At what point do you file a Paypal Claim

i bought something here a while back...end of july from a member with positive feedback, and has been around a while...so i don't think it's a scam...but bottom line is:

i paid, asked for a tracking number when the item was shipped...he didn't ship it right away, then said he would ship on aug. 4th....i don't receive anything, so i contact him...it takes a few days for him to respond back on monday the 18th, saying he shipped it, and that the item should have gotten there, and will look for the tracking number. I email back asking which address he sent it to(i had given him two since i was going to be out of town for a bit) again, no response since 3 days ago...

again, i want to clarify that i don't think this person is a scammer, i contacted others that he had sold to, and everything went fine there...but obviously something's gone wrong here

i have no evidence that anything has actually been shipped, which i think is my main problem...the lack of communication is also making things frustrating...right now i just want to say F-it, and file a claim with paypal

what would you do?

I think three weeks is beyond reasonable. If I were you I'd enter the claim right now.

Opening a dispute, or whatever they call it, also freezes that amount of money in their PayPal account. Won't mean much to a small time, every-so-often seller, but if they happen to move lots of goods having those funds frozen will definitely get their attention,

Source: I opened a dispute due to some shenanigans and the seller immediately contacted me wanting to know the reason why (it was NOT the sellers fault). Once everything was cleared up, I withdrew dispute and the funds were released from the sellers account.

I sell alot on ebay (I know you bought here), but same principal once you take someone's money you have a responsibility to at least communicate what's going on, otherwise it will smell like a scam whether it is or isn't. I would follow through with paypal as mentioned, you've been more than patient. It will be resolved in your favor, paypal is very protective of buyers. You shouldn't wait to long, I'm not sure what the limits are.

Isn't there a 30 day time limit to file a claim? I wouldn't waste any more time.

J Michael wrote in post #17110466
Isn't there a 30 day time limit to file a claim? I wouldn't waste any more time.

I had to file one recently on a member who also had good feedback. In addition to the filing time limits there are a series of subsequent hoops to go through that have very specific requirements and each have very short time limits. "You have 36 hours to respond to this request..." Paypal is good to buyers that jump through the hoops and will place a "hold" on the account as well as grab the funds from the corresponding bank account if they are still there. The bottom line is that you can get your money or the goods but don't wait to file and watch your email closely.

There is also a 45 day limit on filing a PP claim, so I would get with it as it would definitely seem as though your seller is stalling for time - time to run out for YOU to file a claim that is.

File and then escalate as quickly as you can. If nothing else it will get the sellers undivided attention.

Once you file though - you want to either get your money back - refund by the seller - or wait out the process and PP will do that for you (especially in a non receipt case!) or get the item you paid for.

ONE CAVEAT - if you DO receive a package - try to get the delivery man to witness the opening and inspection of the item - photos are good here - video is better - including the witness and the package. If all is well and the item is as described then you can immediately drop the claim, but if it is significantly other than described follow on and get your money back.

Hillbille

I would also file a claim right now. The seller obviously can't be bothered with you. Even if something is going on in their life, it wasn't keeping them from accepting your money. Also, if you do get a tracking number, do NOT withdraw the claim. Make sure you get the item and that it is as described before you do so.

File now. It's not that difficult to provide a tracking number which the seller should have provided to you.

Whatever the outcome, this is one reason to not only keep track of positive feedback...

File it immediately and protect yourself. Three weeks is way too long for an item to be delivered unless this was agreed to prior to sale. Coupled with the lack of timely communication by the seller, what are you waiting for?

File it now. Is it possible the sellers account was hacked?

thanks everyone, so i did file a grievance...going to wait till he responds on paypal before filing a claim, or monday, which ever comes first.

also btw, you have 45 days from paying to file a grievance.

J Michael wrote in post #17110466
Isn't there a 30 day time limit to file a claim? I wouldn't waste any more time.

this.

Hillbille wrote in post #17110514
ONE CAVEAT - if you DO receive a package - try to get the delivery man to witness the opening and inspection of the item - photos are good here - video is better - including the witness and the package. If all is well and the item is as described then you can immediately drop the claim, but if it is significantly other than described follow on and get your money back.

Hillbille

I'll occasionally hear of people videotaping the opening of a package, or even a seller videotaping the entire process of wrapping up the package, driving to the USPS/FedEx/UPS, and handing it to the carrier. But I've *never* heard of PayPal using this evidence when a dispute arises. (I have read stories where this evidence existed but PayPal had no interest in it.)

Has anyone ever had eBay / PayPal use this type of evidence in a dispute?