Should I go directly to PayPal for Refund rather than eBay?

Discussion in 'Marketplace Discussions' started by quicksrt, Feb 5, 2024.

  1. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I bought an electronics item on Dec. 26th. It arrived quickly about 4 or 5 days later. I turned it on and it was fine for one month. After 33 days it quit working, no signal running through it. I am going to reinstall my older unit and make sure that the failed unit has actually failed, but I am 99% sure right now. The new/used one appears dead - but after 30 days.

    Now I know ebay does 30 day refunds no problem (even if buyer does not accept returns). And they do 90 day refunds as well under many circumstances. But looking at eBay's buyer protection for refunds, it appears according them them I may be SOL.

    Coverage, eligibility requirements, and exclusions
    eBay Money Back Guarantee applies when:

    So if this is the criteria for getting a refund on an item after 30 days (not really that encouraging) , perhaps I should file directly with PayPal asking for refund, because their buyer protection appears stronger then eBay's, PP says 180 days. And I've been a great PP source of income with not many refunds or disputes.

    Also ebay makes some strange demand that their decision is the final one regardless if you open up a claim elsewhere after or at the same time. They also demand you do not open another claim elsewhere (cc company or PP)

    The buyer responded to my questions asking if there were any things I might try. I did not threaten them with a refund checkback. They might be sure nice and just give it to me when I ask.

    But I am figuring that PP is where I should go for the refund request rather than ebay since seller did not offer returns, and my case is none of the above, correct?

    I'm still hoping seller just issues refund when and if I ask.
     
  2. starbuck

    starbuck Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cloudy, UK
    Was the item purchased as being new or was it purchased as being used? Is the seller a private individual or a business seller who deals in whatever it is you purchased?
     
  3. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    Used item from a private seller that has other items in the category and some things is other categories. Why do you ask?

    I sent message asking for ideas on what could be the issue staring I was not yet ready to ask for refund. Meaning that I’m a reasonable buyer, willing to try.

    I think I’m going through PP as I don’t like the options above that eBay sets as reasons for buyer protections. My item I bought worked for 30 days and quit.

    If seller is expecting the pp case opened by a friendly buyer - I expect instant refund.
     
  4. somnar

    somnar Senior Member

    Location:
    NYC & Amsterdam
    Just looking at PayPal's site as it relates to this (PayPal Purchase Protection for Buyers | PayPal US ) and it seems to be more about deceptive/fraudulent practices than something that stops working a month or so later.

    Personally, I'd chalk something like this up to cost-of-doing business when buying used stuff. Don't get me wrong, all I buy is used gear (stereo, musical/recording gear, photo/video equipment, etc.) and every once in a while I catch a bad break and it's a real drag. But 30 day no questions return is still way better than the bad old days of cash and carry.

    Sounds like the seller is responsive - maybe they'd be willing to help shoulder the cost or repair?
     
    AaronW and Dave like this.
  5. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    The item was not that high priced. $107.00 plus $17 shipping. So I’m not a horror story for the seller. I think it should be their cost of doing business here.

    But then again 30 days of working fine means seller did not deliver a DOA item. Maybe I should ask for a 50% refund of the total payment, so we both take a smaller hit?
     
    Dave likes this.
  6. davmar77

    davmar77 I'd rather be drummin'...

    Location:
    clifton park,ny
    First thing I would do is contact the seller. You might be pleasantly surprised by their response. Maybe it won't turn out well buy that seems like the proper starting point. I can't tell from your posts if you've done that yet.
     
  7. starbuck

    starbuck Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cloudy, UK
    Business sellers have a greater responsibility regarding providing a warranty irrespective of whether something is used or if a listing states 'no returns'. I believe in the USA this is referred to as "Implied Warranty Of Merchantability", though doesn't apply in your case as the seller is a private seller and not subject to the same rules when selling used items. I am not sure under what area of the Paypal purchase protection you're wanting to make a claim, I haven't used Paypal in a while but I thought that they only provide cover for items that are not supplied, or arrive and are not as described by a seller when they arrive. That doesn't seem to apply in your case, unfortunately, given that it arrived and was as described when it did arrive, only failing after 33 days after you started using it.
     
  8. somnar

    somnar Senior Member

    Location:
    NYC & Amsterdam
    Oh, I assumed it was a big ticket item...

    Look, the rules are pretty clear. 30 day return for any reason per eBay. Unfortunately, it stopped working after so you're out of luck there. PayPal states clearly they cover for deceptive/fraudulent. This is neither.

    When you buy on used, you assume risk. You're buying something that may break at any moment. That you have the 30 day eBay window is a great thing but after that you're on your own (and, of course, by selling on eBay, the seller takes the risk that the item will keep on working for that period - that's the risk they take).

    Of course no harm in asking but any strong-arming beyond that seems like sour grapes and really not playing by the rules. If you were the seller, would you refund the buyer?
     
    Dubmart likes this.
  9. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    PayPal has 180 days to request return for refund. That is in their terms you may not have read.
     
  10. quicksrt

    quicksrt Senior Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Los Angeles
    I contacted them. They were nice and asked me to check out a few suggestions. I’d already performed them.
     
  11. 4-2-7

    4-2-7 Forum Resident

    Location:
    SF Peninsula
    How come you're not saying what you bought?
    When buying used equipment there really is no guarantee how long it will work. Putting a 50 year old unit into service daily after it's been sitting and stored for the last 35 years, it working for 30 days is almost a good thing. Not saying this is your case because you are being vague and not telling us anything, but you did say it was working for over 30 days. How long do you feel someone selling you used equipment is liable for it?
     
    AaronW and somnar like this.
  12. starbuck

    starbuck Forum Resident

    Location:
    Cloudy, UK
    Paypal give you 180 days to open a claim under the terms of their buyer purchase protection, which provides cover against an item not arriving or an item arriving and being significantly different from how it was described, it doesn't give you 180 days to return an item for a refund for any reason. You've already stated it arrived as it was sold and that it failed after 33 days of use, rather than it not working when it arrived. From the link to Paypal's website posted above: "If you don't receive the item that you ordered, or it shows up significantly different from its description, you may qualify for Purchase Protection". A relevant part of that summary of cover is the "or it shows up significantly different from its descritpion", which in your case is not true because from what you've stated it did show up as it was described, though unfortunately failed after 33 days of use after it arrived.

    You appear to be misinterpeting what you're entitled to claim for under either ebay or Paypal's buyer protection programmes. In answer to the question posed in your thread title: I don't think you should go to either for a refund as it is just bad luck in this instance and not, in my opinion, something you should automatically expect a refund for.
     
    Dubmart, AaronW and somnar like this.
  13. eddiel

    eddiel Senior Member

    Location:
    Toronto, Canada
    I think trying to work this out with the seller before a PP claim is probably the best option here. Do you know if it can be repaired easily?

    Although PP does give you 180 days they'll also require you to return it to the seller at your cost.
     
    Dave likes this.
  14. somnar

    somnar Senior Member

    Location:
    NYC & Amsterdam
    Exactly.
     

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