What would y'all do?

[David McLaughlin]

As posted on Rennlist:

Here's the story. I bought an engine lid off a gentleman on ebay a while
back. The lid itself turned out to be a little worse than described
(creative picture taking too) but it was fine for what I wanted it for. I
tried to pay this gentleman via PayPal but do to my error, it got bounced
back. PayPal then used my other account (which I had intended in the first
place) but according to my history at the time, it said cancelled. I
contacted the seller and told him I would resend the money, which I promptly
did.

Here's the problem. Paypal hadn't really cancelled the first payment, it was
just in limbo and now it says paid and PayPal has no record of it ever being
canceled. Now the seller has twice the money and hasn't returned my emails
after the first request.

Here's the question. What should I do now? I will contact Paypal again and
tell them what is happening, but I'm not expecting much. I have thought
about posting his name and email plus maybe address on Pelican and this
list, but I hate doing that. I am hopping he reads this (I am duplicating
this message on PP BBS) and will promptly send my money. Any thoughts?

BTW, My GT engine lid conversion is almost done. I can't wait to see the
finished product.



------------------
Dave
1970 914/6
1995 Golf GTI-VR6
1996 Passat TDI
djm914-6@mediaone.net

[paulhagedorn]

I would say that if Paypal doesn't do anything about it, and the guy is enough of an ass about the whole matter, leave his name up for flame bait. If he isn't a decent enough person to correct your mistake, then I say nail him to a cross. People like this need to learn proper etiquette. Also, I would perhaps get in touch with a lawyer just to ask his/her advice about the matter. It would probably cost more to actually hire a lawyer to get the money back than what you lost, but if you don't mind losing a little bit of money, then I would say do it on principle if you could actually win. Do you have a copy of the ebay auction? Try to find the old auction and save the page to your hard drive so you can use it as evidence of how much you were supposed to pay.

Paul

[echocanyons]

I'm afraid that Paypal is not going to be much help in this matter. They tell you to take care of everything through your bank.

I would leave it up to the seller to be honest enough to return the overpayment.

If he doesnt then I am sure that it would be a benefit to everyone, having his name so that no other respectible and unsuspecting Porsche person should be bilked buy this loser.

On the flip side Im sure if you didnt pay him he would give you Neg. feedback on eBay.

I would give him fare warning then proceed with action.

just a bit of free advice.

Kelly

[TimW]

If PayPal is a dead end, and the seller doesn’t have the decency to own up the obvious (that (s)he was paid twice), then I would like to know who the person is so I can avoid them.

While I’m not a proponent of flame bait because it doesn't exactly compel people to do the right thing, it would give you some satisfaction in knowing you’ve, how did Emilio Estaves (or was it Charley Sheen) put it in Men at Work: “...further aggravate an already intense situation.”

[David McLaughlin]

The main thing I am upset with is that he doesn'r reply back. I told me after my "request for money" that he would look into it, and that was it. It's not alot of money ($45) but with a growing family and an old Porsche to feed, any amount comes in handy. It's bad enough to pay one for a part that is worse than described, but to pay twice....

[epbrown]

Was the payment to Paypal via credit card or did they hit your bank account? Paypal is much more responsive to complaints if you use a credit card, since they could end up screwed on the deal if they release the funds to the seller while the CC Bank doesn't pay them. I recently got an $1125 charge back from them, when I discovered that a laptop I'd purchased on eBay had been sold to 4 other people in previous auctions (and yet, the guy had NO negative feedback).

Emanuel

------------------
Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people settle for the car." Chris Titus
1966 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow
1983 Porsche 911 SC Targa

[David McLaughlin]

Update:
I contacted Paypal. They are doing an official investigation into the mater. I also gave the seller another chance to reply to my emails in hopes to accomplish this like gentleman, but he again refused. So, I hope Paypal can do something for me.

In the mean time, I will warn all of you to stay away from any auction from "eclipse086" I have noticed that he has several other auctions going on, mostly of 944 parts. Also If anyone knows this person, can you PLEASE try to reason with him. It's only for $42, but that's money I could use for restoration parts (especially with a new baby on the way).

Again, I tried to do this right, but he gave me no other option. Below is the first email I recieved from him. I was suspicious about his request for bank transfers VS credit card PayPal transactions, now I know why.

"Please send $42 to:
James Hirsh
820 Sunset Dr
Lexington KY 40502

I also accept paypal from bank account and balance (no credit cards)

Thanks,
James "


Thanks for any help and all of the suggestions. BTW his email address is eclipse086@aol.com




------------------
Dave
1970 914/6
1995 Golf GTI-VR6
1996 Passat TDI
djm914-6@mediaone.net
http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/pmpre/pm.cgi?action=display&login=DJM914-6

[David McLaughlin]

Here are his other auctions (some new ones I haven't seen). From the looks of the pictures, He has a store or is selling parts he doesn't own yet.

http://cgi6.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewListedItems&userid=eclipse086

Any thoughts?