I'm definitely AGAINST PayPal now!

Triad · #1 08-11-2009, 05:06 AM

Hei guys... I guess the title explains itself.
I've sold one of my basses on eBay to a guy in Denmark. He paid promptly by PayPal and I've got a strange message from them saying that the funds were ON HOLD 'cause I have a low number of feedbacks and this should be a sort of insurance for buyers...
They'll make the funds available after 21 days or after the buyer received the package and left positive feedback.
As soon as I see this stuff I ask the buyer to send the money with another method but he's not willing to do it and, following eBay rules, he's right... so I ship (8 days ago).
Shipping takes more than usual AND there's a bad surprise for me: they tried to deliver the package on Monday, while the buyer was at work.
I already called postal service to know where he could pick the package up without waiting for the postman but it's an information that only the buyer can get.
So I'm basically taking all the risks. If the bass is sent back I'll lose shipping back and forth AND I already lost a local buyer giving the bass away.
So both eBay and PayPal are definitely helping buyers but killing sellers (the ones that pay their fees!).
All I can do is to wait and to hope but I have a bad feeling about it.
What do you guys think? I think the buyer should have removed the held on the funds as soon as he saw the package was at his door. It's his fault if they didn't deliver and I still have to get my money... not the best situation ever.
So sorry but I'll never offer PayPal as a payment option again.

i_got_a_mohawk · #2 08-11-2009, 05:20 AM

Guess you should have read the terms before using it then. It is all clearly shown in the Paypal terms and conditions, if you didn't agree with them, you shouldn't used them.

Simple really . . .

Triad · #3 08-11-2009, 05:21 AM

I got signed with PayPal centuries ago and this is the first time I encounter such a huge trouble. Apart from their fees, that are incredible

i_got_a_mohawk · #4 08-11-2009, 05:46 AM

Thing is, as far as I think it works, it isnt the buyer holding back the funds, its paypal. Because most scammers have very low feedback.

Paypal and Ebay fee's aren't bad at all, I presume you have never tried selling something in a real auction house! (makes you appreciate how little the ebay and paypal fees are).

Triad · #5 08-11-2009, 05:49 AM

I perfectly understand your point of view... and this thing would have made sense if they blocked my FIRST payment.
But if I've received several ones and always got a positive feedback in return... what's the sense in holding it now?
Besides they're protecting the buyer but literally damaging the seller, the one that pays all the fees. It makes no sense at this point.

burk48237 · #6 08-11-2009, 06:39 AM

I encountered the same thing recently when selling a piece of vintage stereo equipment. In my case I have 100% feedback and a ton of transactions. They actually only ended up holding for 4 days because the buyer left immediate feedback. My personal feeling is that since the rule is applied only to certain categories of auctions, they should let you know when your setting up the auction on the ebay page. They certainly have the ability to this. Al they would have to do is have a flag that pops up anytime your list method of payment in those categories.

Triad · #7 08-11-2009, 06:54 AM

Yes, that would be a solution...
Anyway if the buyer (for his fault) doesn't receive the package... then I'm fuXXed.

RS · #8 08-11-2009, 07:13 AM

Ebay is so anti-seller it is ridiculous. I'll never use that site again. Any suprise Meg Whitman left when she did, and that their stock price almost half what it was 2 years ago?

PSPookie · #9 08-11-2009, 07:16 AM

This is a relatively new policy but I think the idea is to make buyer feel more comfortable making purchases. If the buyer is more comfortable then he is more likely to spend money which makes life beter for the seller.

I get the concept but I agree that this policy further dissuades me from selling items on ebay.

Dirk Diggler · #10 08-11-2009, 07:38 AM

Yes it's a new policy that has started since the financial crunch happened. It doesn't matter how expensive the items are, if you have under 100 total feedback they can keep your money for a max of 21 days.

That policy really stinks and I ended up calling them and when they review your history they may change that treatment, they did for me since most of my sales were basses and pro audio stuff. I haven't had an issue since.

They really only want to deal with pros that sell tons of stuff the small individuals like us selling quality gear don't make them enough money statistically. Well at least that's my guess.
Good luck,
Dirk

3506string · #11 08-11-2009, 07:41 AM

I just had this happen Sat which sucks because the entire reason I was selling is because I needed money. Ebay has moved from a place that made it easy for your average joe to sell to a place that mainly geared toward large companies moving large quantities. I have 100% rating and have sold a couple things over the past couple of months and not had this problem. Ebay and paypal merging was good for no one.

anyonefortennis · #12 08-11-2009, 07:49 AM

I heard if you do a $1 refund, you can get your money right away

**baba** · #13 08-11-2009, 07:52 AM

I've stopped selling high dollar items on eBay because of this. I have 100% feedback and lots of transactions and they hold my money for 21 days?!?! F them.

MonetBass · #14 08-11-2009, 09:19 AM

Wow, I've never had this problem. Last time I sold something using Paypal, I got the money immediately. Maybe it's because I have an verified account. To the OP: have you verified yours?

PSPookie · #15 08-11-2009, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MonetBass

Wow, I've never had this problem. Last time I sold something using Paypal, I got the money immediately. Maybe it's because I have an verified account. To the OP: have you verified yours?

It's only an issue if you are selling through ebay. If you are selling privately and using PayPal you get your money right away.

MJ5150 · #16 08-11-2009, 09:35 AM

For every honest seller like you, there are two scammers who sell something fraudently, move the money into another account and disappear. The buyer never receives the goods, but are out the money.

It really is a bummer for honest people, but honest people have been suffering because of dishonest jerks for a long time.

-Mike

RS · #17 08-11-2009, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ5150

For every honest seller like you, there are two scammers who sell something fraudently, move the money into another account and disappear. The buyer never receives the goods, but are out the money.

It really is a bummer for honest people, but honest people have been suffering because of dishonest jerks for a long time.

-Mike

That is the inherent risk with ebay. Caveat Emptor. That rule is easier to swallow than all the other artifical tangle of rules ebay has now, imo.

Hopefully someone will be able to get a real auction site off the ground that will cater to average joes who and sell stuff.

RS

Rocks · #18 08-11-2009, 03:32 PM

I would have canceled the auction and sold it locally. How can they expect you to pay for shipping out of your own pocket and then hope they release your money? You can cancel the auction even after it is over and they will even refund the auction fee's. I will never use ebay again because of the crap they pulled on me, holding funds and all the other BS.

Tama · #19 08-11-2009, 03:40 PM

I too have had a bad experience with paypal.
My opinion? They are greedy as heck and treated me wrong.
I'm not gonna go into all the boring details. I'm just dissatisfied with them.

There are tons of people and businesses angry at their ways of doing things.
In their defense, it is a gigantic business, very complex, people try to scam them and you cant please everyone all of the time. Just like rules or laws anywhere, due to the complexity of dealing with so many people....sometimes the "individual" customer service doesn't work for everyone.

Since the laws are clear and they have to follow them.
I would suggest you do like I did.
Just stop dealing with them. You'll eventually get your money and you can cut ties with them.

Personally, I am sorry to not use the service anymore. It was soooo convenient and easy.

But I just cant deal with them anymore. But again, just dump em'
If enough people are dissatisfied, they will suffer too.

Free market is still my choice. I certainly understand your unhappiness.
Good luck in the future.

Cheers, Dave

Tama · #20 08-11-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RS

That is the inherent risk with ebay. Caveat Emptor. That rule is easier to swallow than all the other artifical tangle of rules ebay has now, imo.

Hopefully someone will be able to get a real auction site off the ground that will cater to average joes who and sell stuff.

RS

Kinda how I am seeing things these days as it pertains to Ebay.

When you get so many people together, inevitably rules completely de-personalize the thing and make everyone unhappy.

I too would like to see another auction site come along and change things.
Sadly, after a few years, it will end up just like Ebay.

Not to sound like an armchair philosopher, but this kinda stuff always ends up happening when too many people have so many business dealings with each other.

Reminds me of The Trees from Rush. Enough complaining happens and someone comes along and levels things...now no one is happy.

On a positive note...in all the years I have bought & sold on Ebay....I gotta say people are generally decent and honest. More credit than my jaded opinion gave them originally.

Cheers, Dave