diablo2112
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Upload & Sell: Off
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 p.1 #1 · Stolen Nikon 500mm, eBay, Paypal, FM, and a warning! | |
Friends here on FM:
Many of you may be interested to hear about a stolen Nikon 500mm and its tale through eBay, paypal, and right here on FM. If you don't want to read the details, below, then take away this simple message: NEVER use paypal gift! Ever! As paypal merchandise transactions were used both times, below, both my buyer and myself *should* come out ok. Details below.
Note: in the story below, the Nikon 500mm lens was stolen. I become aware of this fact a few days ago.
Here goes...
On July 31, I won an eBay auction for a pristine Nikon 500mm lens, and paid through the eBay system via Paypal. Here's the link.
eBay Nikon 500mm auction
The lens arrived a week later, in great shape. Shortly after, I recieved a large, unexpected medical bill. I placed the lens for sale here on FM. Here's the link to the sale ad. (note, I fully disclosed the eBay purchase, condition, and items I added to make a complete lens).
FM Sale ad
I found a buyer here, a regular FM member who's been super cooperative and nice. I shipped him the lens immediately, and this transaction went flawlessly. I insisted - and he agreed - to pay via paypal merchandise. I do NOT accept gift payments, period.
This week, I had a note from the buyer that the serial number of this lens was on a database of stolen items. Long story short, he contacted the local police, and confirmed this was reported as stolen in mid-July. He opened a paypal claim against my sale. I replied to the claim, stating I agreed with the finding this was stolen. I also opened a claim via paypal against my original eBay seller. My buyer - the fellow FM member - has been in contact with police, and awaiting instructions to return the lens to either the police or the insurance company.
I tried to open a claim on eBay, but eBay said I was outside the 30-day purchase protection window, and there was nothing they could do. Side note: eBay is worthless here, and honestly, has actively helped perpetuate a fraud in this case. They had NO interest in learning that a stolen item was sold via there site. So much for eBay.
Paypal investigated and closed the claim made against me within 24 hours. They sent me a note stating that since the item was stolen, it would not be returned to me. They debitted my account for the purchase price, over $4000. I currently have a negative $4000 balance on my account, which has also been frozen. This part is unfortunate.
I called paypal, and asked why my claim against the eBay seller has also not been resolved. They stated that because my original seller had not replied, they couldn't close the claim until 14 days had passed. I asked why they would resolve one claim and not the other, and they basically said its 2 separate claims. That's silly, IMHO. Because I've been honest and cooperative, I'm left holding the bag, so to speak.
Note: the difference in eBay sale price and my FM ad was due to the extra items I procurred to make this a complete kit (the lens hood, a soft case, etc.). I've offered to my FM buyer to take these items back, as I didn't want him to be out anything as a result of this, he did nothing wrong. That buyer has been exceptionally gracious, he's considering keeping these items and refunding me the difference in price.
So, this is a cautionary tale with a few lessons:
1) eBay is useless here. Unhelpful at best.
2) Paypal has been more helpful. Had I used gift payments at any point, this would have been a mess
2a) despite this, paypal still left me holding the bag, at least temporarily (I hope). It would have been better for them to resolve these claims as a package, but that makes too much sense, I suppose.
3) don't use paypal gift! Ever! Even if you think everything's ok, sometimes sh*t happens.
4) my FM buyer has been super, an unbelievably quality individual. For this, I'm grateful. We've worked together to resolve this.
5) for the last week, this has basically been my hobby. I've spent many hours trying to resolve this. I'll be glad when its done.
Don't use paypal gift!
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