I sent a money order for payment to a seller on Ebay, I STILL have not received the DVD/VCR player that I paid for. What can I do? I sent the payment on or about May 31st.
Oh, there’s not much in the world of auctions more frustrating and upsetting than the sinking feeling that you might have been ripped off by an auction that you won.
Fortunately, there are some things you can do at this point to try and salvage the situation, but first, let me say that I do not encourage people to pay their auctions via money order. Why? Because there’s no paper trail, no proof that the money order was ever received or cashed.
That’s where something like Paypal is such a benefit: you have proof of payment and they offer an insurance option for auction purchases (and remember, Paypal is an eBay company too).
eBay has what they call their Standard Purchase Protection, which it describes as:
- Most items are covered up to $200 (minus a $25 processing fee) under eBay’s standard purchase protection program.
- Before you file a claim through this program, eBay encourages you to contact the seller (most issues can be resolved with a single phone call), or use a free online dispute resolution service like SquareTrade.
- If you paid for your item with your credit card using PayPal, contact PayPal directly.
- If you purchased the item outside of PayPal with a credit card, contact your credit card company. Most companies provide 100% online protection.
eBay has specific details about the Purchase Protection eligibility requirements and offers a link to let you learn more about the program.
A critical note here is that your claim must be filed between 30 and 90 days after the listing ends. By the way, if you’re at the point where you don’t want to send another email to the seller without results, do check out eBay’s Item Not Received Process for help.
While we’re on this subject, it’s well worth occasionally reading eBay’s Safe Buying Tips: in your case, it’d be interesting to go back to the original auction and see whether these would have set off any alarms in your head if you would have been considering them prior to submitting your winning bid.
Note: This article was written by contributing editor and all-around nice guy Chuck Eglinton.
i sold an old S/H camera outfit on ebay for £350 which included two parts mint and one part used but in good condition. The part that was used (and the cheapest part of the kit) was the lens (in mint is valued at 390 and used from 50). The buyer was disappointed with the the kit as the lens was not what he expected and demanded a £200 partial refund if he kept the lot. I thought he was being unreasonable and probably just trying to get a better deal so I offered to have the lens returned to me first for £50 (he refused) and then for £75 or for him to return the whole kit. I should point out that he also asked for a seperate item (a film back) to be included in the posted parcel but paid for this outside ebay before I had a chance to list it as a ‘buy it now’ price of £50 (and £30 under its market value). In the end he decided to send the order back but DID NOt include the extra 120 back which I made conditional of him returning EVERYTHING. I have not refunded him and and I am still waiting for the extra item to be returned. He won’t return my email requests.
Should I refund him or wait for the total iorder even though he paid for the extra film back outside ebay (but on paypal)?
Ebay was once a great straight shooter place to get things. Now it’s just a cash cow being milked by the owner. When they stopped showing the bidders and buyers names I knew the jig was up and haven’t used it since. Remember eBay gets paid a percentage based on the items selling price, so of course eBay wants the item to sell for as much as possible. This is why you can’t see who else is bidding.
I have not receive my cosmetic.I wait 2month but not receive.I contact seller ID: shannonalbert30(shannona@prodigy.net)
but this seller not response me.I loss money $72.2.
I’m buyer but can’t contact seller.Why? Seller is unhonnest.but Ebay help seller not help buyer which not receive goods.
I am unhappy with Ebay protect buyer.Ebay check is incorrect and wrong decisions.I have not receive goods but Ebay leave seller faver.
Now I can’t contact seller.Seller not answer me.It’d bad order.please Ebay contact this seller about return goods and rufund my money.
I’ll post this story about unhonnest seller ID: shannonalbert30 in webboard.For beware other buyer.
Thanks
I too purchased a pair of jeans from a seller on ebay called aabrands2010, however I made 2 mistakes and have been ripped off.
1. contacted the seller and purchased the jeans outside of ebay.
2. Paid for the jeans using Paypal (however I was not aware of the 30 day notice) so after I contacted the aabrands2010 on several occasions and received updates they kept me waiting post 30 days. When I contacted Paypal they would not investigate because it was past the 30days!!!
And they say ebay and paypal are safe – I have escalated to paypal three times and they refuse to look into this. What is more disapointing is the seller aabrands is still trading on ebay!!!!
AVOID THIS SELLER AT YOUR MERCRY.
I have notified multiple blog sites about aabrands and would advise anyone dealing with them to be very very careful!!!!
I bought something from ebay but I never received.
The USPS says that they delivered the package but that is not true because I was in my apartment the whole day and the postman never came.
My item qualify for the Standard Purchase Protection?.
I tried to contact the seller, but he does not respond. I called paypal and they say that they are not responsible if the article, never came to my apartment.
Don’t buy unless the seller accepts Paypal or does COD. Pay by paypal through credit card and you have control. If you don’t receive an item send a demand letter, registered, try to find the persons employer and send a copy of the letter to them too.
Always pay for the most secure postage or don’t buy. Check the sellers feedback, contact other buyers and tell them of your problem and ask for all the sellers details in case you don’t have them. Check the completed listings to see if the one you bid on had been copied eg photos etc. Never give up. Report to the Police, on line fraud squad: be strong and you have a chance. Harrass until you get what you paid for.
I bought an Italian leather bag from Ebay UK,
I paid the amount that i won from this seller,
The problem is,I did not read the S&H options
and Policy,because of my excitement,i just paid
the item,without noting the seller about how
long the item will arrive here in the US.
After 14 days,i contacted this seller and told
her that i need to check the status of the item
and she responded to my email,that she already
shipped the handbag and she has the receipt and
i just need to wait for the arrival around 56
days or more due to customs inspection,to my
dismay,i contacted the paypal and i file a claim
to inform that i did not receive the item,they
instructed me to contact the seller,and she
responded,that it is my choice to shipped the
item via overland surface mail,seems like she
was rude on her replied message,and so i emailed
her back,and told her,that i am not aware,about
the S&H option,since she charges me 7.00 GBP for
the cost of the shipment,that she can ship it
via Royal Airmail at the same price.
I was PO,and still waiting for the item to get
ship until 56 days will pass,my concern is,
what if the item was lost in the mail?
Is the paypal can refund my money?
Sincerely,
Lyn Gregg
I bought an Italian leather bag from Ebay UK,
I paid the amount that i won from this seller,
The problem is,I did not read the S&H options
and Policy,because of my excitement,i just paid
the item,without noting the seller about how
long the item will arrive here in the US.
After 14 days,i contacted this seller and told
her that i need to check the status of the item
and she responded to my email,that she already
shipped the handbag and she has the receipt and
i just need to wait for the arrival around 56
days or more due to customs inspection,to my
dismay,i contacted the paypal and i file a claim
to inform that i did not receive the item,they
instructed me to contact the seller,and she
responded,that it is my choice to shipped the
item via overland surface mail,seems like she
was rude on her replied message,and so i emailed
her back,and told her,that i am not aware,about
the S&H option,since she charges me 7.00 GBP for
the cost of the shipment,that she can ship it
via Royal Airmail at the same price.
I was PO,and still waiting for the item to get
ship until 56 days will pass,my concern is,
what if the item was lost in the mail?
Is the paypal can refund my money?
Sincerely,
Lyn Gregg
i purchased a nutrition book on jan 27th, but was told that the shipment will take 3 to 4 business days but i have not receive anything yet and today is already feb 2nd.Iam really worried.
i sent this guy $450 for a computer not on ebay or anything like that i know him over the internet i sent the money but no computer what can i do can i call the cops can they do anythnig
Harold, I think that the ethical reaction is unquestionable: notify Paypal and the seller that the product finally arranged. Apologize for the confusion, but make it right.
Question. I ordered something from France off Ebay. The item didn’t arrive after 30 days. I filed a Paypal Claim and they gave me my money back. Yesterday, the item arrived and I signed for it USPS. Here’s the thing: I don’t want to pay for this item now. I am a bad boy. Can Paypal remove funds from my account because it eventually arrived?
I bought an embroidery machine on ebay, paid for it through PayPal. Got machine–broken & she KNEW it before shipping. Filed a dispute-escalated to a claim. Had to have machine evaluated by a 3rd party so more $$$ spent. PayPal ruled in my favor, seller agreed to full refund. Packed & shipped item back (to a PO Box), so more $$$$ spent. Now she has item & not refunding me $$$. Paypal only gave me courtesy $200 towards the $1100+ i paid out for the auction, not to mention all the extra $$$ spent. Now PayPal says they’ll try to get me the other $900+ but can’t guarantee it. HELP, how do I get my other monies back, who do I file theft charges with????
i ordered a cell phone on ebay payed 312.00 for it and did not recieve it yet and i am wondering where is it or how long will it take to come in can you please let me no.thank you and plesase let me no as soon as possible thanks
“I do not encourage people to pay their auctions via money order. Why? Because there’s no paper trail, no proof that the money order was ever received or cashed.”
Incorrect. There is a number on the back of every MO for customer service that you can call and check and see if your MO was cashed or not and the date it was. By Law you must be provided this information if you are the purchaser. Obviously since only the person you made it out to can cash it, there’s your proof.
eBay hs a page called INR (Item not recieved, or significantly not as described) Disputes.
http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?InrCreateDispute
though if eBay rules in your favor you will never get all tho money back, in a similar fasion to PayPal.
Hi there,
I ordered the merchandise on Oct-30-07 so I am still within the allotted time period but what do I do if the eBay seller is no longer on eBay? It is a company and they have their own website but they are no longer a seller on eBay. I have contacted many times with no response.
I just had the same problem. A seller told me to send a check because she was having trouble with Paypal. I sent the check but she didn’t send the products. I have her address now since she told me to send the check. Can I call the FIB to have her arrested? Buying from eBay is annoying!!
i bought item on aug 06. i chose the 4 -6 weeks delievery. on sept 21 i finally got a response from seller he said it will be there shortly. 2 weeks later i responded i demanded a refund. he said he would give it to me but i would have to wait 10 more days so that he could find my order. 2 and half months of excuses. he was so professional but he was a liar. now i lost about 147.98 in goods and ebay nor pay pal said the 45-60 days limit has passed. i have the emails to prove my purchases and the emails he send me stalling me. PLEASE HELP ME
Yea i have a problem on a laptop i bought, paid for an item, never got it, the seller told me it was to be delivered on a date but didnt respond to any emails after that date passed, i went through paypal and could only cover 12% of what i paid for, (itm cost=$1,700 paypal giving me $200 USD)
still can’t contact seller, paypal/ebay wont do anything else and my creditcard company is going :”its not our fault u chose ebay”
i have no idea what to do next other than go on a berserking rampage 🙁 (oh yea im an unemployed student who needed this itm and can’t affor another one!!)
please can you help . I have paid by paypal a firm that sells how to arrive and thrive in ireland , about a month ago , but no email adress or i can not get in touch , needless to say i have noy received any thing from them.
please can you help.
thank you.
John
Unfortunately, not all sellers will accept PayPal, so you’re stuck with money orders. My suggestion to anyone who has to send a money order.. make a copy of the money order and send it certified, return receipt requested. Yes, it costs about $4 to do it that way, but you will have proof of delivery and when you get the receipt back you get a signature and the date it was signed for. It may not get you your merchandise in a true scam, but at least you’ll have SOME proof that you did send it and it WAS received.