I just want to warn everyone who uses ebay and paypal to know that you are out there on your own. If you never get your item, or if the person sends you something that doesn't work you are pretty much screwed. Paypal and ebay will do everything in their power to avoid getting involved or helping buyers who were wronged, even when the case is clearly fraud.
I have lost over $3,000 with these services, who only make money by claiming to "protect" buyers. One was a furniture dealer who sold me a $2800 table and then never delivered. Paypal and ebay told me to sue him... Well, they were the ones who transactioned the money so they should have been willing to step in and make sure I got my money back. But that would mean they actually cared about consumers who were wronged. They don't. Not one bit.
Ask yourself "Is the savings of ebay worth working with strangers off the street."
Because at the end of the day, you are shelling out money to strangers. I would limit my purchases to no mechanical (I bought two printers both wouldn't even power on... Of course ebay and paypal said they can do nothing). I would also not spend more than you are willing to lose on ebay, because if the person runs off with your money you are going to wish you would have paid a little more to work with a well known company.
This is really disappointing, because these companies are hugely profitable off the sweat labor of sellers and consumers who want a safe place to trade. They are suppose to be the police of the internet transaction, but they've become a money hungry and selfish industry, who sits back like a fat cat raking in money and not doing their job of protecting us for safe transactions.
Make sure you choose good sellers. Don't buy mechanics that someone could just be trying to unload on some innocent buyer they don't have to look in the eye, and never make major purchases that you can't afford to lose on.
Wake up ebay and paypal! Do your JOBS! Haven't you sucked out enough money from the public to at least protect them? They should hire a legal staff or have a phone number to help consumers... They certainly can afford it. But that would mean they'd have to actually work for their massive earnings and be responsible for the merchants who they allow to sell on their site.
I know I will probably never see my money again, but I wanted others to know how risky of a practice it is to make purchases from ebay or paypal.
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