PayPal protection for purchase and feedback

[fashionpoupees]

i have purchased an expensive electrical item on ebay and only used it once. PayPal apparently won't release the funds to the seller until I leave positive feedback for her. I am hestitant to leave feedback after only using the item once. If I leave positive feedback then will this affect my Paypal protection guarantee that is available for 180 days? 

I don't want the seller to suffer but I also don't want to loose my rights. This is the first sale the seller has made on eBay. Does this sound like a normal request from PayPal?

Thank you

[phorum_junkie*]

Most new sellers have a hold on funds for 21 days or sometimes until feedback is received. The 180 day limit for Paypal disputes is contentious at best and I can see many cases being referred to the ombudsman if Paypal allow disputes over the old 45 day limit however leaving feedback will not make any difference to a dispute for not as described, it can only be used as an extra bit of evidence if the buyer has not received the item.

[digital*ghost]

Your protection is (generally) not affected by, or reliant on, whether or not feedback has been left. At most, it can be used as evidence if the feedback comment contradicts something a buyer later claims for (eg lets say a buyer leaves FB that says "received in good time", then opens a case for item not received - the comment may be taken into consideration when deciding the outcome of the claim). 

PayPal are now withholding funds from new sellers (or those that haven't sold for a while), for up to 21 days (though sometimes it's longer), but they can also be released earlier if tracking proves delivery - feedback is an alternative indication of receipt, so that's why it's also something that can get the funds released.

Just so you know, PayPal buyer protection, in fact, only covers the item for its received condition, i.e, if it was as described on arrival but develops problems later, technically there is no coverage, so you're not likely to compromise anything by leaving feedback. 

[lyndal1838]

There is no point in withholding feedback now that you know the item works.....your protection is only for the condition of the item when you received it, not 6 months down the track.

If anything untoward happens later you can add a followup to the feedback, but that option disappears if you have not left the initial feedback within 60 days.

[davewil1964]

So you want the advantages of online buying, are quite happy (despite your denials) to hold the seller to ransom for 6 months, even though it is unlikely the have ANY warranty obligations? Even if they did, fair trading would be the avenue, not Paypal.

Speshul.

[jensmanchester-australia]

If it is the item which only offered local pick and you or someone on your behalf picked up the item you are not covered under the Paypal buyer protection policy at all.

[fashionpoupees]

Thank you for your reply. As to your claim that I would hold the seller ransom that is completely wrong. I wrote to PayPal asking why the seller should be penalised by having their funds with held. I questioned was that not the reason for PayPal having access to our credit card details? I am sorry that I asked a question so that I could be educated. As a seller myself I have never come across this scenario before and wanted to confirm. In future I won't bother with forums if this is this is the response. Thank you to the other people who have responded without judgement.

[springyzone]

Dave, the reality is ebay has set things up as far as buyer expectation goes.

You can't blame a buyer for being a bit hesitant to say everything is fine after one use of an electrical appliance. I'd be the same.

In this case the seller will eventually get their funds anyway, all that happens is a delay and that is in no way the fault of the buyer. I would not commit to positive feedback either, not till I was satisfied the item was consistently working, maybe in a month's time.

But ebay have made a big deal of saying there is a money back guarantee.

Also if you do make a purchase, the biggest button you can see is on all your transactions and it says "Return this item."

Why wouldn't any buyer, especially the novice buyers on ebay, assume there was a guarantee, it lasts 180 days & they were allowed to return anything? That is the impression ebay deliberately gives.

[lyndal1838]

Springy, the OP is not new to ebay and has a reasonable number of purchases on their record.

The whole point here is whether it is the pickup item.   If it was picked up the OP should not have paid by paypal anyway as neither the buyer nor the seller have any paypal protection.

If the item was posted then the paypal protection is only for the condition of the item when delivered...it worked so the OP has no claim on the seller anyway and there is no point in withholding feedback,  By leaving feedback now the OP will be in a position to use followup feedback if necessary in the future.

If she withholds the feedback now in case anything goes wrong in the future she stands the chance of not being able to leave any feedback at all.