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........
First, I have had good experiences with Pay Pal (with concert ticket issue not equipment) Asfor audio equipment, I rarely deal with private individuals. I go with on line or brick and mortar sellers. Used, open box, factory refurbished or just on sale. Folks who deal in audio gear beyond selling a piece or two. Those who have a reputation. If it costs me a bit (or even a lot) more the peace of mind is worth it. |
Some say PayPal nearly always sides with the buyer. I bought a pair of bike wheels that arrived in terrible shape. Of course the seller had said they were in great shape. The sellers pictures of the wheels looked normal, as the damage only showed upon close inspection. It took me about 3 months to get PayPal to find in my favor. Many calls and chat messages. I eventually figured out that the wheels had been shipped multiple times prior to being sent to me and were damaged in shipping. On another purchase of several pairs of orthotic insoles, I found later that they were counterfeit. PayPal denied my claim because I didn’t find out that they were counterfeit until after their claim window closed. I would never have known until I used them for a while. They sided with an illegal seller. |
Why are you wasting your time calling audio stores to do a bad amp channel verification? Just call up/use your local TV repair/warranty shop. Every city has them. And it will be 3x cheaper as well. To Paypal an electronics shop that does warranty servicing for Samsung, LG e.t.c is just as legit as a high end audio dealer. Much more so infact. |
The bench break down would have only been helpful to @missioncoonery if manufacturer had determined issue existed prior to shipping. I doubt an undetermined cause would have changed things one iota.
@missioncoonery It seems no all is lost in end, even without successful outcome, you'll at least have working amp once repairs are completed. Perhaps you could ask manufacturer for some consideration on repair cost for bad experience? |
