False Negative

Popular Science magazines in the '50's would have you believe that by the year 2000, we would have flying cars and people landing on the moon. Well, we didn't quite accomplish those things...what, we did land on the moon?? When did that happen??...anyway, my point is, we did have some other technological advances, namely a little website called Ebay.

Yes, Ebay was around before 2000, but my introduction to the site was slightly after we partied like it was 1999 for the very last time, and in February of 2000, I signed up and made my first purchase (I believe it was a sweet lot of Beatles LP's that I picked up for super cheap.) After that fateful transaction, I became hooked.

I currently buy and sell, and have a relatively modest 561 positive feedbacks from unique users (over 700 feedbacks total). In the nearly 8 years since I began, I have had ZERO negative feedbacks to muddy my reputation, and I have only received one Neutral feedback from this joker that only gave me a Neutral cause I gave him one...but that's a story for another time. Recently, I've been making some fat cash on some Beatles items I had multiple copies of, and everything was going fine...that was until "Canada"* came into the picture.

*name changed to protect the innocent, the guilty, or in this case, the Ass Hat Canadian buyer who gave me Negative feedback...wait, I'm getting ahead of myself...

The item was an original 1960's Beatles Yesterday and Today LP (mono version, if that kinda thing is important to you.) When the dust settled, "Canada" was the high bidder at $9.99 with $12.00 shipping.

I'll do the math for you...total cost 21.99.

He paid via Paypal immediately on the 29th of September. Since the 29th was a Saturday, I waited and shipped his LP out the following week. I went to Ebay and left positive feedback for him, as he fulfilled his part by paying me. All was well in Ebay land until the 17th of October, when I received an email from "Canada" saying the following:

I need to take action with PayPal and eBay I have not received my item . I have not heard from you .

Since this was the first I had heard from him, I thought it was odd he would jump straight to taking action. I searched my "Junk Folder" and discovered that a few days before he sent me another email asking:

Can you tell me when my LP was shipped ? It usually does not take this long .

I quickly shot him an email, explaining that I missed his first email, and I also explained to him when it was shipped, that is went through the USPS (Post Office), and I told him it could take up to 14 days. I said if it wasn't there by the 22nd, to email me back, and we could arrange for a refund of some sorts.

I guess he didn't want to wait. Soon after I sent the email, I received a few emails from Paypal and a company called Square Trade. Paypal's said:

Dear Sir,

"Canada" has opened a dispute for the payment made to you on Sep 29,2007 indicating that they never received the item.

Your Transaction ID:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Buyer's Transaction ID:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

There are many reasons why this might have happened. It could be that the item is still in transit or was accidentally delivered to the wrong address. Sometimes buyers open a non receipt dispute too soon because they underestimate how long it can take for shipping and delivery. By opening this dispute, "Canada" is asking for your help to resolve this issue. This is your best opportunity to resolve this problem before the buyer escalates it to a PayPal claim or files a chargeback with their card issuer.

Square Trade's email tried to get me to pay them $30 to get the negative feedback erased. NEGATIVE FEEDBACK?!? I opened up my Ebay and sure enough, "Canada" left me my first negative feedback in nearly 8 years...it said...

Have not received the item or refund lost my $12.00 shipping also scam!!!!!!

SCAM?!? Why in the world would I risk my entire Ebay reputation to scam this joker out of 20 bucks?? I fired back a reply to his feedback, saying:

560 unique + feedbacks, over 700 total. Why would I scam for $20? Lost in mail?

I then emailed "Canada" and basically asked him what the heck he was trying to pull? After all, I emailed him, told him all the information he wanted AND offered to work with him on a refund and he completely ignores that and files a claim AND tries to slander my name?

This meant war. The refund was officially off the table now. I was going to just give him his 20 back and call it a day, but now, the principle of the matter had taken over. I had done nothing wrong, and I would fight this dispute.

I clicked on Paypal to see that "Canada" had struck first:

I paid in good faith Sept 29/07 and I still have not received my LP or heard of any delay from you . Please give me my refund .Or ship my item and let me know when you have shipped it . After all I paid $12.00 for shipping it should have been here a long time ago .

He quickly fired again, this time cutting a bit deeper:

This seller continues to not communicate I think hes long gone and if not should be investigated and taken off eBay

Ouch!! I did communicate with him, but he wouldn't email me back! I frantically searched for the button on Paypal to log in my side of the story, but a button was not to be found. After 20 minutes, I found a phone number and called Paypal.

The Dispute Resolution guy said that since "Canada" had upgraded the Dispute to a Claim, the lines of communication were effectively closed for "Canada" and I to resolve the matter on our own. I explained to the Paypal guy that I didn't have an opportunity to respond, and he said to just email the resolution department with my side of the story, and it would be noted.

So, I did. I wrote my side, and I wrote it hard. This was my response, and every word is the complete truth...

I recently had a Dispute filed against me which escalated to a claim before I was able to enter any information in my defense. I am concerned I will loose this claim because of this, and I would like to take this opportunity to give my side of the story before my good reputation as an Ebay seller and a Paypal user are any more slandered.

On Sept. 29, an item of mine was purchased by Mr. "Canada". He paid promptly using Paypal. On October 2nd, I left a positive feedback for him, and on Oct 3rd, I shipped his item via USPS (United States Postal Service). As per my norm, I let the positive feedback act as my communication that the payment was received, and therefore, his item would be shipped immediately. Although I didn't mention in that feedback that I was shipping the item, I am a reputable seller who has over 700 positive feedback (from 560 unique buyers/sellers) and have never had a negative feedback against me. With that being said, I also work in "good faith" with my buyers that if I leave you positive feedback, I will be sending your item.

On October 3rd, I shipped the item to his Non-US Verified address in Canada via USPS. The buyer did not request it be shipped via a traceable method, nor did he purchase any kind of insurance protecting him from a lost package. This is unfortunate, because now the package is lost. There is nothing further I can do.

An email was received by me from the buyer which unfortunately went into my "Junk" filter, and I did not respond. Soon after, I received notification that a dispute had been filed. At that time I EMAILED MR. "CANADA" and apologized for not responding. I also gave him exactly when I shipped his item, and an expected time he could expect to receive the package. Instead of communicating with me, he ignored my email and left a negative, scathing feedback on my ebay saying that I had scammed him, and followed that up by posting a slanderous note on the Paypal Resolution Center claiming that I was not communicating with him, I was long gone, and I should be investigated and kicked off ebay.

I have done what I can, and I feel I do not owe Mr. "Canada" a refund due to this unfortunate Postal Service mishap that he neglected to account for. He held up his end by paying, I held up mine by shipping...the post office dropped the ball by losing the package, and without insurance, I'm afraid there is nothing else that can be done.

Please add this to my Resolution Dispute, so that I have a fair shake in this matter.

Thank you

I felt confident that I would win my claim when it came before the Paypal Board of Dispute Resolvers. All I had to do now was wait.

I didn't have to wait long. The next day, I received an email from Paypal saying that they received my version of events, and they passed that information on to Mr. "Canada". Shortly thereafter, I received an email from Paypal:

PayPal has concluded our investigation of the following

Buyer Complaint: Transaction Date: Sep 29, 2007
Transaction Amount: -$21.99 USD
Your Transaction ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Buyer's Transaction ID: xxxxxxxxxxxx
Case Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Because the buyer has reported that the claim has been amicably resolved,this case has been closed. Thank you for your cooperation with our investigation.
Sincerely, Protection Services Department

I also received an email from Ebay:

"Canada" has filed a request to mutually withdraw feedback for the transaction shown below. eBay allows members to withdraw feedback for a transaction if they both agree it is no longer appropriate.

REDEMPTION!!!

The only reason "Canada" put as to why he withdrew the complaint and feedback??

"Package arrived today, OCT 24...Post Dated Oct 1."

Hmmm, interesting that the package arrived the same day Paypal sent him my rebuttal...a rebuttal that would have effectively killed his case, as I was obviously not in the wrong in any way.

Whatever. The case is closed, I'm updated to 562 positive feedbacks with ZERO negative, and all is once again right in the Ebay World.