Question about paypal's shipping labels, delivery conf. and paypal refunds.

[disneysnowflake]

I have a question about paypal and delivery confirmation numbers.

I bought a $30 item from someone on ebay I've "known" for a while. She and I both belong to the same collector's group. She always seemed so nice.

I paid for the item almost 30 days ago via paypal. I didn't buy the money back guarantee thing because I trusted her. I've bought from her before.

Well, it's been almost 30 days. This lady has disappeared. There are several people on ebay also who haven't received their items. She never emailed me at all once I paid. People keep asking if they heard from this lady, but no one has heard a word from her. The auction I won was a private auction. She also sold several other private auctions on the same day.

On July 10th I received an email from Paypal telling me that this lady printed out a shipping label. It gave me a delivery confirmation number. The email from paypal told me that as soon as the package is taken to the post office it can be tracked. That email on July 10th was 17 days after the auction ended and I paid.

As soon as I got that email on July 10th I logged into the USPS site. I put the del. conf. number in. All I got was a message stating that on July 10th a label was printed and to expect mailing as soon as the package is taken to the post office. That's it. Even today it says the same thing.

There was none of the normal messages like "your package was rec'd at the NY, NY post office on July 10, 2004" or anything. So, I believe she printed out the mailing label, but failed to take the package to the post office.

Needless to say I had to file a complaint for my money back with paypal. The seller .who has never emailed me. has already responded to paypal about my complaint (I only filed it this afternoon), so she's definately online.

Has anyone had a problem like this?

I called paypal to speak to someone. I was given the impression that since a shipping label was printed that it's proof to paypal that the item was shipped. How could that be? Anyone could print a shipping label if they sold something.

I have a feeling that this scumbag lady has already withdrawn the money from her paypal account. There are some collectors who have sent her hundreds of dollars and not received anything. At least I'm only out $39 with shipping, but I'd rather use that money for our Disney trip.

If Paypal tells me I can't get my money back because this loser took the money I gave her out of her account, can I file something with my credit card company? I paid with my Mastercard.

What a headache. I figured someone on DIS would know something about this stuff.

I always thought that when someone sells something, takes your money and never mails your item that's theft. I have a feeling I'll be on the losing end of this deal though.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

[JoyG]

If you paid by credit card, you can definitely do a charge back, but I was also under the impression that you had a buyers guarantee up to a certain dollar amount when you paid by paypal...whether or not the lady has already withdrawn her funds from her account...I think Paypal is responsible for refunding your money if she cant produce definitive proof she mailed the package. Did you speak to Paypal about their buyer's guarantee?

 

[mbswats]

I will never use PayPal again. I had bought a Halloween costume for my daughter on Ebay from a costume dealer. I never received the costume and after emailing back and forth with the seller for nearly a month and many excuses, I filed a complaint with PayPal.
PayPal contact the seller for a confirmation number. 5 days later I received a package in the mail with a delivery confirmation sticker from the seller. The package contained - get this - A CRUMPLED UP PIECE OF PAPER! Shortly thereafer, I received an email from PayPal that since the seller had provided 'proof' of delivery that they were closing the case. I called PayPal 3 times and sent all documentation to them including my "purchase". Basically was told too bad - they had a delivery confirmation. In the meantime, the seller's id also disappeared from Ebay? Unfortunately for me, I didn't use a credit card (lesson learned there), but at least the item was less than $50 so I wasn't out too much. However, the PayPal Buyer Protection is a joke as far as I am concerned.

Mary

 

[dj2]

when i started buying on ebay i had two bad experiences that almost stopped me from ever using ebay again. once a seller listed a print cartridge as NIB (new in box) but sent me an old used cartridge. seller's response was "no i didn't-can't imagine what you're talking about" wanted me to pay to send it back to him. i refused, since i didn't want to incur more cost and had no way to believe that rude seller would ever send me the item promised. seller also offered to file insurance claim through post office--(package was intact, but even so, how could the using up of an ink cartridge be caused by shipping damage! my credit card company reversed the charge, but since it was only about $14 and for less than $20 or $25 (can't remember), the Seller STILL GOT PAID!!! cc ate the cost. makes me furious to think of it. i posted negetive feedback to warn other buyers, and of course seller retaliated.

second problem was when some toys we bought for DD were never sent and seller never responded to any communications. i still kind of wonder if the seller died or something bad. filed with ebay and seller still didn't provide any response at all, so they reversed the charge and put $ back onto my cc.

never thought of the trick where a seller would just send an empty box and therefore have proof of delivery!!! wow!

all the other experiences have been wonderful.