Question
Yesterday DH won something on eBay. The seller has 130, 100% positive feedback, and stated in his listing that he takes PayPal. About 15 minutes after it ended I paid thru PayPal. About 3 hours later I get email from seller stating, "need to up date you , may email has changed also paypal payment has changed to xxxxx Sorry for any confusion." So I email him and tell him I've already sent payment and did he get the money or did I need to stop that payment and resend to new account. He emailed back, no he didn't get it and to resend. I go to PayPal, cancel first payment and tried to send using his new email address. PayPal stated that it was an unregistered address. So I didn't complete that payment and emailed the seller back and informed him of this and asked for his mailing address so I could just send a check. He sent me his mailing address and never mentioned a word about why he didn't have a PayPal account under his new email address.
I really want to pay thru PayPal with my credit card. My question is isn't there a rule about using having a valid account if your listing states that you take PayPal. If his listing hadn't stated PayPal, DH wouldn't have bid on it. Any advise would be appreciated.
Answer
I would just email the seller and tell them --calmly and emotionlessly-- that, as advertised in his auction, you have decided to pay via Paypal. And WOULD THEY PLEASE SEND YOU AN INVOICE from the Paypal account so that you can do so.
By having them send the invoice, you assure yourself of getting a valid account to pay.
I would send the message thru the ebay message system, just to make sure
it was going to the registered email of the seller.... just in case this is some sort of scam by someone trying to steal the payment. Unlikely, but not unheard of.
Answer
They probably forgot to add the new ID to their PayPal account. Also, since you already told them you were going to mail a check this has the opportunity of getting more confused and a mess. Take a deep breath and word your e-mails carefully so there is no mis understanding of what it is you want to do. Sounds to me like they were trying to accomodate your request to send a check. Good Luck.
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Thanks! I never thought of asking for an invoice thru his PP acct. Just emailed him just like you suggested. Thanks again!, Bobbie
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Was the change in address email from the seller sent to you through ebay? Or at least from the email address that is listed on ebay?
I think Larry's advice is good. I think I might to send a message to the email address that you got with the end of auction notice with a copy to the other address(es?) you've been given and a copy through the ebay system. In that message I would outline the history of what happened from your viewpoint and then reiterate that you'd like to pay via paypal.
I do think Laura is right that they probably forgot to or don't know how to add their new email address to their paypal acct. You might offer to walk them through it?
Elaine
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I'd make certain that the emails to the seller and FROM the seller went through eBay's MyeBay communication area. I'd ask the seller to confirm the new PayPal ID via eBay communications. Sending a PayPal invoice verifies they at least set up an account. But it doesn't tie it to your eBay auction unless they choose that option.
My concern would be the scammer attempting to hijack a payment duplicate to be sent to them instead of the seller by emailing you and asking for a different email ID be PayPal'd instead of the seller's. And I agree, no emotions, just matter of fact, and mention you want to protect both the seller and yourself.
I'd be wanting to see a "hey, wait a minute, that's not my account" email from the seller. If one of those shows up, I'd rush to cancel the payment.
Answer
Originally Posted by chilly
I email him and tell him I've already sent payment and did he get the money or did I need to stop that payment and resend to new account. He emailed back, no he didn't get it and to resend.
I would have stopped right there and contacted paypal asking why this payment you sent has not arrived in seller's account?
Then I would have stopped payment while I wait for paypal response. I would always use the paypal account linked to the ebay account unless notified before not to.
The whole point of paypal is to make it easy with no confusion. If the seller wishes to change or add an email address to their paypay account, that is fine, and takes about 5 seconds to do. It should not keep them from receiving your payment ever. And seller's are not permitted to have more than one paypal account. So this whole thing is very odd and sounds wrong. I would not send a check either.
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What they said. Shouts fraud.
Originally Posted by New/Used
I would have stopped right there and contacted paypal asking why this payment you sent has not arrived in seller's account?
Then I would have stopped payment while I wait for paypal response. I would always use the paypal account linked to the ebay account unless notified before not to.
The whole point of paypal is to make it easy with no confusion. If the seller wishes to change or add an email address to their paypay account, that is fine, and takes about 5 seconds to do. It should not keep them from receiving your payment ever. And seller's are not permitted to have more than one paypal account. So this whole thing is very odd and sounds wrong. I would not send a check either.
Answer
Given that I have encountered both sellers and buyers who did not know how (or that) they could change their email address on their Ebay ID, it does not yet shout Fraud, but the next reply is probably very important in determining whether something other than stated is happening.
Do you still have the Ebay EOA notice for the auction? If so, is the postal address they supplied the same?
Kind Regards, Kevin
Answer
Originally Posted by New/Used
And seller's are not permitted to have more than one paypal account.
Actually, that's not true.
One is allowed one Business/Premiere & one Personal account.