Paypal...buyer protection fees didnt help me


   I had a previous post about buying with PayPal so i'm piggybacking off that one.I found an integrated amp on U.S.A.M. for a decent price,the seller wanted me to pay PayPal / friends and family but because it was over 6k I went ahead and pay the fees (approx $200.00 and change) thinking it was worth the extra money  for buyer protection.The shipping was $300 from the east coast to the mid west and took 6 days i believe.The crate was over 100 pounds,it came on Monday and it took me until Sunday to get a buddy to help me get it up a flight of stairs,out of the crate and on a dedicated stand..i'm in my 60s and retired.The amp had distortion on one channel,we both heard it,I swapped cables on speakers and same result coming now on the opposite side...but to make sure before I started screaming the sky is falling I borrowed other gear and went through the testing...this all took another week....After i did my due diligence I contacted the seller and told him i wanted my money back which fell on deaf ears so i filed a case with PayPal...I was told by PP that i needed get verification of my complaint in writing from a legit source and submit this info within 10 days.I called 2 audio stores in the mid-west and was told that they did'nt have nor could they verify on gear they don't sell.  I needed to send it to manufacture who's on the west coast,so i called the manufacture..approx 7 days to get it to them at a cost of a few hundred in shipping ,the down time could be anywhere from a few days to weeks depending on back log..and then cost and time to get it back not repaired as i'm just looking for them to tell me its messed up in writing for these clowns at PP..I called PP and told them the 7 to 10 days i was given to get this all done was insane,forgetting the cost involved..I mean it took me a week to get it upstairs and unpacked with help......So I was denied my claim and will have to deal with getting this going again.I informed PayPal that i will never pay their fees again because the buyer protection i thought i had did'nt really exist,the burden of proof was on my shoulders to show them that what i got which was described as mint was'nt...Maybe its their new policy because the company's stocks are in the crap hole and the share holders need paid,who knows but they wont get my money again.I think ill buy new from a USA dealer........

missioncoonery

Unfortunately there is little or nothing you can do at this point except send it in and pay for the repair. I would contact the company first and explain what happened, they might just give you a break, a discount, even free, a good company should at least do something to help.

I have been on Ebay and PP since they started and out of tens of thousands of transactions only had 2 issues, both buyers, both lied, PP sided with them but at least both were around $500, not a bad track record considering many millions in transactions. BUT, after seeing the rise in fraud, everywhere, I now only accept F&F payments unless I know the other party or they have a well established track record. For purchases I only deal with those willing to talk to me on the phone or meet in person then also check their track record.

Lesson for us all, if having something delivered you need help with have them there when it arrives, open the package before even taking it inside if a difficult task, if at all damaged have the driver there when opened as well, take pics as you go. If OK, take in and test immediately. It only takes a few minutes using input cables to test the channels and to insure the issue is in the new device. Of course the speaker cable swap works as well so can be the first step then to verify and confirm do the input test.

 

Rick

By company I mean the actual manf, repair shops far less likely to help you out.

Hello, you have not mentioned if you have spoken to anyone at paypal. You need to call PayPal and ask to speak with a supervisor and explain the situation to them. That is your last and final bet. Whatever you do - do not be aggressive with them! Shed a few tears and make it a sob story!

Practice empathy. The OP stated he's retired and in his 60's. Not everyone is savvy with technology, especially the generation that was not raised with work (or home) PC's and smart phones

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