[singpilot]

John, My beef is also with PayPal. This is the latest scam..... sanctioned by PayPal.

Seller failed to deliver goods. I file for refund within the 45 days of close. An 'Official Investigation' starts with a demand / inquiry letter to the seller. The seller replies that all 3 of his sisters and a favourite dog died in a tragic catering truck explosion, and he is swamped with trying to find a new dog. He will get the stuff shipped. Meaning the ultimate put off. PayPal sends me a sweet letter that says the seller is a nice guy. That perhaps I should cut him some slack for the remaining 45 days of the inquiry period. I do. On the very last day of the inquiry period (3 months later) the seller sends me a panic email asking 'What was it I bought from him???' I reply with the auction numbers. Silence for a week.

Then a "Congratulations" letter from PayPal. They have proudly exclaimed that they are refunding $49. of my $97. payment. The money should be put in my PayPal account in a week or so. Of course, they are only refunding 60% of my payment (minus a $25. processing fee).

Fack. I figure WTH. It's something. Then it gets better.

Panic email from seller. He found my parts, and please verify the shipping address. I do. He says he ships, and sends PayPal a reply that he has shipped the stuff, and here is the tracking number (number is bogus). PayPal forwards this reply to me asking for input. I give it, in your face style.

2 weeks go by. PayPal emails and says I need to send refunded amount to seller in order for shipment to proceed. Get this. The refunded amount is the $49. (not yet funded to my PayPal), PLUS the $25. processing fee deducted from my unfunded 'award'.

I do the math. ASSuMing I get the $49. refund, I think I am only out the $25. and send the $49 plus the $25. cashiers' check to seller, of course (because the sellers' PayPal is suspended). 3 days later, parts arrive frieght C.O.D. PayPal sends a email saying they were unable to retrieve the $49. from the seller, so 'so solly, no refund'. Hmmmmm. No way to leave bad feedback because his eBay id is a goner.

Basically, I paid twice for the parts. Now, no more direct payments from my checking. Everything gets paid thru PayPal with a credit card. The credit card has protections that would have prevented this.

3 weeks later, this seller is back on eBay with an ID that is one letter different from the bogus one. No new id notice, clean feedback on the new id because it is not related to the old id.