eBay PayPal
Lost $106 After Empty Package Claim on Ireland Shipment

A buyer in Ireland won an item I listed on eBay. Prior to bidding, she wrote asking permission, because my listing allowed shipping within the USA alone. I gave her a price for delivery to Ireland that left out insurance, and $10.00 was agreed. With insurance the cost would have been $34.00, an amount she refused.

I shipped the item to Ireland. According to the buyer, what arrived was the packaging paper and a note from Ireland's postal service stating that the shipment arrived with nothing in the package. My item had been placed in a box, covered in brown paper, and sealed with clear tape against water. For the box to separate from that paper in transit, a postal worker in Ireland would have had to open it and take the contents, then send the outer wrapping on with a note about it arriving empty. PayPal received a refund claim from the buyer, who falsely stated that her $10.00 had covered insurance. A quick check with the post office would have shown PayPal whether $10.00 could pay for shipping plus insurance to Ireland, yet they did not bother.

My first call to PayPal brought reassurance. They said the buyer would have to return the packaging as well as the Irish postal service's note, and I gathered that I would get at least a fair hearing. I sent PayPal an email with every detail, offering to provide the buyer's emails that confirmed the insurance arrangement as well as her messages contradicting each other about what she got from me. PayPal said to hold on, that there would be ample time for documents, and that they were awaiting the buyer's reply to messages I had left on the PayPal site concerning the dispute.

Not once was I allowed to send anything. This morning an email from PayPal informed me that the buyer had won. They state she emailed or faxed them Irish police reports along with the postal note. Strange, isn't it? Who involves the police over a lost parcel, and why would the Irish police open a report? Nothing like that would occur in America.

My request to see the police report and the postal note was refused; I was told to trust them or request copies from the police in Ireland. That is sad indeed, as is PayPal's customer service, and whoever made the ruling against me deserves criticism. This deal cost me $106.00, all due to PayPal.

All sellers shipping abroad should take care. Make sure the buyer pays for insurance, and if the buyer waives it, you will still be at fault according to PayPal.

Company: eBay PayPal
Country: USA
State: California
City: San Jose
Site: paypal.com

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