I was selling an original art sketch on eBay. An art dealer offered to buy it from me, and shortly after receiving it he reported it damaged to PayPal and filed a "not as described" claim. Both PayPal and eBay told me they filed fraud claims against the buyer when I emailed them suspicious emails from the buyer, in which he claimed he could not afford the artwork. PayPal decided I must take it back even though I have a no refund policy, and twice entered an override in their system that I had already received the package, when in fact I did not.
Finally I received the artwork, and it is damaged, but also damaged intentionally by the buyer, who tore the artwork away from the backboard it was glued on. Then I found his interview on the internet about how he solicits original artwork from artists to print his limited edition postcards every year, and I put two and two together. The buyer destroyed the property with intent to defraud. He only purchased original artwork to make copies for his collection.
I called back eBay and PayPal, and they told me they never started any fraud investigation in the first place and did not know what I was talking about, then laughed at me and hung up. I have been robbed of original artwork and $525.00 by the buyer, who used their service to commit internet crime.
Now I am out $525.00 and I have a ruined original artwork because an art dealer needed a copy of his collection and committed internet fraud with the assistance of eBay and PayPal. Do not sell any art on eBay unless it is pick up only.
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