Got ripped off by a fellow canadian(updated)

[gers1968rt]

   I've had a bad experience I want to share, because I'm so upset about it. On oct 19 I made a deal to buy a hemi transmission from a guy in quebec. He had a good feedback even though it wasn't a lot of items, maybe 30 or so. We made all the arrangements and this included the fact he was going to use purolator. I paid him through paypal and 10 days later i emailed him asking if he sent it out yet. He replies back a couple of days later that, "what you haven't got it yet?" I double checked that the address I gave him was correct, and I emailed him a few more times, when he tells me that his dad brought the tranny to a cheaper courier in montreal. He wouldn't give me the name or number of the courier, and told me not to pressure him till he does more to find the tranny. I say ok, just keep me informed as to what you've done. Another 5 or six days go by, and I'm really getting a bad feeling about this one, so I file a complaint with paypal. This really gets him angry, but I proceed anyway. Through paypal he offers me half the value, to which I said no way, thinking I should get the full amount. I phoned a help line for paypal and that is when they tell me that the item was only covered for the amount of 315 dollars. I don't know how I overlooked this point, but they also told me they(paypal) would do everything in their power to get the full amount back. Looking back at his purchases, I find this same tranny was bought on oct. 1 this year, this is when I remember that the seller said that he had it rebuilt last year by Brewers. I emailed the guy who sold it on oct. 1 and he said he doesn't know anything about it being rebuilt last year, but that he went through it himself and rebuilt it.
  Christmas eve I get an email from paypay saying they awarded me the claim, and 315 dollars was deposited into my account. Merry Christmas, what a way to start the holidays.
  I have since emailed paypal, about who decides how much the coverage should be, they did not say. I just get a form letter saying that they understand why I would be upset, and that they would make the guy come up with the balance before he can use his paypal again. The item was number 200163126301 on ebay.
  I don't know whether he did not send it, or that the shipping company ripped him off, but either way I'm out the money.
  I just now had a call from paypal and they told me that the coverage amount is decided upon by ebay.The rep told me that this guy had no money in his account and that ebay paid me the 315 dollars. They promised that they will continue to pursue this matter.
  Sorry for the rant but if anyone can learn from this then it will be worth the anger and shame I feel. Gerry

[Troy]

Man that sucks...

I have nothing good to say about the "buyer protection" offered by Pay Pal. My roomate had a whole string of great transactions and was then burned twice in a row on high dollar items. Their response was basically "sorry to hear that - better luck next time". She tried to fight it through her credit card company who referred her to Pay Pal who referred her to her credit card company etc.

I also have nothing good to say about their fees once they sucker you into becoming "verified".

Troy

[69_500]

I've noticed that as well Troy. It seems that he amount of fee's per transaction has went up drastically ever since I went through the whole process of being verified.

[bakerhillpins]

Ebay bought PayPal something like a year or two ago. So that they can get you from both sides, buyer and seller. 

I use PayPal only when I have to, and when I do I ALWAYS pay with a CC. That way if a seller hoses me its CC fraud and I can use my CC company to resolve the dispute. Its worked for me in the past. Ok only once, and the value of the item was just under $100. In my case it was misrepresented goods and after I returned the item I never got a refund. But others I know do the same, for the same reason.

Never even bothered with PP. They are @#E#$% worthless when it comes to recovering anything.

If you paid through PP using your CC, gather all the digital paperwork you have and call your CC and start a dispute against the charge. You may be able to get the remaining funds.

Bryan

[Steve P.]

Yet another screw job.. 

Did you win the auction and pay through PayPal for both the item and the shipping?? If so they have a complete record of that. They have no excuse for only sending you 1/2 the cost. Paypal is self insured. They say up to $2000.00... When Paypal takes their chunk of cash for each transaction it should cover that transaction for the cost up to their printed $2000.00 limit.

Last spring I won a set of 11" backing plates. Paid for them through Paypal including the shipping. I had complained about the high cost of shipping in the beginning as well.   It took more than 2 weeks to receive them and when I saw the size of the box I knew they were ten inch.I opened the box and just as I thought they were ten inch plates. Also in the box was a bent up set of shock plates. (These were not even part of the auction).  He added them to make the package heavier. 

After emailing the seller and getting shit on in his reply, I took it up with Paypal. I made damn sure I had all my ducks in a row before writing them and then talking to them on the phone. I also waited to contact them until I saw he had someone Else's money coming in from another auction. Well,,, the guy from PP checked everything over very well and he was a car guy, so that helped as well. When all was said and done I had to send them all back, BUT PayPal paid me back everything including my shipping the crap back to him.

Here's the pisser. Paypal has a tab that they can open on every one of us using Evilbay and Paypal. Even if WE can't see some bad feedbacks, THEY DO. Many times people who deserve the WORST feedback possible don't get ANY. WHY, you ask. Because Ebay allows them the chance to slam you for turning them in. Most people don't want bad feedback so they don't slam those that deserve it.. BUT if Paypal has had a complaint, they can see it when they open that tab. Evidently the jerk that tried screwing me had other complaints. No bad feedback. Just complaints that PayPal handled and they took my word over his all the way...

Don't let it end here. You have to be relentless with them sometimes.

Good luck... 

[OttawaCharger]

Gerry,
the way I see it - he still owes you $1000.  His mistake was not checking the map.  Montreal is a 6 hour drive from your location.  Surely he has something you need and most people are not as arrogant when dealing in person.  Alternatively, I s'pose if you had some spare time you could run him through small claims court
http://www.justice.gouv.qc.ca/English/publications/generale/creance-a.htm#sue

[bandit67]

I bought a manual from a guy in Canada thru ebay. When I FINALLY did get it, it was not what I thought I was buying. I went back and looked at the add and the pix was what I had bought , but the description was not quite right........I mean misleading. BUT, the bottom line is , Let the buyer beware. My new bottom line , I will NEVER, NEVER  again buy from anybody from out of USA......they are different......

[OttawaCharger]

Lemme guess -> all the measurements in the manual were metric? 
I think that he'll have a hard one following your lead Bandit.  He is Canadian. 

[remta1]

yeah nail his ass in the small court ... or pay him a " social " visit 

[Shakey]

I bought a manual from a guy in Canada thru ebay. When I FINALLY did get it, it was not what I thought I was buying. I went back and looked at the add and the pix was what I had bought , but the description was not quite right........I mean misleading. BUT, the bottom line is , Let the buyer beware. My new bottom line , I will NEVER, NEVER  again buy from anybody from out of USA......they are different......

they are different

In what aspect are people that do not live in the United Staes different from the people that do?   

[gers1968rt]

You guys brought up some good points, I'll look into the credit card next. I've bought many things on ebay from guys in the usa and I've never been done over like this one, I love americans, but I use the term love loosely. I've thought about a friendly visit but I don't have the time to drive there. Small claims court might be something to look into too, but if I need to drive there then that will be difficult for me. Gerry

[70 Charger RT]

I will NEVER, NEVER  again buy from anybody from out of USA......they are different......

Yes I'm not in the USA, but I personally don't see a lot of differences between Americans and Canadians other than the country we live in.  I have an impecable ebay record and I do not rip people off no matter where they live.  I'm sure you'll agree that there are shady characters everywhere no matter if you live in the USA or Canada or tim-buk-too.

[OttawaCharger]

Small claims court might be something to look into too, but if I need to drive there then that will be difficult for me. Gerry

Gerry - look at that link I posted. 
Plaintiffs who live more than 80 km from the domicile of the defendant may file their statement of claim in the court for the judicial district in which they are domiciled or, if they are not domiciled in Québec, where they have their residence or business. The clerk will transmit the statement of claim to the clerk of the court chosen by the plaintiff.

Now what you're hoping for is that the guy will try to settle out of court.  A high possibility since he knows that you have all your documentation in order (emails, copy of the ebay add, etc.) and it would be pretty tough for him to win.

[Steve P.]

Absolutely... Every email. Every contact. Every document from Ebay. Every document from Paypal. I don't care if he wrote you back 2 words. EVERYTHING........  When the law sees that you have done everything you possibly can and you have your eggs all in one basket they tend to be more on your side even when you are NOT totallllly right. NOT SAYING YOU AREN'T.  Just making a point. 

[gers1968rt]

Today, I found out that the credit card company can't help me. I then went and obtained a small claims application. I asked Ebag to give me the full name and address of the "defendant". If they don't come through with this little bit of information I might be stymied. Gerry

[Charger-Bodie]

Today, I found out that the credit card company can't help me. I then went and obtained a small claims application. I asked Ebag to give me the full name and address of the "defendant". If they don't come through with this little bit of information I might be stymied. Gerry

you can get that info youreself thru the find contact info link.

[Ghoste]

Sorry to hear that. I've never had much luck with credit card companies either as far as the couple of times I've been at the losing end of a transaction that involved them.  Each time, unless I was able to come through with evidence that would have basically amounted to an admission of guilt from the other party, I was told that I was out of luck.
I hope you get yours straightened out.

[gers1968rt]

Ok, the contact info link got me his name and city, but not his middle name if he has one or his street address, which  I need for filing the claim.

[tecmopar]

I haven't read all of the responses but the only way Paypal can offer you less then what you paid is if the item was recieved but not what you expected. If the item was NOT recieved and the seller doesn't have proof of delivery, tracking # etc, then they must return all of your money, its in their own "terms of Agreement" and its what the 2000.00 buyer protection is all about. Something doesn't sound right here and if you paid X dollars and it was never recieved then they should give you the same in return. I've had this happen both ways in the past and was refunded my FULL amount, around 1500.00 and didn't have to give a refund on a different one of like 1200.00 because I had all the proof that it was delivered, this Pri*k was just straight out lying thinking he could get the item for free. Again, something is not right about this so get on Paypal's as* about it, good luck.

[firefighter3931]

You guys brought up some good points, I'll look into the credit card next. I've bought many things on ebay from guys in the usa and I've never been done over like this one, I love americans, but I use the term love loosely. I've thought about a friendly visit but I don't have the time to drive there. Small claims court might be something to look into too, but if I need to drive there then that will be difficult for me. Gerry

Gerry, i'm assuming you used a credit card with paypal ?

If that's the case then hound the credit card company.....tell them your business with them will be over ! Go to your bank and talk with the manager....tell them your mortgage & loans will be going bye-bye unless they fix this BS. Credit card companies charge big interest and they are self insured....you're paying for everyone elses screwups....don't let them get off on this. 


Another option would be to file a complaint with the local (montreal) police dept. This is a clear case of internet fraud and carries some heavy jail time. It worked for me in the past on an e-bay scammer....i was almost out 3k but the cops scared the piss outa the idiot and i had my money back pronto. 



Ron

[gers1968rt]

   Ok, when I first opened my paypal account, it was linked to my credit card. Then at some point, paypal required my bank account or I couldn't use paypal anymore. Everything worked smoothly and all my payments were debited out of my account. This is why the credit card company will not help me, because they have no record of the transaction. I could go to my bank and try that next.
   Ebag so far, will not give me his complete name or address. Without this information, a small claims can't be started.
   The transmission was purchased by 66stroker526 from a guy on ebay: hemidans on oct 1 2007, item no. 280157654439. If you notice, the paypal coverage for buyers protection was the full amount 2000 dollars. Interesting that ebay lowered the covered amount to 315 for the same item. Did they make a precedence and can I use this to further my cause? I cannot start a dispute with ebag because too much time has passed. Gerry

[Duey]

Gerry, like Ron says, it is in your bank's best interests to work with you on this.  If I read you right, the PP payment came direct out of your bank account?  There is still an e-trail of this.  Moving you banking to another institution is not something that your bank really wants to encourage.

If you still have issues, let me know and I'll get a hold of a friend in Ottawa Police Services to see what can be worked out between O.P.S. and MUC (Montreal Police) as an interagency co-operation thing.

Cheers,
Duey

p.s.  PM sent with an e-mail you can get a hold of me, if you need.

[gers1968rt]

hey Duey, thanks for that. This guy is from St-Paul-D'Abbotsford. It is a small community of around 2900 people, I don't yet know which police station has jurisdiction for this town. Gerry

[aussiemuscle]

i have a suggestion to everyone using a credit card over the internet if you are worried about them stealing your number. i set up a "no credit" card. I got a new account with a minimal balance; to this i linked a mastercard provided by my bank with a zero credit limit. If i don't have enough funds in this account, the transaction is rejected. if i buy something i first put that amount in the account. if someone steals my cc number, they won't be able to get more than the minimum amount (at the moment $10).    other than that, it works exactly like a normal credit card.

[gers1968rt]

Well, after a whole year the scumbag that ripped me off has a new ebay account but is selling the same transmission. I forwarded the info to the police, not that that will help, but here is the link for all of you. Stay away from this guy. Guy lives in Granby Quebec, if anyone is in that area, please let me know, I would love his address so I can start a small claims against him, name is Stephane Bisson. Thanks Gerry

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220338205536&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT&viewitem=