Forum

Paypal Dispute...what a creep!
 

Sold some DVDs that are DVD-R (that is the way they come from the actual publisher, because they are a very small time operation and probably don't sell enough to make having them pressed cost effective)

The Buyer writes to me and says that they are bootlegs and wants a full refund (over $200 for 5 different disks)

I send links right to the publisher's site which indeed does indicate that they are sold there as DVD-Rs. I'm sure that what this person wants is to gets these DVDs that you can not go and rent, then make a copy of them and turn around and file the protest and get a full refund from me.

I bought all of these on ebay and knowing that they come direct from the site as DVD-Rs had no reason to believe that they were anything other than legit. I have bought a couple of other titles which when they came were obvious copies so I couldn't even sell those I filed a dispute and thought since the seller didn't respond I would get my money back, which I didn't:doh:

Any suggestion on how to deal with this?

One good thing is we circumvented ebay when doing it (sent a second chance offer, but the buyer didn't respond within the time period) so I don't have to worry about bad feedback

Wait- so are you saying that ebay was not used in this? If thats the case you should be able to easily win the case unless he files a chargeback

Isn't an "item not as described" essentially a chargeback?

If not, what's the difference?

I guess I'm lucky that I really haven't experienced this to this extent before

item not described is usually a return and refund, in the first instance..

if ebay wasnt involved usually paypal are more lenient if you escalate the claim, if you have a doubt about if these are bootleg - that makes a difference..refund the buyer

All but certain that they are legit.
I've bought them one at a time over the years and on never had a reason to think they were bootlegged. Hard to tell because they are DVD-R to begin with.
Overnight I received this from Paypal

As you may already be aware, PayPal's Buyer Complaint Policy applies only
to the shipment of goods and not to complaints about the attributes or
quality of goods received through an off eBay transaction. Therefore, we
will not conduct an investigation into this matter at this time.

We do, however, reserve the right to begin an investigation within 180 days
if we determine it is necessary.

Does that mean since the buyer admits that the items were received that Paypal is closing the case?
What does it mean about begining an investigation?
Am I correct in assuming that it might be a little more difficult for the buyer since it was not an ebay purchase?

what they are saying is they cant be judge and jury on whether legit goods or not, quite rightly....

I would still think SND is a return and refund situation, that is what paypal ultimately wants, it does not want a chargeback or to fight one, you can refuse to refund and point out any terms you had about no refunds etc..

Still think you should refund the buyer..or reach a compromise, less shipping costs as gesture of goddwill..

Problem is I smell a rat here as a way for them to get the titles without paying.
As I said the website that the author of these titles sells them through states right there that they are DVD-Rs so it is common knowledge to anyone in a very small-knit community what exactly they are. Can hardly accuse the source as selling copies, but someone re-selling on ebay is an easy mark.

I get you, its just the way I see it, if paypal decides to refund buyer without a return you are even worse off. What you are saying is you told paypal goods are legit, but paypal sides with buyer always, I agree they are slightly more lenient with non-ebay stuff, but paypal work on tracking for receiving either way, and making buyer happy if SND filed....

why how do you want to play it?