy or don't realize that a seller may not get paid until FB is left. I'm ashamed to admit that I tend to leave fb in bulk on my buying account. Since the holds were put into place, I've tried to do it at least weekly but there are times when I get busy and forget.

 

[C.Ann]

It's a shame that Ebay and Pay Pal took what used to be a "good" thing and turned it into such a nightmare that people don't want to buy or sell there anymore..

Hope you get your money soon!

 

[Teacher03]

OP here...I did get the money released today for one item so I am awaiting the other. I am hoping feedback will be left soon.

 

[DMRick]

I'm sorry it happened to you..that you had to wait. For me, I'm glad that Paypal is trying their best to protect their buyers.

As a buyer I bought something recently that had a hold on and I'm glad they did. I got an empty box. Once the seller realized that the item was sitting on their table, and wasn't in the box, and they weren't getting paid, they really sent the item. I got it, I left feedback and the money was released. Those type of craft items must have had a lot of unsatisfactory sellers, and so they are trying to make it safer so the buyers will still want to take a chance and buy.

As a seller, I haven't had that happen to me, but I sell mostly the actual craft items completed, or antique/paper goods. I guess they don't get as many complaints on those items. It really is for the buyer..and if your were the buyer it happened to, I think you would see that a little wait is worth it..in case you buy something that has a lot of fraud.

The good part is, we have somewhere to sell these items, that would bring a piddley at a garage sale.

 

[mom2rtk]

I'm sorry it happened to you..that you had to wait. For me, I'm glad that Paypal is trying their best to protect their buyers.

As a buyer I bought something recently that had a hold on and I'm glad they did. I got an empty box. Once the seller realized that the item was sitting on their table, and wasn't in the box, and they weren't getting paid, they really sent the item. I got it, I left feedback and the money was released. Those type of craft items must have had a lot of unsatisfactory sellers, and so they are trying to make it safer so the buyers will still want to take a chance and buy.

As a seller, I haven't had that happen to me, but I sell mostly the actual craft items completed, or antique/paper goods. I guess they don't get as many complaints on those items. It really is for the buyer..and if your were the buyer it happened to, I think you would see that a little wait is worth it..in case you buy something that has a lot of fraud.

The good part is, we have somewhere to sell these items, that would bring a piddley at a garage sale.

Sorry to disagree. But that pendulum had swung WAY to far the opposite way. The internet is rife with simple instructions for defrauding sellers with Paypal. I was taken for $265 just recently. Live and learn I guess, but it is WAY too easy for buyers to take advantage now.

 

[Teacher03]

I'm sorry it happened to you..that you had to wait. For me, I'm glad that Paypal is trying their best to protect their buyers.

As a buyer I bought something recently that had a hold on and I'm glad they did. I got an empty box. Once the seller realized that the item was sitting on their table, and wasn't in the box, and they weren't getting paid, they really sent the item. I got it, I left feedback and the money was released. Those type of craft items must have had a lot of unsatisfactory sellers, and so they are trying to make it safer so the buyers will still want to take a chance and buy.

As a seller, I haven't had that happen to me, but I sell mostly the actual craft items completed, or antique/paper goods. I guess they don't get as many complaints on those items. It really is for the buyer..and if your were the buyer it happened to, I think you would see that a little wait is worth it..in case you buy something that has a lot of fraud.

The good part is, we have somewhere to sell these items, that would bring a piddley at a garage sale.

I see your point, but there is very little to protect the seller. As I said, I am not a new seller, 100% positive feedback, 5 stars, etc. I don't think my buyers are dishonest, I do think I will receive all of my money, but there is no need to wait. They have their merchandise, paypal and ebay have their money, but mine is pending

 

[mom2rtk]

I see your point, but there is very little to protect the seller. As I said, I am not a new seller, 100% positive feedback, 5 stars, etc. I don't think my buyers are dishonest, I do think I will receive all of my money, but there is no need to wait. They have their merchandise, paypal and ebay have their money, but mine is pending

I'm in the same boat. I've sold on ebay for 7 years with a 100% positive rating. the vast majority of my customers are honest and appreciative. But with the new policies, and with Ebay requiring Paypal for all purchases, I just never know when the next bad apple will pop up. I knew I had been lucky not to be scammed all those years, and was not surprised when it finally happened, but it didn't make me any less MAD!

If you're BUYING with Paypal, you're fully protected. As a seller..... beware....