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The Darker Side to Selling Online!

This happened to me (Lee) a couple of weeks ago, but i wanted to get the outcome before I posted this to you all.

It was Sunday, July 12th at 8.10 pm and the Xbox One that I had placed on Gumtree had a biter.  Seems legit and wants to pay with PayPal (note this is the first alarm bell you should be selling anything online and then having someone come and collect it in person).  Perfect, I was thinking, all paid up and then just waiting for him to come and collect it tomorrow.

After sleeping on it a bit, I thought, what if he decided to dispute this with PayPal when I have handed this over and then not only have I handed it over but then lose the XXXX amount of money that he paid for it?  I thought I needed to get some advice from so-called PayPal, and after a short call was reassured that he didn’t have a leg to stand on with his dispute as it was collected in person.  With that, I boxed up the console, three games, and controller and waited for this guy.

An hour later message was received, and he was outside.  Opened the door to this slim, tanned Mediterranean guy who must have been about 25.  Struck up a bit of convo, and he gave me the £11.00 (this was for the shortfall in the fees that eBay took from the payment).  He took the goods and went.

This is where is now gets interesting !!!

** PING **

Email from PayPal, the guy picking up the console wanted a refund saying that he had purchased an iPhone and not an Xbox One.  Very long story short and another call to PayPal, and it turns out I was not covered under the seller’s protection because he has collected it.  Seething at this point, I demanded the call listened to from earlier that day and then wanted a callback.

A week later, and still nothing, another call to PayPal and got through to the only Kevin in the claim and dispute team.  What a top guy; he said he gave the buyer three working days to provide evidence of the iPhone advert; otherwise, the funds would be returned to me, and the case closed.

Well, I started writing this article 10 days ago and have now been told that the information was correct, but, oh yes, there is a BUT.  For the buyer to not have any protection, he needed to have admitted it was for collection, and where he has disputed and said that it was for delivery, they have just taken his word for it!

But it’s okay, I have reported this to the Ombudsman Service, and they believe they should have notified me of those clauses.  So I shall keep you posted over the next few months to see how this pans out.

**** UPDATE ****

After a call from PayPal, I was given the £300 back plus £20 for inconveniences.  So it does pay to know your rights and keep going with them.

I must say my experience of this (i had only just started to sell stuff online and was, I guess, a tad nieve to it all) has left a bitter taste in my mouth.  If I could give anyone selling their stuff online to fund their lifetime trip.  CASH ON DELIVERY ONLY !!!!  It’s the only real way to cover your back, and at least you know everything should be ok.

Lee Webber
Lee Webber
Hola, i'm Lee and one half of the founders of Look at our World. You will quite often find me either behind the computer maintaining this stunning website, or sampling some incredible food.

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