Unusual question about return shipping of an item.

[inhawaii]

I just went through a ugly PayPal dispute with a seller.  The seller's was really nasty and had a total lack of customer service. Worst seller/cusomer service i've ever come across ever.  PayPal found in my favor but i have to return the item. It's a rather pricey, heavy item in a rather large box. I calculated return shipping via Priority Mail to be about $100. 

My question is this ... i wouldn't put it past this guy to stage it to look like i sent him a brick or something, maybe video tape himself opening a box with a brick in it. Is there anything i can do to protect myself from this?

[green-night]

My question is this ... i wouldn't put it past this guy to stage it to look like i sent him a brick or something, maybe video tape himself opening a box with a brick in it. Is there anything i can do to protect myself from this?

As long as the package you send back (with tracking) shows as delivered back to the seller, the seller can't withhold the refund regardless of what he claims you sent him. 

I'd be more concerned is him buying an item from you (if you purchased on this ID).  It is a good idea to buy/sell on separate ID's.   You should block him for starters. 

[green-night]

BTW, what was the reason you opened on Paypal rather than ebay?    If you had opened on ebay, the seller would have been on the hook for the cost of return shipping.   

[inhawaii]

Because i'm retarded.  I originally inquired about the item a couple of times on ebay, asking questions.  They guy ended up talked me in to buying from him off ebay. I should have known better.

Speaking of shipping.  The item was $1720. I had to send it back for repairs and the guy charged me another $130 to ship it back. I opened 2 claims with PayPal, 1 for $1720 and 1 for $130.  PayPal says i'm responsible for the return shipping now ... but do you think i'll be able to get back that $130?

By the way, when they guy shipped it back it was STILL not working, which is why i filed this dispute. 

[green-night]

but do you think i'll be able to get back that $130?

Probably not.  Did you send it through Paypal as "goods & services" or as "friends/family"?  Do you remember which it is?   If you sent as Goods & Services you can dispute that payment, but I believe all your seller would need to do is provide the tracking number when he shipped your item back to you and I'm guessing Paypal would side with him.  Just a guess of course, and who knows if he would even know to do that.    So you might, but  my guess is probably no. 

(Guessing now you must have sent the $130 as Goods & Services, otherwise you wouldn't have been able to open a claim for that payment). 

[green-night]

Oh and by the way, report your seller to ebay.  Enticing buyers to move sales off of ebay is an offense ebay doesn't take lightly - at all. 

[lintbrush*]

Does it have to go back Priority?

[green-night]

Good question. 

[tarpedge]

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@inhawaii wrote:

I opened 2 claims with PayPal, 1 for $1720 and 1 for $130.

PayPal says i'm responsible for the return shipping now ... but do you think i'll be able to get back that $130?

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Yes, you could have, if you had waited 4 months before opening an Item Not Received dispute on that $130.