Buying direct from seller but paying through Paypal direct.

[14klippi]

Just a bit confused here so please help me to understand this.

Purchased 2 items and asked seller for combined postage which was agreed to.  Both items were Buy it now and no matter how I tried to purchase the items on Ebay,  the items only came up individually with the original postage costs.  Contacted seller who asked me for my PPal email address which I sent him.  He then told me to go into my PP account where I would find an invoice from them with all the correct info.  This I did and paid the money requested and received the items.  Seller has a 100% feedback but thinking about this whole transaction it seems I could have been scammed perhaps.

There is no record of my purchases through Ebay.  So I cannot receive or leave feedback.  Was I doing the right thing by just paying for the goods through PP or was I breaking the rules?  What could I have done if the seller did not send me the items - could I have gone directly to Paypal with a claim?

Just want to know where I stand in case this happens again.  Not comfortable not having to actually go through Ebay. 

[***super_nova***]

If you clicked on the BIN the item must be in your Buying History; if you cannot see them make sure that the period you are looking at is the last 60 days, or click on the Archive button above and the items should be there.

[14klippi]

Sorry Supa nothing doing in my purchase history - tried to buy the items through BIN but couldn't without paying the original postage (and not the combined one).  So I just paid the seller through his notification on Paypal and received a transaction ID from PP.  Seems like Ebay had nothing to do with it.

[digital*ghost]

Were you by any chance using an eBay app on a mobile device? That has a known problem with not allowing purchases to be combined, even if an eBay invoice has been sent, and can be worked around by using the 'classic site' option.

The only other reason I can think of for purchases from the same seller to not allow a combined invoice or payment via eBay is if they are in different currencies, but then the items should still show in your purchase history. 

If the items are sold on eBay, you're not breaking any eBay rules, anyway, and as long as the invoice is for eligible goods (i.e. tangible goods that are being posted - not intangibles  services or thing like gift cards which aren't eligible anyway), your buyer protection is not compromised.

[14klippi]

Items were bought on my computer.  I could not buy the items on Ebay as per usual.  I communicated with the seller and told him what I wanted via Ebay emails and paid for them when I saw it appear on my Paypal account.  Only afterwards thinking about it, I realised that I had nothing to back up my purchases with Ebay only with PP.  What would I have been able to do if the seller didn't send me the items or if the items are faulty.  The items are 2 Dvd series. Seller's address is in Australia and the Dvds took one day to arrive.  I have just got this feeling that this transaction is against Ebay's policy.

[the-kazbar]

It sounds to me like the seller had "immediate payment" set up. That way you haven't actually purchased the items until they are paid for and the ebay system doesn't allow for combining with IP

[dylan11235813]

A buyer is usually covered by paypals buyer protection when just paypal is used. I think it is the seller who risks losing out as they have no seller protection.

[phorum_junkie*]

Sounds as if the items were instant payment required so the seller could not combine them on a single invoice through ebay.

Technically they should have relisted the two together as a BIN at your agreed price but what they did, while an off ebay deal, was the most practical!

As long as you are paying for goods you have full Paypal buyer protection regardless of where or who you purchase from.

It is sellers who actually take a risk dealing outside ebay as the level of seller protection is not as comprehensive.

[**tay**]

You say in your opening post that you received your items, so I wouldn't think you were scammed.

[14klippi]

Okay "tay" I know I wasn't scammed but I could have been not knowing what I know now about instant payments and Paypal protection for buyers who pay through Paypal (not just Ebays buyers).

Thanks PJ for giving me this insight.