I HATE eBay and PayPal

[boltstop]

They're a bunch of douchebags. Total slime.

I won't go into why; it's too complicated - suffice it to say that I am tired of the raging effin' fees, the horrendous "fuck you coming and going" act they play, and most especially their anti-gun sentiment.

I hope they rot. I am leaving them and will never return.

That is all.

 

[SNIPERALEZ]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

I gave up on them too, try Gpal they might have gotten it together by now, I joined up hope to start the new year right, with them.
Ed

 

[High Binder]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Texagator</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
BBB Rating of Gunpal
</div></div>


'F' Ouch! Man they suck hard.

 

[kbrady]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

Wal-Mart may carry everything I am looking for at a somewhat cheaper price, but I hate that place so much that for some things I will go to a specialty store and pay a little bit more.

What does this have to do with the current topic? Sometimes, until a better service pops up, you may have to go out of your way or pay a little bit extra to not deal with constant BS. Money orders or certified checks still work as a form of payment for 99% of things AFAIK.

Kelly

 

[ToddM]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

The problem with ebay and paypal (well there are lots) but you REALLY have to be up on the all rules as both a buyer and seller to try and protect yourself. For most stuff these days as a seller ebay isn't worth it, you get screwed both ways, the fees for selling on there are way too high these days esp. when if the buyer uses paypal you get charged fees twice, it can easily be 20% of the sale. These days almost all the advantages/protections go to the buyer and not the seller.

For example it's my understanding that even if the buyer does not ask for insurance, if the package is lost, or even if you just can't "prove" it was delivered, and they use paypal they can submit a claim and ebay/paypal will side with them and force the seller to return the buyers money. In fact I've been told that if it's an item for over $250 not only do you as the seller have to prove that it was delivered but it has to be signed for, IE delivery confirmation alone is not enough. Which is why if you do sell on there you should always get delivery confirmation on every package and signature confirmation on anything over $250.

It's also my understanding that a buyer can "decide" IE they don't have to prove, that the item was "not as described" and as long as they return it to you, you have to refund their purchase price + shipping, and as a seller you are out the auction fees.

Also check your feedback often, ebay will not notify you if you get negative feedback. I had a buyer leave me a negative feedback as a mistake (I assume anyway since it was a positive comment) however after 30 days it's fixed, neither the seller or buyer can remove or change it.

 

[Kevlars]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

NOT True.... I purchased a silver coin via ebay and paypal ... the USPS said delivered ... I never got it ... opened a case and it was decided in the Seller favor. So I (the buyer) was out $65.00 and will never use EBAY again.

The criteria is very hokey and really if it is a 5star or what ever they call them that has a lot of transactions and moves a lot of product ... Ebay will side with them.

 

[Guest]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

I've used Ebay and PayPal for over a decade.
I've had one or two problems, but they always got resolved.
Nothing to really complain about.

 

[maxpower220]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

I have been very happy with both ebay and paypal. It's no secret that both have fees and the fees are plainly posted. If you feel that you were over-charged, but the fees are exactly what was stated on the ebay page, then you probably have a mortgage that your aren't paying either.
Instant money transfer for goods or services is a MUCH better deal than getting cash, going to the post office, get MO, mail it to whoever, then wait, and wait, and wait. Perhaps the other person sends you an email to let you know that he got the money. Maybe not. Wait some more, or check the daily status of your shipment. Yeah, that 3% fee really is worse than that.

 

[ToddM]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

Yes *IF* usps or UPS etc. tracking says it's delivered in their system the buyer cannot claim it wasn't, or at least it won't go their way most times when they make a claim. However if there is no tracking on the package or the package truly does get lost, the seller is on the hook for it.

 

[High Binder]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

I've used Ebay a lot over the last decade and never had a problem.

 

[slowkota]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

Never had a problem...

As a buyer 99.99% of the time, I really do prefer Paypal

 

[shootist2004]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

Chase bank has set up a "paypal" type business and the dont charge for using it.

 

[KYpatriot]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

The ebal/pay-pal anti-gun sentiment is ridiculous and reason enough to avoid them I guess, but the main thing is that you shouldnt use USPS for shipping. I have had them leave stuff at my neighbors house and claim "delivered".

Pay the extra money and have it delivered by professionals. Still not foolproof, but UPS and Fedex have much better systems for locating packages.

 

[Birddog1911]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: KYpatriot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The ebal/pay-pal anti-gun sentiment is ridiculous and reason enough to avoid them I guess, but the main thing is that you shouldnt use USPS for shipping. I have had them leave stuff at my neighbors house and claim "delivered".

Pay the extra money and have it delivered by professionals. Still not foolproof, but UPS and Fedex have much better systems for locating packages. </div></div>

Why not use USPS? Maybe it's just because I live in the country, but my postal guys are great, and one of them is a bit of a gun nut as well. And because of where I live and work, it's 25 miles to the nearest UPS Store, and 30 to the UPS hub.

Edited: Reading comprehension...funny how it works. Anyway, I guess since I know all of my carriers, I'm in a better position than some.

 

[ToddM]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

Carriers are all a crap shoot, a few years ago my neighbor who shoots long range competitions had UPS leave a rifle with a "FIREARM" bright orange sticker on it leaned up against their garage, mind you we live less than a block from a school. UPS has gotten better about packages now, used to be they'd leave them anywhere, at least lately they won't leave anything here without someone signing for it, insured or not.

The big problem with USPS people run into is two fold, first they think delivery confirmation is tracking....it's not. Second is that USPS won't even consider looking for a lost package until 30 days has gone by and their claims system is ugly (though frankly, all the carriers claim systems are pretty bad).

The real trick with any carrier is to get it insured, and make sure it's signature delivery. It's a pain in the ass for some because they aren't home and the carrier won't leave the package, but it's the best way to ensure your package is delivered to a human and doesn't get left outside or marked "delivered" and stolen somewhere along the way. I also think it's the best way to keep a package from being stolen in route, as it's easier for those people to take packages without tracking, delivery confirmation, insurance, etc. They know if it's insured and with confirmation someone is probably going to make a stink about it if it doesn't show up.

A big part of it also I think is how good your carrier/local hub is with any of the delivery companies. I'd be willing to bet a huge number of packages that get "lost" really are victims of internal theft somewhere along the line.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

They both fucking blow. I'm on the phone with paypal right now trying to figure out why the hell they put a hold on my funds when they have my bank info and a credit card on file.

 

[ToddM]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

That's probably another reason why people are so polarized on them.

If you never have an issue obviously you feel they work great, but it seems like when someone does have an issue (such as paypal locking down your account, or a buyer making a claim) the experience is ugly at best trying to resolve it.

I've been on ebay and paypal for going on 13+ years now and in that time only really had a couple small issues. It's amazing how much it has changed and how much the fees have gone up. One was my fault very early on. I had a buyer who sent me an email asking to ship the item to a non-confirmed paypal address (same name, same city), I did but deleted the email, then he claimed it never showed up and that he never sent the email asking for a change of address and I had to refund him. I'm pretty sure he screwed me over on that one, but could not prove it. It was good in the grand scheme of things because it was a pretty cheap item and I learned my lesson early that you have to make sure you cover your own butt, because a lot of buyers and sellers play games and try to pull crap. The other was simply a lost package, again I should have insured it because these days with paypal and ebay buyer protection the seller is on the hook for the package getting there, regardless if the buyer purchases shipping insurance unless you can prove with tracking it was delivered. I've had several buyers threaten to leave negative feedback after an auction if I didn't do things like lower the price, give them free shipping etc. etc. but that's not an issue usually as long as you keep the correspondence ebay will side with you on that. I've also had several complain that the item was not as described and want a "partial" refund. I always offer to give them a full refund if they return it, oddly none of them take me up on it....again they are just trying to pressure a seller into getting money back with the threat of negative feedback.

If you use paypal, NEVER leave any funds in your account, withdraw them the instant they arrive, paypal is always locking down accounts for various reasons and if they do, you don't want them to do it when you have a balance. Also don't use the "gift" option too much, or for odd amounts (137.50 probably isn't a gift amount, etc), people are using it gang busters right now to avoid the fees and paypal is starting to really crack down on it.

 

[Jayman_10X]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ToddM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">That's probably another reason why people are so polarized on them.

If you never have an issue obviously you feel they work great, but it seems like when someone does have an issue (such as paypal locking down your account, or a buyer making a claim) the experience is ugly at best trying to resolve it.

I've been on ebay and paypal for going on 13+ years now and in that time only really had a couple small issues. It's amazing how much it has changed and how much the fees have gone up. One was my fault very early on. I had a buyer who sent me an email asking to ship the item to a non-confirmed paypal address (same name, same city), I did but deleted the email, then he claimed it never showed up and that he never sent the email asking for a change of address and I had to refund him. I'm pretty sure he screwed me over on that one, but could not prove it. It was good in the grand scheme of things because it was a pretty cheap item and I learned my lesson early that you have to make sure you cover your own butt, because a lot of buyers and sellers play games and try to pull crap. The other was simply a lost package, again I should have insured it because these days with paypal and ebay buyer protection the seller is on the hook for the package getting there, regardless if the buyer purchases shipping insurance unless you can prove with tracking it was delivered. I've had several buyers threaten to leave negative feedback after an auction if I didn't do things like lower the price, give them free shipping etc. etc. but that's not an issue usually as long as you keep the correspondence ebay will side with you on that. I've also had several complain that the item was not as described and want a "partial" refund. I always offer to give them a full refund if they return it, oddly none of them take me up on it....again they are just trying to pressure a seller into getting money back with the threat of negative feedback.

If you use paypal, NEVER leave any funds in your account, withdraw them the instant they arrive, paypal is always locking down accounts for various reasons and if they do, you don't want them to do it when you have a balance. Also don't use the "gift" option too much, or for odd amounts (137.50 probably isn't a gift amount, etc), people are using it gang busters right now to avoid the fees and paypal is starting to really crack down on it. </div></div>

Thanks for the tips.

 

[Bryan27]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

I posted a while back about a welder I bought off of ebay, to the tune of $2250.00 and it turned out the seller ripped off a whole bunch of folks for big money and skipped town. People were getting tracking #'s and no shipments made or they'd get a box with a string of old Christmas lights instead of their product. I tried filing a claim after about a week of getting the runaround from the seller and ebay's response was for me to give it more time. So, I filed a claim through paypal and the issue was resolved faster than they said it would and money was back in my bank account within 2 days of them finding in favor of my claim. If I use either of them again it will be with a credit card though, I don't like having to go through paypal or ebay to "ask" them to do the right thing and gamble with my money, I'd rather get my money back and let paypal and the credit card company fight it out. Ebay/paypal rely on buyers and sellers being honest, just like everyone else out there doing business there are honest people and there are crooks. My dad has sold several hundred things on ebay and never had a bad transaction. I've bought less than 10 things and had this douche rip me off for over two grand.

 

[Tunanut]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

USPS Registered Mail the a never fail way to ship if it's valuable or important.

 

[ToddM]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

Bryan,

I remember your post, did you get a box of "crap" or just no shipment? Just curious if ebay has started to side with buyers that get a box of "nothing". It probably helped that the guy ripped off a lot of people too so ebay was dealing with multiple claims of a similar nature.

That's another good scam I've forgot about you you'd hear about from time to time. Since paypal/ebay's protection often only looks at a package being "delivered" with tracking it was not uncommon for a seller to send you a box of rocks and you can't claim they didn't deliver a "package". If you tried to return it obviously the seller just claimed you sent them a box of nothing in return instead of the "product" they sent you and ebay usually sided with the seller. Usually it was a new seller selling a lot of expensive stuff quickly.

Used to be a lot of phantom bidding but I think they've cut down on that as well. IE you set up a fake account or have your buddies bid up your auctions to get higher prices.

Another trick was a seller would make an account and build up their feedback with a bunch of small cheap items, then put up a ton of really expensive stuff for amazing prices and rip off a bunch of people short term and disappear. I always like to look at not only their feedback, but also see what they are typically selling.

That's also a good tip on if you use paypal use a credit card as your primary funding source instead of your checking account, then you also have the protections most credit cards give as well as being able to contest the charge. Let the CC company fight it for you.

 

[Strangedays]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Kbrady</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Wal-Mart may carry everything I am looking for at a somewhat cheaper price, but I hate that place so much that for some things I will go to a specialty store and pay a little bit more.

What does this have to do with the current topic? Sometimes, until a better service pops up, you may have to go out of your way or pay a little bit extra to not deal with constant BS. Money orders or certified checks still work as a form of payment for 99% of things AFAIK.

Kelly </div></div>
Wal-Mart is as anti gun as PP

 

[Bryan27]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ToddM</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Bryan,

I remember your post, did you get a box of "crap" or just no shipment? Just curious if ebay has started to side with buyers that get a box of "nothing". It probably helped that the guy ripped off a lot of people too so ebay was dealing with multiple claims of a similar nature.

That's another good scam I've forgot about you you'd hear about from time to time. Since paypal/ebay's protection often only looks at a package being "delivered" with tracking it was not uncommon for a seller to send you a box of rocks and you can't claim they didn't deliver a "package". If you tried to return it obviously the seller just claimed you sent them a box of nothing in return instead of the "product" they sent you and ebay usually sided with the seller. Usually it was a new seller selling a lot of expensive stuff quickly.

Used to be a lot of phantom bidding but I think they've cut down on that as well. IE you set up a fake account or have your buddies bid up your auctions to get higher prices.

Another trick was a seller would make an account and build up their feedback with a bunch of small cheap items, then put up a ton of really expensive stuff for amazing prices and rip off a bunch of people short term and disappear. I always like to look at not only their feedback, but also see what they are typically selling.

That's also a good tip on if you use paypal use a credit card as your primary funding source instead of your checking account, then you also have the protections most credit cards give as well as being able to contest the charge. Let the CC company fight it for you. </div></div>

No package was ever shipped to me. Several others got a box full of Tennessee mountain air. I was contacted by many and contacted several myself about being scammed by this guy. According to the tracking info he never went further than making a shipping label, which said my 255lb welder had a shipping weight of 40lbs or something like that. I was in contact with the police detective several times and we were able to track the guy down. He had some BS address and phone # listed of course. I went back through his ebay history and found where he bought a pair of shoes, contacted the seller from up in Canada and told her the situation. She sent me the address where she shipped to and between tracking and delivery confirmation it was his address. I passed that information along to the detective, his dispatcher said that address did not exist, the street did but that particular address didn't. Next morning the detective took a drive out there and found it DID exist and guess who the plates on the truck in the drive belonged to? Yep! Unfortunately, dude skipped town for New York by the time the police went to talk to him according to his girlfriend. It's been an eye opening experience for me for sure and I'll be much more careful buying online from here on out.

 

[168BTHPM]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: boltstop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">They're a bunch of douchebags. Total slime.

I won't go into why; it's too complicated - suffice it to say that I am tired of the raging effin' fees, the horrendous "fuck you coming and going" act they play, and most especially their anti-gun sentiment.

I hope they rot. I am leaving them and will never return.

That is all. </div></div>

It's not just gun stuff, which I used to sell a lot of on Ebay, it's everything. Below is the text of a conversation I had with one of their customer service people about an hour ago on the live chat line. I then called them and got the same routine. Ebay used to be a lot of fun and a way to make some spare money, now it's way too much of a hassle and way too expensive.

5:29:10 PM April Ca. Hi there! How can I help you today?

5:30:12 PM buster. I sold a baseball mitt to a person in Canada. I used the shipping calculator to send the invoice to him. The service and price quoted by the shipping calculator is not available.

5:30:50 PM April Ca. I apologized for the inconvenience and Don't worry, I'll be happy to assist you with your concern for today.

5:31:05 PM buster. The cheapest service available cost more than twice what the shipping calculator said.

5:31:50 PM April Ca. To confirm my understanding, you want to send invoice with correct shipping costs, is that right?

5:33:15 PM buster. I have already sent the invoice and the buyer has already paid it. I was trying to ship the mitt and was unable to get the service the shipping calculator said was available. I went to the post office and they said the mitt has to be sent Priority International not 1st class like the shipping calculator said was available.

5:34:30 PM April Ca. Did you try to print shipping label?

5:34:39 PM April Ca. To use to ship the item?

5:35:27 PM buster. I can not print a shipping label because the service is not available, when I try to print a shipping label it tries to charge me at the Priority International rate.

5:35:50 PM April Ca. I'll be happy to help you with that. While I'm pulling up your account, is there any other concern you want me to help you with?

5:36:35 PM buster. Pulling up my account will not do any good unless you are going to credit me the additional shipping cost I am going to incur due to the failure of your shipping calculator.

5:37:55 PM April Ca. Sorry but if you use shipping label for the item and then ship it.

5:38:46 PM buster. Do you understand the English language? Can I speak to someone that speaks English?

5:39:15 PM April Ca. The reason why you cannot use first class because you cannot trace the shipping details for that shipping service

5:41:05 PM buster. The reason I can not use 1st class is the post office says it's not available for this package. If it's not available why did the shipping calculator say it was and indicate a price for the service?

5:42:50 PM April Ca. Because you chose the service for that and since this item will be ship Internationally, that option is not applicable because it is not traceable

5:43:32 PM buster. I used the international shipping calculator, it said 1st class was available. Please put your supervisor on the line.

5:43:50 PM April Ca. And it is depend on the dimension you put for your item.

5:44:05 PM April Ca. Sorry but they are also engage to a call.

5:44:32 PM April Ca. You can have that option but you are the one who choose it.

5:44:58 PM April Ca. because it is not expensive for International service but cannot trace it online.

5:45:24 PM buster. I hope you don't get paid very much for this poor service. How is the weather in India these days, or are you in the Philippines?

5:46:58 PM April Ca. Then you print shipping label then use it and send the item.

5:47:28 PM buster. Are you typing your responses from queue cards?

5:47:53 PM April Ca. Is there anything else?

5:48:15 PM buster. No I don't think you can be anymore of an inconvenience today.

 

[Jayman_10X]

Re: I HATE eBay and PayPal

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 168BTHPM</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: boltstop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">They're a bunch of douchebags. Total slime.

I won't go into why; it's too complicated - suffice it to say that I am tired of the raging effin' fees, the horrendous "fuck you coming and going" act they play, and most especially their anti-gun sentiment.

I hope they rot. I am leaving them and will never return.

That is all. </div></div>

It's not just gun stuff, which I used to sell a lot of on Ebay, it's everything. Below is the text of a conversation I had with one of their customer service people about an hour ago on the live chat line. I then called them and got the same routine. Ebay used to be a lot of fun and a way to make some spare money, now it's way too much of a hassle and way too expensive.

5:29:10 PM April Ca. Hi there! How can I help you today?

5:30:12 PM buster. I sold a baseball mitt to a person in Canada. I used the shipping calculator to send the invoice to him. The service and price quoted by the shipping calculator is not available.

5:30:50 PM April Ca. I apologized for the inconvenience and Don't worry, I'll be happy to assist you with your concern for today.

5:31:05 PM buster. The cheapest service available cost more than twice what the shipping calculator said.

5:31:50 PM April Ca. To confirm my understanding, you want to send invoice with correct shipping costs, is that right?

5:33:15 PM buster. I have already sent the invoice and the buyer has already paid it. I was trying to ship the mitt and was unable to get the service the shipping calculator said was available. I went to the post office and they said the mitt has to be sent Priority International not 1st class like the shipping calculator said was available.

5:34:30 PM April Ca. Did you try to print shipping label?

5:34:39 PM April Ca. To use to ship the item?

5:35:27 PM buster. I can not print a shipping label because the service is not available, when I try to print a shipping label it tries to charge me at the Priority International rate.

5:35:50 PM April Ca. I'll be happy to help you with that. While I'm pulling up your account, is there any other concern you want me to help you with?

5:36:35 PM buster. Pulling up my account will not do any good unless you are going to credit me the additional shipping cost I am going to incur due to the failure of your shipping calculator.

5:37:55 PM April Ca. Sorry but if you use shipping label for the item and then ship it.

5:38:46 PM buster. Do you understand the English language? Can I speak to someone that speaks English?

5:39:15 PM April Ca. The reason why you cannot use first class because you cannot trace the shipping details for that shipping service

5:41:05 PM buster. The reason I can not use 1st class is the post office says it's not available for this package. If it's not available why did the shipping calculator say it was and indicate a price for the service?

5:42:50 PM April Ca. Because you chose the service for that and since this item will be ship Internationally, that option is not applicable because it is not traceable

5:43:32 PM buster. I used the international shipping calculator, it said 1st class was available. Please put your supervisor on the line.

5:43:50 PM April Ca. And it is depend on the dimension you put for your item.

5:44:05 PM April Ca. Sorry but they are also engage to a call.

5:44:32 PM April Ca. You can have that option but you are the one who choose it.

5:44:58 PM April Ca. because it is not expensive for International service but cannot trace it online.

5:45:24 PM buster. I hope you don't get paid very much for this poor service. How is the weather in India these days, or are you in the Philippines?

5:46:58 PM April Ca. Then you print shipping label then use it and send the item.

5:47:28 PM buster. Are you typing your responses from queue cards?

5:47:53 PM April Ca. Is there anything else?

5:48:15 PM buster. No I don't think you can be anymore of an inconvenience today.


</div></div>

Wow! Wish I could say I'm surprised... My heart goes out to you. So many incompetant people these days. I recently completed a sale through PayPal. The customer paid the full amount, showed up in my PayPal account, everything looked good until I moved to transfer the funds into my bank account. PayPal said I could only withdraw up to $500 per month? What? I wanted my entire amount. It's my money, they already took their cut. Turned out I had to verify my account that I'd set up in the first place with PayPal. What a joke! My name and social no. were already verified at the beginning.

Everything turned out fine, but I will do everything to avoid them again.