Need Advice: I just got an Unpaid eBay Dispute notice

Writer11

Hi everyone,

I recently purchased two cards in separate eBay auctions: a 1980 Topps PSA 9 Dave Stieb rookie and a 1982 Topps PSA 9 George Bell rookie. The Stieb auction was finished on December 9 and I promptly mailed a US Postal Money Order on December 10 (I have the receipt from the money order). The Bell auction was finished on December 15 and the I promptly mailed a US Postal Money Order on December 16 (again I have the receipt). Now, the only reason I sent a money order is because I live in Canada and the dealer will not accept Paypal payments from Canadians. God knows spending that extra $4.95 on a money order hurts, especially when were talking about low-dollar cards like the Stieb and Bell. At any rate, today I got a note from the dealer who has started an "Unpaid Dispute" with me. First, the dealer has never contacted me previously about not receiving my money orders, so this caught me off guard. Secondly, I pride myself in paying promptly in every auction I participate in and have proof that I mailed the money orders the day after the auction finished.

I responded with my side of the story in the eBay dispute and provided all of the specifics, such as the money order #, the date it was mailed etc. I'm waiting for the dealer's response. This really irks me because if those money orders are lost in the mail what can I do?

The Stieb cost me $10 + $3.50 shipping + $4.95 for the frickin' money order.
The Bell cost me $6 + $3.50 shipping + $4.95 for the frickin' money order.

What would you do in this situation? Am I obligated to send out payment again? Which essentially means that I'm going to double my initial costs on these cards.

I've dealt with this seller before and had no problems, accept for the fact that the shipping is really slow. That is why I wasn't alarmed that I hadn't received the cards.

FYS

<< <i>Hi everyone,

I recently purchased two cards in separate eBay auctions: a 1980 Topps PSA 9 Dave Stieb rookie and a 1982 Topps PSA 9 George Bell rookie. The Stieb auction was finished on December 9 and I promptly mailed a US Postal Money Order on December 10 (I have the receipt from the money order). The Bell auction was finished on December 15 and the I promptly mailed a US Postal Money Order on December 16 (again I have the receipt). Now, the only reason I sent a money order is because I live in Canada and the dealer will not accept Paypal payments from Canadians. God knows spending that extra $4.95 on a money order hurts, especially when were talking about low-dollar cards like the Stieb and Bell. At any rate, today I got a note from the dealer who has started an "Unpaid Dispute" with me. First, the dealer has never contacted me previously about not receiving my money orders, so this caught me off guard. Secondly, I pride myself in paying promptly in every auction I participate in and have proof that I mailed the money orders the day after the auction finished.

I responded with my side of the story in the eBay dispute and provided all of the specifics, such as the money order #, the date it was mailed etc. I'm waiting for the dealer's response. This really irks me because if those money orders are lost in the mail what can I do?

The Stieb cost me $10 + $3.50 shipping + $4.95 for the frickin' money order.
The Bell cost me $6 + $3.50 shipping + $4.95 for the frickin' money order.

What would you do in this situation? Am I obligated to send out payment again? Which essentially means that I'm going to double my initial costs on these cards.

I've dealt with this seller before and had no problems, accept for the fact that the shipping is really slow. That is why I wasn't alarmed that I hadn't received the cards. >>



I believe you can cancel a money order, if it has not been cashed. There is a charge to do this, which may be as much as the original money order itself.

matrixbend247

did you contact the dealer directly about this dispute? it sounds like a phishing scam too me. did you have to give any personal info/passwords in order to solve the dispute? be careful. matrix

WinPitcher

Did you reply through "my ebay' ? or through an email?

and the dealer will not accept Paypal payments from Canadians

how is that possible? as long as paypal converts to us dollars(which they do) he has nothing to worry about.

Steve

halosfan

Regarding accepting Paypal from countries outside the U.S. Some sellers are very cautious as delivery confirmation is virtually non-existent for international mailings. I haven't had any issues with it (knock on wood).

phreakydancin

<< <i>as long as paypal converts to us dollars(which they do) he has nothing to worry about. >>

Not quite true. There are lots of dealers who won't accept PP from Canadians because packages sent north of the border cannot be tracked, so sellers feel vulnerable to scammers who could claim item not received.

envoy98

<< <i>

<< <i>as long as paypal converts to us dollars(which they do) he has nothing to worry about. >>

Not quite true. There are lots of dealers who won't accept PP from Canadians because packages sent north of the border cannot be tracked, so sellers feel vulnerable to scammers who could claim item not received. >>



Exactly.

I've had people email me and ask me if I could accept paypal and I usually check their feedback. If it's good, I'll take it. If not, I'm sorry, but send me a money order. Truth is, I've only had one problem with a Canadian buyer and it was justified. The package must have gotten hung up in customs, as it took almost 30 days to get to him. I've had plenty of other problems with HK, Taiwan, Singapore and Puerto Rico. I will not accept paypal from them. If only the USPS & Canadian postal service could figure out a way to track packages that didn't cost $18 (Global Express Priority). Not very cost effective on that $8 Wayne Gretzky insert...

As for the original poster's problem. I would make sure that the Unpaid Item dispute is showing up in my ebay. It will show up as a light yellow highlight under the auction. I filed them for a few of my auctions and all of them have this. There is also the "Dispute Console" on the bottom right under my ebay. Click on that and you'll see any unpaid item claims filed against you. if they don't show up there, then the other poster could be right...might be a phishing scam. If they do show up, that's good, but then you'll want to get in touch with the seller...probably via the dispute console so ebay has all the info at their disposal as well.

Best of luck.

-Josh

packCollector

even if they can be tracked , say you sent it fedex. paypal will still find for the buyer if there is a dispute. there is NO seller protection whatsoever

poppie

It could be that he started the dispute accidently. Ebay Prompts you do send what looks like a friendly reminder notice notice when someone is ie 20 days from the sale date. When used,you just activated a dispute and it shuts down the buyers bidding power until cured. I never use this notice for payments mailed, especially Canadian transactions as checks take anywhere from 3 to 33 days to arrive!

larryallen73

That sucks. Not sure about the answer but I would advise against paying $4.95 for a money order on a $10 card. There has got to be a better way!? Send cash with some sort of tracking? $4.95 seems like a lot. Sorry.

WinPitcher

Ok................well if he accepts paypal does he not have to accept paypal from everyone then?




I have used paypal when buying things from germany, the UK and Canada. The sellers all accepted it and I had no problem.

Bottom line here is I'd buy my Steib vard from someone else.


I also saw where the poster said he had dealt with the dealer b4.

what is the dealers problem then?

Steve

Writer11

Thank you to everyone for their advice on this. I appreciate it.

Well, the dispute unfortunately was not a fraud. It's real. I filed my response yesterday as soon as I received the UNPAID complaint and am waiting to hear back from the seller.

The whole thing threw me off because 1) I've never had an unpaid complaint 2) I have bought several items from the seller and even talked to them on the phone. They filed the complaint without even contacting me first.

I agree paying $4.95 for a money order on a $10 card is ridiculous, but it's not often that a Stieb PSA 9 rookie or George Bell PSA 9 rookie surface on eBay. I needed both cards for my goal of purchasing a PSA 9 or 10 rookie card from every player on the 1985 Blue Jays, so I was just happy to have them. If I get right down to it paying $3.50 shipping for each card was ridiculous as well.

I have all the evidence here that I sent the money orders the day after the auction ended, so there shouldn't be a problem, I don't think. I really don't want to pay for these cards twice -- that's my concern.

WinPitcher

Writer

these cards are from the same guy? if so why must you buy 2 MO then?

I apologise if you mentioned this b4.

Steve

onlyanumber

Not trying to say its right or anything, but when someone from Canada pays you with paypal, you usually lose more in fees to paypal. This may be another reason why that seller wouldn't accept Canadian paypal payments.

Writer11

Steve,

Thanks for your response. I had to purchase two separate money orders because they were two separate auctions that finished a week apart. But the items were from the same seller. So I mailed each money order separately, in each case the next day after the auction ended.

My qualm is not really to do with the seller not offering Paypal. That doesn't really bother me. My qualm is with the dealer opening an UNPAID dispute and the fact that I don't have the cards I bought.

WinPitcher

yeah that does blow.

sorry this is happening to you.

Steve

theo934

my advice is

In the future USE PAYPAL and PAY WITH CREDIT CARD!

cardinarky

From personal experiences buying items from Canada, Australia, etc., really there has not been sufficient time for the mail to get there.
I have had items, involving Canada, take over 2 months (60+ days) from the date of postal stamp cancellation, to package arrival.
The seller needs to "chill out" especially because he will not take credit cards.
There was a "Holiday" or two involved here also.

My God, the McDonalds drive-up window mentality of people today.
I want it, and I want it yesterday.