posted on August 16, 2006 03:25:31 AM
Just finished up a nightmare with an international buyer from Germany. I sold a really nice vintage jewelry demi to an individual from Germany. I accepted Paypal payment thinking that the customs form would be proof of shipment if anything went wrong. Boy was I mistaken!!!
Buyer claims non-receipt and files with Paypal for a refund. I supplied the customs claim number which shows when item was shipped and accepted by USPS. I might as well have burned it for all the good it did me. Paypal ignored the form altogether, issued the buyer a full refund and then locked up my account for 2 weeks to review my selling practices.
I called and spoke with a Paypal representative who couldn't have been any less cooperative if she tried and was told that customs claim numbers do not count as proof of shipment so therefore as far as Paypal was concerned I didn't ship the item. I asked if there was any way to prove I shipped an item internationally and guess what - she didn't know!!! There's a shocker for you!!
Does anyone accept Paypal as a payment option on international sales and if so how do you protect yourself?
Also, has anyone else noticed that since ebay acquired Paypal that the communication and professionalism has gone down the tubes?
posted on August 16, 2006 04:58:43 AM
capolady-I take Paypal from overseas buyers and never had a problem.What I do is email a copy of the receipt I get from the post office like the one pictured below of the dvd I sent yesterday to Denmark. I do this for two reasons.1-I do it as a courtesy to show the customer Ive sent the dvd which has the date,time and destination.2-Although its no proof I actually sent it to them as all it states is Denmark and not the actual address, THEY might think its proof and I would be less likely to a scam artist.I dont know if this actually works,but I've never had a problem.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
posted on August 16, 2006 06:25:59 AM
That's a neat idea classic. That's actually probably the best new idea I've seen posted here in quite a long time.
Dr. Arcane, revelator of mystical secrets http://www.drarcane.com
Got questions about the secrets of the universe?
posted on August 16, 2006 07:09:28 AM
Yea DR-I also meant to mention it also shows the USPS number and a customs label number.With
customs label number on it,they may think I can track it to their address.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If you dont want to hear the truth....dont ask the question.
posted on August 16, 2006 07:11:02 AM
Classic Thanks for the idea... I ONLY accept paypal from overseas and have never had a problem... crossed fingers.... but from now on I WILL follow your lead. It would tend to cut any possible problem... fraud... off at the pass. capolady I am sorry to hear of your experience. I have never had a problem with paypal... crossed fingers again. So many times I have read about overseas shipments taking a vast LONGGGG time to reach the buyer. Maybe yours will arrive and you will get a note of apology and your money back... HEY we can always hope for honesty!
posted on August 16, 2006 07:40:32 AM
I accept PayPal from international buyers.
When using USPS to ship, I use either global priority mail or airmail letter post.
USPS offers one or more of these optional services for the above two categories of mail:
1. form 3817 Certificate of Mailing
2. Recorded Delivery
3. Registered Mail
The most expensive is Registered Mail at the rate of $7.95. Form 3817 is 95 cents. Recorded delivery is around $3.00. I don't know if these services are available to all countries.
Like Classic, I send a scan of the postal reciept showing date posted, destination, customs number and/or global priority number if applicable and email it to the buyer.
So far in 7 years of selling (knock on wood), no PayPal chargebacks with international buyers. I have not had to challenge or defend these USPS services to PayPal as proof of shipment.
posted on August 16, 2006 08:42:19 AM
capolady: I am very sorry that this has happened to you.
It is possible that the buyer isn't trying to run a scam and that he/she truly hasn't received the parcel yet (due to some postal service error or perhaps it could even be stuck in customs for some unknown reason).
I don't know if you have tried it or not, but you might wish to contact the German post office. You can find them at www.deutschepost.de/ When the site opens, it is in German, but on the upper right side, you can click for the English version of the site (look just under the magnifying glass).
They do offer shipment tracking on their site but I am not sure you'll be able to check on an international package shipped from the U.S. to Germany directly. You can, however, sent them an inquiry from the site and that is what I would recommend. Provide them with the customs form number, shipment date, name and address of the customer.
I don't know that it will help you, but I am sure that the custom's form would be scanned on their end and there's always a chance that they might be able to help locate the package (or confirm that it was, in fact delivered). This won't help with your Paypal claim, but you might be able to find out if your buyer was running a scam or if the package really hasn't made it to them.
Not sure if this helps at all, but best of luck. I hope you have many big sales to make up for this loss.
posted on August 16, 2006 12:05:33 PM
I've always taken PayPal internationally, although I state in my end-of-auction message that I prefer an international money order or concealed cash. Very few send cash; most use an M.O. No problems--yet.
posted on August 16, 2006 03:42:22 PM
capolady wrote: Does anyone accept Paypal as a payment option on international sales and if so how do you protect yourself?
No way would I endure the 'service' from Hell known as PayPal on an international sale. PayPal provides no (as in ZERO) protection on all international sale to/from here. Bank transfer, draft, deposit, money order or similar non-reversable payment only. Our 100% eBay feedback speaks volumes about our integrity and customer service.
German customers almost always pay us by BIC + IBAN since it's free to both parties and often same day credited to our € bank account.
posted on August 17, 2006 08:48:32 PM
No Mcjane the new bidpay is not like it use to be now they can do a charge back and bidpay takes it out of your checking account.
posted on August 18, 2006 05:22:13 AM
To qualify for PaYpal protection,you need to use online tracking provided by USPS EMS,Fed Exp Intl/UPS/DHL.
US customs form number would not do,neither is the USPS blue insurance form number.
In your case,you should have used USPS EMS.
