Shipping problem with ebay buyer

[distinctive]

Someone on ebay bought 7 pairs of shoes from me for a total of around $1800. They were packed well and shipped out to Oregon with paypal tracking. Buyer opted out of insurance for $12.50. Buyer files complaint of non-receipt with paypal even though the tracking number clearly shows that item was delivered on the 7th. Buyer shows me pictures of a giant hole in the box and apparently 1 pair of John Lobb new in box shoes and 1 shoe of a pair of Santonis has escaped the box.

I don't feel responsible in any way because the buyer opted out of insurance. We talked on the phone and he seemed like a decent guy but he wants to "compromise" on the loss of the shoes.

The main problem here is that paypal put a hold on that money and I really could use it now. I'm also afraid (from past experience) that paypal will side with the buyer even with all of the facts of a clearly favored situation.

On a side note, I &^#$%^# hate paypal.

 

[mink31]

Did you get signature confirmation? (I know this isn't a "not received" claim, but having signature delivery gets you paypal seller protection.)

 

[distinctive]

no just delivery confirmation

 

[teddieriley]

If shoes were $1800 and insurance would have only cost you $12.50 (0.7% of the total), you should have paid for the insurance to protect yourself knowing what a pain ********** paypal is and the fact they usually side with the buyer.

Despite all the recent threads about dead-beat ebay buyers, I don't know why sellers just won't pay the insurance as additional cost of doing business, especially when, in this case it is less than 1% of the total you are protecting. It seems necessary dealing with complete strangers. If anything, you should just build insurance into the shipping cost above certain amounts so buyers don't have a choice.


I hope things work out for you. Good luck!

 

[mainy]

Originally Posted by distinctive

no just delivery confirmation

Then you are screwed, and paypal will give him ALL the money. You have to compromise with him, it's your only change to keep any of the cash. Is it fair? No. But PayPal is a total, complete joke.

 

[mainy]

Insurance doesn't matter. If the item is >$200, you HAVE to have signature confirmation or Paypal will automatically side with the buyer. They don't care what proof you have of delivery. No signature = they give the buyer all the funds.

 

[mose]

You are completely and utterly screwed and at the buyer's mercy.

Never, ever send anything over $250(or $200, can't remember) without signature confirmation. Delivery confirmation does not mean anything over that dollar amount. Paypal will not defend you at all because you violated their rules with how you completed the sale. You could be on the hook for the entire sale amount depending on how this plays out and will have no recourse.

Further, insurance is not to protect a buyer. It is to protect the seller. As a seller, you and you alone are responsible for ensuring an as-described product is delivered to the buyer. Any damage that occurs during transport is on you. Always include insurance cost in the shipping/handling. Cheap piece of mind.

Hate paypal, there is plenty to hate, but you did not do your homework and it will be costly.

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

If shoes were $1800 and insurance would have only cost you $12.50 (0.7% of the total), you should have paid for the insurance to protect yourself knowing what a pain ********** paypal is and the fact they usually side with the buyer.

Despite all the recent threads about dead-beat ebay buyers, I don't know why sellers just won't pay the insurance as additional cost of doing business, especially when, in this case it is less than 1% of the total you are protecting. It seems necessary dealing with complete strangers. If anything, you should just build insurance into the shipping cost above certain amounts so buyers don't have a choice.

+1

 

[mainy]

Of course, the funny part is, you could have sent only 1 pair of shoes, but as long as the buyer filed "not received" and you put signature confirmation on it, you'd get to keep his money.

BUT, if he filed "item not as described", he'd get to return them for a full refund. In which case, he could send YOU an empty box with a delivery confirmation label on it, keep the shoes, and get his money back. Yes, this has happened to me. What does PayPal say about it? "Tough luck.".

The loopholes are numerous, and terrifying if you are a seller. On Ebay today, as a seller, you are 100% completely at the mercy of your buyer.

 

[HomerJ]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

If shoes were $1800 and insurance would have only cost you $12.50 (0.7% of the total), you should have paid for the insurance to protect yourself knowing what a pain ********** paypal is and the fact they usually side with the buyer. Despite all the recent threads about dead-beat ebay buyers, I don't know why sellers just won't pay the insurance as additional cost of doing business, especially when, in this case it is less than 1% of the total you are protecting. It seems necessary dealing with complete strangers. If anything, you should just build insurance into the shipping cost above certain amounts so buyers don't have a choice. I hope things work out for you. Good luck!
I agree. Although insurance would actually be $7.45 for the first $600 then $0.95 per $100 so $18.85. Anyway that should've been paid and signature confirmation should've been required. I know, shoulds are not helping at this point but.. I think you'd better work with the buyer on a partial refund. He could take you for an $1800 ride if he felt like it.

 

[A Harris]

Further, insurance is not to protect a buyer. It is to protect the seller. As a seller, you and you alone are responsible for ensuring an as-described product is delivered to the buyer. Any damage that occurs during transport is on you.

Not necessarily, but in this case:

You are completely and utterly screwed and at the buyer's mercy.

Tread carefully. If you don't have signature confirmation then you have 0 protection through paypal on this one. Anything over $249 and delivery confirmation is useless, they treat the package like it was never delivered.

 

[magogian12345]

I'm curious, assuming "distintive" qualifies as a merchant, doesn't the UCC apply? If so, doesn't the UCC place the risk of loss on the buyer once the goods are in the hands of a common carrier (UPS)?

Or is the UCC irrelevant, because Paypal contracts around those default rules?

 

[NH_Clark]

sorry to hear about that David. I have to concur with the others.. try and work it out and get as much as you can.

 

[jetfight]

feel very sorry about it even though I am only a buyer ...

 

[mose]

Originally Posted by A Harris

Not necessarily

In ebay/paypal world i think my statement was accurate.

Originally Posted by magogian12345

Or is the UCC irrelevant, because Paypal contracts around those default rules?

I believe the use of ebay/paypal binds you to their user agreement.