| I think that for the many online shoppers | | | | The process did extend itself over 4 weeks |
| that have Paypal accounts, few are aware of | | | | mainly because the seller was slow to |
| all the benefits that their accounts allow | | | | respond. I was asked by Paypal's resolution |
| them to enjoy. One of the benefits is their | | | | center to provide a copy from an authorized |
| buyer protection program that includes the | | | | repair center own evaluation report. This |
| dispute resolution tool designed to resolve | | | | consisted of returning to the resolution |
| problem transactions. | | | | center a faxed copy of the repair centers |
| | | | work order outlining the needed repairs. Once |
| Having recently been part of an auction sale | | | | all the steps where taken to evaluate the |
| that turned bad and not being able to resolve | | | | discrepancies the resolution center were |
| the issue with the seller, I turned to Paypal | | | | quick to resolve the issue and in this case |
| for help. My issue revolved around a used | | | | decided in my favor. Once the unit was |
| piece of electronic equipment I had won on a | | | | shipped back, at my cost and received by the |
| popular auction. Turned out on receiving the | | | | buyer, Paypal was prompt in returning the |
| unit I noticed that many functions were not | | | | funds to my account. |
| operational with this unit and there were | | | | |
| some cosmetic flaws that were purposely | | | | Paypal refunded me the Purchas price with the |
| hidden on the listings pictures of the unit. | | | | exception of the shipping charges including |
| The unit was listed as flawless both | | | | the return shipping charges that I had to |
| functionally and esthetically. The sellers | | | | bear in order to return the unit to the |
| refused to recognize that his listing was | | | | seller, to comply with the resolution |
| miss-leading and that the product did not | | | | center's final requirement. |
| respect the listing rules even accusing me of | | | | |
| damaging the equipment as his only defense. | | | | For most part online auctions end with |
| | | | successful transactions, but I know from |
| Looking over Paypal's buyer protection | | | | reading blogs there are some horror stories |
| program I discovered buyers are protected for | | | | about online auction frauds. In most cases |
| a total $1250 for a possible 3 claims per | | | | frauds occur when unprotected payment methods |
| year. The dispute resolution service will | | | | are used like money transfers or cash |
| protect the buyers in two ways; | | | | payments. It pays to know the advantages and |
| | | | disadvantages of each payment protection |
| - The non reception of products. | | | | mechanism offered buyers, and never, never |
| | | | transfer funds or send cash or even checks. |
| - For products that are not as described. | | | | Knowing how each payment methods protects |
| | | | you, be it paypal or credit cards, helps you |
| This covers quite an array of possible scams | | | | understand when you are protected and when |
| and in my case I was able to prove that there | | | | you are exposed to fraud. This will go a long |
| were discrepancies between the listed product | | | | way to help you anticipate frauders and enjoy |
| and the received product. | | | | online buying with peace of mind, knowing if |
| | | | things go wrong your protected. |