The scenario ... SOLD some merhandise and sent to BUYER via Registered Post, that was very badly damaged in transit.
AUSTRALIA POST badly tore and crushed the box, damaging the contents. This was a very strong box, designed specifically to transport artwork, but by the time AUSTRALIA POST got through with it, it looked like a bulldozer had run over the top of it ...
The contents were REGISTERED, so the buyer was able to lodge a claim against AUSTRALIA POST. She also lodged a 2nd claim against me as a SELLER with Paypal ... for ITEM NOT AS DESCRIBED ... in that it was now damaged ...
If AUSTRALIA POST refuses to honour the claim, then PAYPAL have told the BUYER that they will hold the EBAY SELLER responsible for the damage caused by AUSTRALIA POST. The BUYER will be fully refunded at THE SELLER'S expense.
This is a nice BUYER who communicates well. She is just trying to make sure she doesn't lose any money, obviously. But I do think that its unfair that PAYPAL would hold the EBAY SELLER responsible for damage obviously caused by AUSTRALIA POST.
So, the result is that if and when AUSTRALIA POST refuses to honour a claim, for whatever reason, or perhaops the BUYER doesn't even lodge a complaint, then the BUYER can always fall back on the EBAY SELLER through the PAYPAL system.
It will certainly save AUSTRALIA POST and THE BUYER alot of time and money, since why would AUSTRALIA POST bother to honour a claim for damage done by them, when the EBAY SELLER is going to have to pay for it anyway, ...
It also gives the dishonest BUYER a chance to claim twice, since PAYPAL and AUSTRALIA POST are not linked in anyway.
Has this always been the case? I think the fair solution would be for BUYERS and SELLERS to go halves in the loss that was clearly outside of both their control. Not ideal for either, but I think fair to both ... But PAYPAL obviously doesn't see it that way ...
