Author Topic: Possibly shady ebay auction? Paypal questions...Update (Read 7261 times)

lordtodd75 · « **on:** July 30, 2009, 09:40:06 am »

Yesterday I bid on and won a lot of nes games on ebay from a zero feedback seller. The shipping price was showing $4.00 for shipping. So, like i always do, I sent payment via paypal immediately after the auction. This morning I received an email from the seller stating that he needs my address so he can assess shipping costs. Huh, the auction said $4.00. I sent an email back that he had the shipping cost set at $4.00 and I had already sent payment for the price of the auction plus the $4.00. I went to ebay to check the listing one more time and I noticed that my paypal payment has not gone through. Apparently this guy is not registered with paypal, at least not under that email address. I am starting to get a little worried that this guy is going to grab my money and run. Any suggestions on ways I can prevent this? And please, I dont need to hear things like "you should not have bid on an auction with a zero feedback seller", that is clearly not helpful at this point in the game.

Edit: I cancelled the paypal transaction for now, just in case.

ChadTower · « **Reply #1 on:** July 30, 2009, 10:27:25 am »

You could at least give us the auction link.

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 30, 2009, 10:45:57 am »

My apologies sir:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290333566898&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #3 on:** July 30, 2009, 10:53:43 am »

You should've questioned $4.00 shipping for that much stuff. Obviously the guy is a moron, but you're also at fault for taking that shipping cost for granted. Pay more attention. If it looks too good to be true....

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 30, 2009, 11:03:31 am »

i did not question it because most of the lots I looked at had free or very low shipping as a selling point.

ChadTower · « **Reply #5 on:** July 30, 2009, 11:05:05 am »

Did you see this in the description?

Quote

I prefer using US Postal shipping but if you want to use UPS or FedEx that is fine. We can calculate the shipping costs and work it out. I am guessing it will be around $20 for priority mail.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2009, 11:15:02 am »

Yeah, that would've been good to notice.

Malenko · « **Reply #7 on:** July 30, 2009, 11:23:13 am »

they have 1 feedback now, if that makes you feel better

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #8 on:** July 30, 2009, 11:24:31 am »

As a buyer, though, not a seller.

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 30, 2009, 11:37:38 am »

Quote from: ChadTower on July 30, 2009, 11:05:05 am

Did you see this in the description?

Quote
I prefer using US Postal shipping but if you want to use UPS or FedEx that is fine. We can calculate the shipping costs and work it out. I am guessing it will be around $20 for priority mail.

Yes, thought it was an upgrade option. So now that everybody has gotten there digs in does anyone have any helpful advice as to how I can prevent being screwed.

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 30, 2009, 11:54:20 am »

No, it is not settled. I still want to go through with the transaction. What I need to know is: are there things I can do to help protect me in the event that this guy wants to screw me. This is what I stated in my original post.

Questions:
-Should I pay via paypal with a credit card. I have heard that you can do a charge back if there is an issue with not receiving your items. I know paypal will do this as well but I heard the process can be problematic and takes a long time.

-Is it ok to pay via paypal if the person gives me an email address that is different from the one connected to their ebay account. Will there be an issue with linking the seller with ebay in case I am screwed.

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #11 on:** July 30, 2009, 12:00:04 pm »

Quote from: lordtodd75 on July 30, 2009, 11:54:20 am

What I need to know is: are there things I can do to help protect me in the event that this guy wants to screw me.

Make sure he wears a rubber.

saleem · « **Reply #12 on:** July 30, 2009, 12:14:34 pm »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on July 30, 2009, 12:00:04 pm

Quote from: lordtodd75 on July 30, 2009, 11:54:20 am
What I need to know is: are there things I can do to help protect me in the event that this guy wants to screw me.

Make sure he wears a rubber.

paypal protects you.

you should read up on paypal more,you used it so you should make it your business to find out how ebay and paypal work and protect both parties.

hypernova · « **Reply #13 on:** July 30, 2009, 12:51:44 pm »

Quote from: Ginsu Victim on July 30, 2009, 11:24:31 am

As a buyer, though, not a seller.

On a cheap, worthless book about ferrets. Definitely a strange first acquisition.

hypernova · « **Reply #14 on:** July 30, 2009, 12:56:47 pm »

Quote

Coverage: Pay with and your full purchase price is covered | See terms

Brush up on your reading, lordtodd. You'll need to double check the terms, but as mentioned before, and as mentioned on the auction page, you should be covered.

Just be sure to not let him string you along for any more than a day or two. i.e. None of these types of shenanigans:
1. Can't find a box to ship it in.
2. Can't find time to get to the post office.
3. Sent it, but forgot to get the tracking number
4. It's on its way, I swear!
5. Don't know how to get my money from paypal.
6. And the list can go on and on....

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 30, 2009, 01:03:39 pm »

Thanks for the info guys. It looks like I need to pay 1 of 3 ways in order to get the buyer protection and since he has a different email then the one listed in ebay, I cannot choose any of the 3 options. I sent him an email stating that he needs to add the email address to his paypal account in order for me to be comfortable. I guess I will see what happens. I will also make sure I pay with my credit card so I can "zap" the purchase if the need be.

ChadTower · « **Reply #16 on:** July 30, 2009, 01:19:55 pm »

I fail to see how $20 shipping on 200 NES games is screwing you. That's cheap. If you actually want the stuff you have to accept that the $4 shipping was a mistake in the listing and go by what was actually in the description. Nobody is going to ship a box that big for $4.

Either walk away or pay a reasonable shipping charge. Those are your options. I see nothing here on the surface that makes it look like a scam.

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 30, 2009, 01:33:16 pm »

Did you even read my posts you moron

my god you are annoying!!!!

Malenko · « **Reply #18 on:** July 30, 2009, 01:35:04 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on July 30, 2009, 01:19:55 pm

I fail to see how $20 shipping on 200 NES games is screwing you. That's cheap. If you actually want the stuff you have to accept that the $4 shipping was a mistake in the listing and go by what was actually in the description. Nobody is going to ship a box that big for $4.

Either walk away or pay a reasonable shipping charge. Those are your options. I see nothing here on the surface that makes it look like a scam.

He wasn't saying $20 is unreasonable, he's saying he doesn't want to get screwed by the seller who doesn't have any feedback from selling anything and the email addresses on the auction doesn't match the one he wants paypal'ed to.

ChadTower · « **Reply #19 on:** July 30, 2009, 01:40:55 pm »

The first post reads as though he is demanding the $4 shipping.

Malenko · « **Reply #20 on:** July 30, 2009, 03:37:32 pm »

Quote from: ChadTower on July 30, 2009, 01:40:55 pm

The first post reads as though he is demanding the $4 shipping.

Quote from: lordtodd75 on July 30, 2009, 09:40:06 am

Yesterday I bid on and won a lot of nes games on ebay from a zero feedback seller. The shipping price was showing $4.00 for shipping. So, like i always do, I sent payment via paypal immediately after the auction. This morning I received an email from the seller stating that he needs my address so he can assess shipping costs. Huh, the auction said $4.00. I sent an email back that he had the shipping cost set at $4.00 and I had already sent payment for the price of the auction plus the $4.00. I went to ebay to check the listing one more time and I noticed that my paypal payment has not gone through. Apparently this guy is not registered with paypal, at least not under that email address. I am starting to get a little worried that this guy is going to grab my money and run. Any suggestions on ways I can prevent this? And please, I dont need to hear things like "you should not have bid on an auction with a zero feedback seller", that is clearly not helpful at this point in the game.

Edit: I cancelled the paypal transaction for now, just in case.

bolded for the comprehensionally impared.

Beretta · « **Reply #21 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:19:26 pm »

well.. id tell him to get a damn paypal at the right email address.. if you're selling on ebay you better have paypal.

as for the shipping, ya i would hold him to the 4 bucks, sure 20 is reasonable, sure 4 bucks was probably a mistake.. but thats what his listing says.

he should double check before posting his listing.

as for someone shipping that for 4 bucks.. some people ship for free so dont tell me someone would never charge 4 bucks to ship that.

at 295.77 fetching price i think he can afford to cover the difference in shipping..
a deal is a deal, i've made screw ups in the past, made mistakes, but i always still honored the deal, even when i knew i was kinda getting screwed when it came down to it..

CheffoJeffo · « **Reply #22 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:36:03 pm »

Quote from: lordtodd75 on July 30, 2009, 01:33:16 pm

Did you even read my posts you moron

It would seem that he read your posts about as thoroughly as you read the auction listing ...

Ginsu Victim · « **Reply #23 on:** July 30, 2009, 04:42:43 pm »

Quote from: CheffoJeffo on July 30, 2009, 04:36:03 pm

Quote from: lordtodd75 on July 30, 2009, 01:33:16 pm
Did you even read my posts you moron

It would seem that he read your posts about as thoroughly as you read the auction listing ...

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #24 on:** July 30, 2009, 05:16:05 pm »

I am surprised there have only been that many.

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #25 on:** July 30, 2009, 05:18:13 pm »

I wonder why saint did not send it to post hell?

THE POKER BRAT · « **Reply #26 on:** July 30, 2009, 07:08:25 pm »

well,...all i see is that you tried to rob him/her first,...who in the right mind will give up "alot of nes games for the LOW shipping of $4.00?
Obviously,..YES the ebay seller is probably a newbie,....and doesnt know how to properly sell his item/s....SO WHY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT!!!......insted of pulling a fast one on him,...you should try to school the person to be a better seller,..so you can have future dealings with him,..thats why crap like that happens here on this site too..
I wouldnt blame the seller if he took your loot and ran,...

ChadTower · « **Reply #27 on:** July 30, 2009, 09:11:45 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on July 30, 2009, 05:01:36 pm

That had to have been at least the third '---smurfette--- about chadtower' thread I've seen that disappeared.

All "---smurfette--- about an individual" threads get post helled. Pay attention.

BTW, I saw that he got email from the side, but was focusing on the initial fact that he was bitching about the $4 as well. If he so much as responds to the email on the side he gets what he deserves which is why I ignored it.

Then again, at this point, he deserves to get screwed, so let's just sit back and enjoy the show.

saint · « **Reply #28 on:** July 30, 2009, 09:45:00 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on July 30, 2009, 12:54:05 pm

Run, don't walk, away from people that keep ferrets as pets.

We have a ferret. She's cute.

smalltownguy · « **Reply #29 on:** July 30, 2009, 09:54:49 pm »

ChadTower · « **Reply #30 on:** July 30, 2009, 09:59:28 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on July 29, 2009, 04:42:44 pm

Pwnt?

saint · « **Reply #31 on:** July 30, 2009, 10:10:17 pm »

saint · « **Reply #32 on:** July 30, 2009, 10:15:26 pm »

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #33 on:** July 31, 2009, 12:25:23 am »

Quote from: THE POKER BRAT on July 30, 2009, 07:08:25 pm

well,...all i see is that you tried to rob him/her first,...who in the right mind will give up "alot of nes games for the LOW shipping of $4.00?
Obviously,..YES the ebay seller is probably a newbie,....and doesnt know how to properly sell his item/s....SO WHY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT!!!......insted of pulling a fast one on him,...you should try to school the person to be a better seller,..so you can have future dealings with him,..thats why crap like that happens here on this site too..
I wouldnt blame the seller if he took your loot and ran,...

Ok I am going to say this really slowly so everyone can understand. This post really has nothing to do with the shipping price. I simply included it because it was part of the story progression. I already spoke to the seller and agreed to pay him the shipping that he asked even though I am not obligated to do so. I am a reasonable guy. Jesus, we have a lot of jaded ebay sellers around here

I am not sure, even if I did hold him to the 4 dollar shipping, how that would be robbing him. I bid on three other lots that had the same amount of games and had free shipping. Was I ripping them off as well. Sometimes I wonder where some of you guys get your logic from. I am a bastard because I assumed he correctly posted his listing?

Donkey_Kong · « **Reply #34 on:** July 31, 2009, 12:48:01 am »

Quote from: lordtodd75 on July 31, 2009, 12:25:23 am

Quote from: THE POKER BRAT on July 30, 2009, 07:08:25 pm
well,...all i see is that you tried to rob him/her first,...who in the right mind will give up "alot of nes games for the LOW shipping of $4.00?
Obviously,..YES the ebay seller is probably a newbie,....and doesnt know how to properly sell his item/s....SO WHY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT!!!......insted of pulling a fast one on him,...you should try to school the person to be a better seller,..so you can have future dealings with him,..thats why crap like that happens here on this site too..
I wouldnt blame the seller if he took your loot and ran,...

Ok I am going to say this really slowly so everyone can understand. This post really has nothing to do with the shipping price. I simply included it because it was part of the story progression. I already spoke to the seller and agreed to pay him the shipping that he asked even though I am not obligated to do so. I am a reasonable guy. Jesus, we have a lot of jaded ebay sellers around here I am not sure, even if I did hold him to the 4 dollar shipping, how that would be robbing him. I bid on three other lots that had the same amount of games and had free shipping. Was I ripping them off as well. Sometimes I wonder where some of you guys get your logic from. I am a bastard because I assumed he correctly posted his listing?

I think you are being reasonable, and making sure of your recourse with a questionable new seller is always smart.

Saint, you seriously let that thing run around your house?

saint · « **Reply #35 on:** July 31, 2009, 10:01:06 am »

Quote from: Donkey_Kong on July 31, 2009, 12:48:01 am

Saint, you seriously let that thing run around your house?

She's cute and a lot of fun, but mostly she stays in her cage or locked in my daughter's room. We do let her run the house sometimes. Finding her can be tricky, because after running around like crazy she gets tired and takes a 10 hour nap and won't come out unless you find her and drag her out.

Malenko · « **Reply #36 on:** July 31, 2009, 12:49:21 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on July 31, 2009, 10:04:40 am

Somewhat off topic here, but saw that Buy.com was selling one of those modern NES/SNES consoles for $30 shipped... are these things licensed? Guess nobody cares now...

http://www.buy.com/prod/retro-duo-twin-video-game-system-nes-snes-silver-black/q/loc/108/210893765.html?adid=17992&dcaid=17992

AFAIK nintendo doesnt care about the hardware, its running their software they dont like. looks like that thing only runs retail games and doesnt have any built in. If I had any SNES or NES carts around Id order one

hypernova · « **Reply #37 on:** August 02, 2009, 11:40:48 am »

Quote from: pinballjim on July 31, 2009, 10:04:40 am

Somewhat off topic here, but saw that Buy.com was selling one of those modern NES/SNES consoles for $30 shipped... are these things licensed? Guess nobody cares now...

http://www.buy.com/prod/retro-duo-twin-video-game-system-nes-snes-silver-black/q/loc/108/210893765.html?adid=17992&dcaid=17992

Meh...no more off-topic than conversation about oversized and elongated rats.

Looks like that system has two glowing reviews. But only two reviews. It could use some more.

urbecrisch · « **Reply #38 on:** August 02, 2009, 10:16:10 pm »

No disrespect to your ferret Saint, but the coolest ferrets have to be Kodo & Podo from Beastmaster!

lordtodd75 · « **Reply #39 on:** August 04, 2009, 09:29:53 am »

Quote from: urbecrisch on August 02, 2009, 10:16:10 pm

No disrespect to your ferret Saint, but the coolest ferrets have to be Kodo & Podo from Beastmaster!

Man those bat guys freaked me out when I was a kid! Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, I ended up just paying the guy $20.00 for shipping and now I am waiting for my games

but now there is another issue. During this transaction the guy kept screwing up his paypal account (email address on paypal did not email address in ebay so I could not use ebay checkout) I would try to pay him and paypal would tell me his account was unregistered. Being that I was already a little suspicious about the whole thing I cancelled my payment. Two more times he told me the account was straightened out and two more times it was not. So I ended up cancelling the payment three times total. The fourth time everything went off without a hitch. The problem now is that ~~ebay~~ paypal has debited my checking account $1200.00 (4 x $300.00) and it is stuck in limbo somewhere. It says right there on the paypal web page that if you cancel a transaction it will still be taken out of your account and then returned to your paypal balance when the transaction clears. I am not upset that they took all of that money out. I am upset that it has been four days since they have and it is still in limbo somewhere. Does anyone know how long this process usually takes. Should I worry?

Edit: for errors


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