[RandyL712]

Short scenario on my blunder:


Having completed literally 100 online purchases from folks, (on message boards, EBAY, etc) and never gotten burned, I bought a 30 Hour Panasonic from a guy in Tampa, Fla for $325. He advertised on www.remotecentral.com and we emailed for a few days. I paid him with Paypal and then he emailed me 3 days later saying "It hasn't gone out yet, Fed Ex didn't pick it up". Well, that was Sept 19.


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE - help me pressure the guy to right his wrong. His email is [email protected] His name is William Godek. He lives in Tampa, Florida, and his phone numbers WERE 813-964-0000 and (813) 908 - 9577. (Both are now disconnected).


I know I'm asking for a lot. The police won't do anything and PayPal won't give up his info without their intervention.


PLEASE - email him and request, nicely or otherwise, to make good on the deal or return my money using paypal. I was stupid to pay him, but he's a criminal to steal my money.


Thank you all in advance. I'd love to have him get 100 emails - it may make him realize how wrong he is and how upset I am.

 

[RandyL712]

Just bringing this to the top. Thanks!

 

[kcl]

This is the reason I tied a credit card to my Pay-Pal account. If you did the same, I think you can contest the transaction and let Visa/Mastercard/Amex fight the battle.


------------------

Ken

 

[RandyL712]

Ken,


It's a moot point because your credit card will always side with PayPal. Thanks for the effort though ... I'm so pissed about this!

 

[RandyL712]

No - those are escrow services, PayPal is just an alternative to sending a money order (common for online deals). Basically it's instant payment. I hope everyone is emailing the jerk! And if anyone lives near Tampa, PLEASE EMAIL ME - I have a special mission for you http://www.avsforum.com/ubb/smile.gif

 

[kcl]

Quote:

Originally posted by RandyL712: No - those are escrow services, PayPal is just an alternative to sending a money order (common for online deals). Basically it's instant payment.

Hey, RandyL712. I just finished watching the PBS "Net Cafe" show that my Replay automatically recorded from last Sat night, and they were showcasing PayPal as a payment system. According to what I heard, you may be protected by PayPal themselves!


Quoting from their representative regarding consumer protection: "We also not only protect your account data and information, we protect your purchases. So, if you buy something from anyone with an x.com acccount who has been verified through our proprietary verification system, we will guarantee your purchase against fraud." And also, "Its basically an additional protection on top of that which you would get with just a credit card."


I suggest that you contact PayPal and see if they can help you. Even if there is some technical "out" (like it wasn't "officially verified"), I'll bet that they're still at the stage where they'll bend over backwards to protect customers against bad experiences.


------------------

Ken

 

[Michael Gwynn]

Good luck, man.


I've been luckier than I deserve in online transactions. I bought some xenon headlight bulbs last month from Jimmy Wu, paid by PayPal. If you hang around the Euro import forums, you've seen his wares a 100 times. Didn't think they were as bright as I needed, so I emailed him and returned them. He MAILED me a cashier's check for $120, the full price, and 5 bucks cash for my shipping charges.


Imagine that!

 

[gbuskirk]

With over 70 eBay transactions, I've never been ripped off. Some items weren't described very well, but I took a gamble on them and lost.


Twice I almost didn't receive my items after payment was made. I think the sellers were kids both times. I persisted in asking for tracking numbers for the shipment. I discussed my legal options with the sellers by e-mail. They had both insisted on payment by money order, so the post office was involved, and I dropped the phrase "mail fraud". I verified that the money orders had been cashed. I identified the owner of the residence that payment was shipped to, and sent him a letter disguised as a birthday card (to prevent interception), and discussed with the owner (presumably a parent) the transaction that was negotiated, that an eBay auction was a legal contract, and the importance of teaching good character to youth. I persisted even though both items were less than $30.00, because I enjoy buying and selling on eBay and I didn't want my confidence in it's honor system to be destroyed. It's still relatively intact. Good luck in reaching a successful outcome!


------------------

The Other Glenn

 

[RandyL712]

A few points to those interested:


1) PayPal doesn't offer insurance unless a seller is "verified" (which means they've inputted their bank account, and verified deposits made by PayPal to that account). Frankly, most people won't do this unless they use the service often (as I do).


2) Anyone know if I can sue him in MY state? Or do I have to sue him in HIS state?


3) If you can prove FRAUD in a civil suit, you're liable for up to 3x the actual damage (plus punitive damages if you get a good judge). The problem for me is getting a legitimate address/phone for the guy.