The Ebay Thread

[kanding]

Please, if you're reading this, I need your advice. It will be very much appreciated. Here's the story:

You bid on and win a saddle for $1,100 on ebay. It takes you some time to set up an account with Paypal and that puts you over the payment deadline, but OK, that doesn't turn out to be a problem. Your payment goes through and the saddle is shipped out to you. You're happy with the item and all is well.

About a month after you get the saddle the payment is returned to your account. The seller writes and explains that she had a problem with her Paypal account and the money was sent back. She apologizes and asks you to repay by personal check to be sent to her address. You've got the item, you've got the $1,100: What should you do?

Thanks for your input on this!

[topher]

Do you really have to ask? It would be a breach of contract.

[jennipoo]

The karma alone would be a bitch. Nevermind the guilt I would feel.

[dnt]

I wouldn't send a personal check, I'd send a money order because the person sent you a product that you're happy with and hasn't been able to get payment for it, even though it's not your fault. And I just don't like writing checks.

[pepper67]

What should you do?

Pay up. PayPal screw up lots of times (they're run by eBay - so no surprise on that one), and it's not the seller's fault that they messed up her account. If you don't want to send a personal check, like DNT says, send a money order.

Also, the seller was nice enough to wait and not be unpleasant about you keeping her waiting for the money while you set up your PayPal account. Do you really want to screw her over, especially to the tune of $1,100?

[Oxynia]

I think you definitely need to pay up. Money order or cashier's check would be the best way, you're not obligated to use a personal check because you weren't limited to that option in the beginning. But, I would add that if you have to pay a fee for a money order etc., you should be able to deduct that from your purchase price because it's an extra cost to you that wasn't your fault in the first place...I would run that by the seller first, though. Good luck!

[kanding]

Thanks everyone, really. I should mention that I'm the seller. I just wanted to put the story as much in her (the buyer's) perspective as possible.

I've really got myself in knots over this because I learned that the money went back a week ago and I've sent three messages to the seller with no response. She knows I live overseas (the item was offered on ebay/US and my bank is in the States also), so I'm not sure what to think. Is she playing me because she knows I really don't have much recourse? Should I give her more time to respond? I've given up (and it didn't take long to figure this out) on asking Paypal for help.

The only thing I've been able to do so far is look up her phone number (Her e-mail address is through her university). I feel stalkerish, but I'm not sure what else I can do at this point. I have enlisted my sister's help (She lives in the States) and she's willing to make calls for me.

Maybe I've been living in la-la land too long, but it's very hard for me to accept that this woman plans on keeping both the item and the money. She seemed so nice when we were exchanging messages about payment and shipping!

Buy I reeeeeeeally need this money. It's a lot, a whole lot, to me and I've got some pretty steep vet bills I had planned on paying off with the money from selling this saddle.

Again, thank you so much. If you all know that you wouldn't hold back on paying, I like to think that there's a good chance that the buyer truly feels the same way.

[jennipoo]

Kanding...the M. Night Shamalamadingdong of CPMCoG.

[topher]

Where does she live? We can organize a little visit for her.

[kanding]

Boy, let me put you in touch with my sister. She's just about ready to go crowbar on this woman.

But I'm sure this buyer is going to come around. She is. She will. Right?

O/T: You know, I've never seen one of M. Whatisname Shamalamadingdong's movies. Are they any good? (Does the person get paid in the end?)