I am an eBay seller. I recently sold a bridal ring set worth $799.00 to a buyer. I always thought having PayPal was safer and that it protected not only the sellers but the buyers too. I was so wrong.
When I sold the ring, PayPal put a stop to the payment, saying that the buyer was using someone else's account. They told me they were going to investigate it. Then I received an e-mail saying that it was safe to ship the set.
As a courtesy, I included free shipping, insurance and also a free men's gold band worth $200.00 alone. But I had also put on my eBay page that I did not accept returns unless the item was not as described.
I got an e-mail from the buyer saying they wanted a full refund just because they simply did not like it. I told the buyer that I did not accept refunds for that and that I had put that on my eBay page. Then they went to PayPal, saying it was not as described and they wanted a full refund.
PayPal told me not to worry and that they would do a full investigation. I told them I had e-mails from the buyer stating they simply did not like the set, I had receipts from the jewelry store where I bought the set, I had pictures of the set, and I also had receipts from the shipping to prove I had shipped it. I told PayPal that the buyer was stating that simply so they could get a refund. Then I got an e-mail from PayPal stating they had given a full refund to the buyer. They did no investigation. They did nothing! I could not believe it.
I called PayPal and spoke to 3 different people. They all told me that PayPal has the last word and does not do any investigation, as long as the buyer sends the ring back. They would not make the buyer pay me back for the shipping and insurance that I had spent out of pocket either.
I had never heard of this. PayPal says they have a new rule and automatically give a refund without investigating, even though I have an e-mail from PayPal with their logo stating they were going to investigate. They say they do not have to. I said that when I signed up, PayPal did not have that rule, and the supervisor told me that whenever I receive or send a payment, I am agreeing to the terms and conditions. Yet there is nowhere on PayPal that asks you to view the terms and conditions before you receive a payment. Furthermore, they said they did not have to tell any of the customers and that they have the last word.
I told her I was going to file with the BBB, but she told me she was the person who accepted all of the BBB reports and I could go ahead and file with them. I asked her for her supervisor's name and number and she refused to give it to me. I also asked for the corporate number and she refused that too.
Not only do I feel lied to, but I feel discriminated against. PayPal protects the buyers but not the sellers? How is that right? It is NOT! It is ridiculous. When sellers receive payments, PayPal takes money out. So why aren't we important and treated like customers? The lady also said that they are doing it like retail stores do. But a lot of retail stores do not accept returns. When retail stores have clearance sales and put up a sign stating they do not accept returns, the customers have to go by that. So when a seller on eBay states the same thing, why is PayPal not honoring it? Also, if eBay allows full refunds on anything, why does eBay give you the option to say whether you accept returns? If we are sellers, why can't we make up our own return rules?
Not only that, but their customer service is poor. They do not respect their customers at all. I have called several times, and each person I speak to is rude and just transfers me to someone else or hangs up the phone.
I am hoping that people will read this before something like this happens to them too. PayPal lies and cheats people. They take your money, but then they do not protect you. Their ad says they protect their customers, but they don't!
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