I wasn't sure where to post this. But, since the Bistro has been difficult for some sellers, and there have been recent discussion of resorting to Ebay as a means to sell; I thought I would mention this recent buyer difficulty (which my research indicates is a common scam which is really on the rise right now):
You make the sale, and everything is great (except buyer seems to be in rather a hurry to receive). Buyer receives the item, and you have proof of delivery; hopefully. Buyer pays via PP, and you have the money in your account........until....
Buyer contacts you and claims that the item is SNAD (significantly not as described). This could be anything you missed on your listing; ie "You said it was pretty, and it isn't" ha-ha.
Anyways, they ask you for a partial refund, not a return. (For some reason they want to keep this item that is SNAD)---this would be your red flag! Then, when you refuse and offer to accept it in original condition for a full refund; they file a dispute with PP (which of course causes PP to pull the funds away from you). Okay, then they tell you they will escalate this to a claim if you don't send them their partial refund immediately and allow them to keep the item. You refuse (or, as I did; just go ahead and call their bluff and escalate the thing yourself; since you are more than willing to take it back and issue a refund.) My claim will close tomorrow; and of course the decision was for them to return the item for a refund. The funds have been pulled and tied up nearly a month; item (gee, does this surprise me) has never been shipped back for the refund, and the money "should" be released tomorrow.
Just FYI, this was not a jewelery item; but obviously can occur with any item.
One site refers to this trend as "PP Extortion". Basically, the threat is, unless you give them some money back on the original purchase (essentially a discount) and allow them to keep the item they bought, they will file a claim/dispute or do a chargeback on their credit card. You are probably already familiar with the same thing when they refer to it as "Feedback Extortion". (Which, I really think is <span style="text-decoration: underline">sometimes</span> the best response from the seller..go ahead and give them the "discount" ...but, you will have to consider each case individually.)
I only escalated due to the fact that the buyer became uncommunicable, insulting and angry when they didn't get an immediate "discount" and I thought it best to just allow PP to handle it and have no further personal communications. Maybe I should have just "paid them off", but each seller will have to determine that for themselves, and it relies a lot on the behavior of the buyer--are they reasonable and can you communicate with them; or are they all threats and insults, without reason? And, again, why in the world would they not want to return for a full refund?
But, again, this is just one of the risks that we have to take, even as a tiny, individual seller. Be aware that this can happen even if you only sell one or two items a year.
You make the sale, and everything is great (except buyer seems to be in rather a hurry to receive). Buyer receives the item, and you have proof of delivery; hopefully. Buyer pays via PP, and you have the money in your account........until....
Buyer contacts you and claims that the item is SNAD (significantly not as described). This could be anything you missed on your listing; ie "You said it was pretty, and it isn't" ha-ha.
Anyways, they ask you for a partial refund, not a return. (For some reason they want to keep this item that is SNAD)---this would be your red flag! Then, when you refuse and offer to accept it in original condition for a full refund; they file a dispute with PP (which of course causes PP to pull the funds away from you). Okay, then they tell you they will escalate this to a claim if you don't send them their partial refund immediately and allow them to keep the item. You refuse (or, as I did; just go ahead and call their bluff and escalate the thing yourself; since you are more than willing to take it back and issue a refund.) My claim will close tomorrow; and of course the decision was for them to return the item for a refund. The funds have been pulled and tied up nearly a month; item (gee, does this surprise me) has never been shipped back for the refund, and the money "should" be released tomorrow.
Just FYI, this was not a jewelery item; but obviously can occur with any item.
One site refers to this trend as "PP Extortion". Basically, the threat is, unless you give them some money back on the original purchase (essentially a discount) and allow them to keep the item they bought, they will file a claim/dispute or do a chargeback on their credit card. You are probably already familiar with the same thing when they refer to it as "Feedback Extortion". (Which, I really think is <span style="text-decoration: underline">sometimes</span> the best response from the seller..go ahead and give them the "discount" ...but, you will have to consider each case individually.)
I only escalated due to the fact that the buyer became uncommunicable, insulting and angry when they didn't get an immediate "discount" and I thought it best to just allow PP to handle it and have no further personal communications. Maybe I should have just "paid them off", but each seller will have to determine that for themselves, and it relies a lot on the behavior of the buyer--are they reasonable and can you communicate with them; or are they all threats and insults, without reason? And, again, why in the world would they not want to return for a full refund?
But, again, this is just one of the risks that we have to take, even as a tiny, individual seller. Be aware that this can happen even if you only sell one or two items a year.
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