Seller says that Paypal is holding my payment for 21 days...

[izarate]

My suggestions? DO NOT USE the same ID you use to buy to post there. Use a new, fake one, else you will feel the wrath of cry baby sellers and their BBL threats.

Ok, will do.



I'm just a little upset by the situation because he didn't warn me about this. I mean the "Domestic handling time" states that he ships after clearing the payment...but every other seller has that.

I mean what about a note on the listing stating that international buyers will have to wait 21 days due to that? Besides, does he make US residents wait that long too? He has to actually ship the product to get the tracking number, doesn't he? That would violate his "ship after payment clears" policy, isn't it?

I would understand if I had recent negatives or something but my record is absolutely clean. 100% straight positives in over 4 years. Paid right in the same minute he sent the invoice (no joking, got invoice at 12:16, Paypal payment email gets to my inbox at 12:16 too). I don't know if I set some red flags or something.

[jb143]

Isn't the reason the funds are being held to make sure that you recieve the item before he'd be able to take the money and run? Just in case you'd need to file a claim? Seems like some goofy loop hole you two are stuck in to me.

[Scissors]

The payment has cleared, it's just on hold. The seller is not allowed to make you wait 21 days for the payment to be released. From the Selling Practices Policy:

If PayPal places a temporary hold on payment received for an item you sold, you're not allowed to hold shipment, pending the release of those funds (after 21 days)

As others have said, he's also not allowed to request positive feedback before shipping, that's feedback extortion.

Edit: Here's a link to the Selling Practices Policy:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/...practices.html

[ryborg]

Sellers on the Ebay Message Boards...well...they might want to eat you alive.

The official ebay messages boards are absolute garbage. I wouldn't go there for anything. They're so biased and hateful, it's not even fun to troll there.

The payment has cleared, it's just on hold. The seller is not allowed to make you wait 21 days for the payment to be released. From the Selling Practices Policy:

Nice. I've never seen that written before. I'd report this guy ASAP with the link Scissors posted. The 21-day hold policy is still one of ebay's worst ideas and it only causes sellers to try to pull stuff like this.

[mobiusclimber]

Thank you. Some of the misinformation spread around here is ridiculous. If you don't know what you're talking about, don't post.

Yeah, it looks like he's not violating any ebay policies or anything. I guess you're just going to have to wait and hope for the best.

As others have said, he's also not allowed to request positive feedback before shipping, that's feedback extortion.

Edit: Here's a link to the Selling Practices Policy:

http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/...practices.html

Um, yeah. *cough*

[Zthun]

Ok, will do.
I'm just a little upset by the situation because he didn't warn me about this. I mean the "Domestic handling time" states that he ships after clearing the payment...but every other seller has that.

I mean what about a note on the listing stating that international buyers will have to wait 21 days due to that? Besides, does he make US residents wait that long too? He has to actually ship the product to get the tracking number, doesn't he? That would violate his "ship after payment clears" policy, isn't it?

I would understand if I had recent negatives or something but my record is absolutely clean. 100% straight positives in over 4 years. Paid right in the same minute he sent the invoice (no joking, got invoice at 12:16, Paypal payment email gets to my inbox at 12:16 too). I don't know if I set some red flags or something.

You need to understand that ebay is a buyers market. It doesn't matter what the seller's policy is. It is paypal that has the final say. And even you have the power to get your money back by any means necessary. Here's the policy every seller has regardless of whether or not they want it:

1. The seller has a 45 day return policy. Paypal will believe a lie about an item not described claim, and if you don't want to lie, you can do a chargeback or a bank reversal to get your money back. Just make sure you ship the items back if you do.
2. The seller will ship internationally unless they block international buyers.
3. The seller has 14 days to ship the item. If you have not received your item by 14 days, you may open up a paypal claim for item not received.

My suggestion is to not contact the seller anymore, and just wait to see if he ships your item. If he doesn't ship it by 16 days and is still ignoring you, then you file a claim with paypal for item not received. You will win since international shipping has no tracking (hence why I personally block international buyers on my seller account). If you then receive the item after, it is your choice whether or not to refund the seller.

[ryborg]

3. The seller has 14 days to ship the item. If you have not received your item by 14 days, you may open up a paypal claim for item not received.

You don't even need to wait that long. I've had buyers who thought they were "sticking it to me" by paying then IMMEDIATELY filing a dispute.

[izarate]

I mean what about a note on the listing stating that international buyers will have to wait 21 days due to that? Besides, does he make US residents wait that long too? He has to actually ship the product to get the tracking number, doesn't he? That would violate his "ship after payment clears" policy, isn't it?
.

OMG!!! He actually asks US buyers to do the same. From his feedback:

Was told to leave feedback before item would be shipped - US user
Shipping still pending, but great communication with the seller - US user
Fast Communication. Looking forward to item arrival. Good luck with paypal man - Australian user
Seller contacted me said he wouldnt ship till he recieved positive feedback - US user

It seems that he doesn't have every item on hand since in some replies he says that he's going to ship as soon as new stock arrives.

mmm... what to do? I really really want the item... I think I'll wait the 21 days but I'll make sure that the seller has the item. If he doesn't I'll ask for a refund. Priority Mail takes about 1 week to get to me so if I file a complain by the 30th day I should be safe, right?

[rik1138]

mmm... what to do? I really really want the item... I think I'll wait the 21 days but I'll make sure that the seller has the item. If he doesn't I'll ask for a refund. Priority Mail takes about 1 week to get to me so if I file a complain by the 30th day I should be safe, right?

I think PayPal does this on accounts that they 'aren't sure about' or that are selling a lot of things in high-crime categories (of which I believe games is one of the highest). He's not _supposed_ to hold the item until it clears...

I'd wait the 21 days and ask him to provide some proof of shipping immediately.

But, NO MATTER WHAT, file a PayPal claim before it's too late (45 days I think, or is it 30 now?) I don't care if he sent you a video of him taking it to the post office and handing it over, if you don't have it by the claim cutoff, file the claim. When the package arrives, you can cancel it, no harm done. If you wait, and the package never arrives, you are screwed...

[mobiusclimber]

Here's a delicious helping of copy-pasta:

Question :
How can I avoid having my payments held for eBay items?

Answer :
There are some things you can do to avoid a payment hold:

* Improve your Detailed Seller Rating (DSR) feedback rating
* Follow the PayPal best practices to reduce buyer disputes, claims and chargebacks
* Resolve all disputes, claims, and chargebacks quickly

If you meet the following, you'll receive payments instantly in most cases:

* You have been an eBay member for 6 months or more, AND
* Your eBay feedback score is 100 or greater
* Your buyer dissatisfaction rate is less than 5%.

Or

* Your Detailed Seller Rating is 4.5 or more.
* Your total Detailed Seller Ratings received is more than 20 in the last 12 months.
* Your buyer dissatisfaction rate is less than 5%.

These requirements are per individual eBay account. If you don't meet this criteria yet, we recommend that you implement best practices to reduce buyer disputes, claims and chargebacks.

I would say it's b/c he sucks as a seller.

[eday_2010]

I've had Paypal hold payments on stuff I sold last year. About three of them. One or two were eChecks, at least one post-dated. I didn't ship the items until they cleared. Why would I send the item and risk the payment not clearing? Then I am screwed.

So it is almost certain that Paypal is holding the payment. And as a buyer, I wouldn't exect the seller to ship before the payment is cleared. But as far as asking for positive feedback before shipping, that is B.S. I would report that right away.

[izarate]

So it is almost certain that Paypal is holding the payment. And as a buyer, I wouldn't exect the seller to ship before the payment is cleared. But as far as asking for positive feedback before shipping, that is B.S. I would report that right away.

I paid with a credit card linked to my paypal account. The card has been on file since I signed up on Paypal. Would Paypal still hold the payment?

[eday_2010]

No clue. It could be just a random thing. It is Paypal, afterall. Some of the things they do do not make much sense.

[izarate]

I would say it's b/c he sucks as a seller.

I've already posted his stats and they seem to be fine. I don't even think he gets his funds on hold. In fact I'm thinking that he doesn't have a live stock but orders the items as needed.

Lots of his feedback mention that shipping took two weeks so maybe the 21 day thing works as a buffer for him.



EDIT: I'm planning to send the following message to him. What do you think? I don't want to sound threatening but I want him to know that I know that he isn't allowed to do that.

Hi, I've inquired about the issue you mention but according to eBay (http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/....html#handling) there is no reason to hold the shipment and asking for positive feedback before the shipment takes place is prohibited (http://pages.ebay.com/help/policies/...extortion.html).

You say that your payment policy states that you "do not ship [...] until payment has been confirmed" but the auction doesn't mention that except in the "Domestic handling time" part: "Will usually ship within 1 business day of receiving cleared payment." But the payment has been cleared, it's just on hold which is different.

Look, I really want the items, I don't want this deal to go sour. Why don't you just ship the items? Priority Mail takes about 1 week to Mexico, 2 weeks tops. That is less than the 21 days that you're asking me to wait and you'll have your feedback sooner. See my feedback, I'm not out to rip off anyone. Please answer back. Take care.

[Cornelius]

I've already posted his stats and they seem to be fine. I don't even think he gets his funds on hold. In fact I'm thinking that he doesn't have a live stock but orders the items as needed.

Lots of his feedback mention that shipping took two weeks so maybe the 21 day thing works as a buffer for him.



EDIT: I'm planning to send the following message to him. What do you think? I don't want to sound threatening but I want him to know that I know that he isn't allowed to do that.

Your email reads pretty well to me except for the "Why don't you just ship?" part. That sends a bad vibe to me for some reason. Also, referencing feedback is almost completely pointless now as a buyer.

[izarate]

Your email reads pretty well to me except for the "Why don't you just ship?" part. That sends a bad vibe to me for some reason. Also, referencing feedback is almost completely pointless now as a buyer.

Thank you for your input. I removed that line and streamlined the rest.

Anyway, it's been 4 days and the seller hasn't answered back. I guess I'll file a claim in about a week or so.