PayPal/Ebay Help Needed!
 

:mad: I have not sold anything on Ebay in a long time. I got a free video camera that I really did not need so I sold it on Ebay. The buyer paid promptly. I shipped it from my local UPS store rather than going through the hassle of signing up for shipping through PayPal. PayPal has placed a 21 day hold on the money, pending verification of delivery or feedback being left by the buyer. The buyer received the item yesterday. I asked him to leave feedback so that PayPal would release the funds. So far nada. I emailed PayPal the tracking number which verifies that the camera was delivered. I demanded release of the funds. No response. Does anyone have any other ideas about what I can do to get my funds released? I don't see what right they have to hold my money for 3 weeks when I satisfied my end of the deal.

I've sold quite a few things on ebay...nothing in the last few months though. I've never had anything like that happen to me. I didn't realize that paypal and ebay had that kind of connection to each other. I would give the buyer a few more days to leave feedback. Hopefully it all works itself out quickly for you!

I believe they do this on any transaction that involves $100 or more.

Hmm, I didn't know that.

No, that's not correct. I bought something for under $20 about a month ago. The seller emailed me, and asked if I would leave feedback as soon as I got my item because of this. I've been with PP for years and that was the first I've heard of this.

OP call PP customer service: 1.888.221.1161

I sell on ebay alot and its a new thing that paypal is doing to protect the sellers. If you have a feedback under 100 they are going to hold all funds.
There should be something on the website about it :)

Is that 100 points/responses for feedback or is it the percentage? My feedback is 43, 100% positive. My buyer has 683 feedbacks with 100% positive.

PayPal's 21 day funds hold policy
 

Here is the policy and I think it stinks. I'll think twice before accepting PayPal again. This went into effect in January 2008:

EBay's FAQ about the21-day hold states: In a small percentage of cases where it has been determined the risk of dissatisfied buyers is higher, PayPal may delay release of the payment funds to the seller until the buyer has left a positive feedback or 21 days have passed without a dispute, claim, chargeback or reversal filed on that transaction.

The FAQs state that PayPal considers a number of factors in determining a whether a transaction may have a higher risk of dissatisfied buyers, including the following:

* Seller's % Positive Feedback in the last 30 days
* Seller's Detailed Seller Ratings in the last 30 days
* Final price for the item
* Shipping & handling fee
* Seller's eBay tenure as an eBay member
* Seller's total number of Feedback

PayPal will release the hold when the earliest of the following occurs: the buyer leaves positive feedback; 3 days after confirmed item delivery; or 21 days without a dispute, claim, chargeback, or reversal filed on that transaction. (PayPal said if a buyer leaves a negative feedback but does not initiate a dispute, PayPal would release the funds to the seller after 21 days.)

Wow, I didn't know anything about that. Hopefully your buyer will leave feedback quickly so you don't have to wait the full 21 days!:eek:

What a rotten deal! I hadn't heard of that till now. Have you left feedback for that buyer? Some buyers don't leave feedback until they have gotten feedback from the seller. Of course, it's hard to leave feedback when you don't have the money. Maybe the buyer hasn't been online to see your email and hopefully will soon, and do the feedback. I hope you get your money soon! This just isn't fair!

But if the buyer paid and its paypal holding the money then its not the buyers fault and they should still get there item.

Paypal is a subsidiary of Paypal, so yes, they are very connected.

To the OP: If you've just contacted the buyer, you might give them a day or so to leave feedback. I've had to request feedback be left for me as a buyer, and it has taken a few days for them to do so. But, I've never had any seller not do so.

Not accepting paypal isn't going to be an option...because here shortly, if it's not been implemented already, paypal will be the payment option eBay will allow sellers to accept.

I hesitated to leave feedback as I am not 100% sure this transaction is done. I listed the item with no returns accepted. It was brand new, never opened. The buyer has not responded to any of the emails I sent him, and I know he is home because he signed for the package. I left brief positive feedback for the fast payment, wanted to say poor communication but thought the better of that. PayPal did contact me and say they confirmed delivery and will release the funds in 3 days. What a PIA.

Oops sorry forgot about that having one of those days I guess. lol

I too hadn't sold an item on ebay in forever until this past December. I had a designer carrier that I listed and it received many bids and was up to an amount that I was VERY happy about. Well at the last minute a bidder that had just signed up and had never bid or had any feedback won my auction...and of course they NEVER paid!! I was so pissed. Then I relisted my carrier a few times with NO BIDS...my ebay fees were really racking up. Finally I did sell it (a month later) but for MUCH LESS than what the original auction went for.

Well I had no idea that eBay now allows 7 DAYS for the winner to pay! I didn't hear from my high bidder for several days and figured they too weren't paying so I did a second-chance and my next-highest bidder was going to pay me, but then on the 7th day I finally heard from the winner who said they'd been sick. So they paid a week after the auction ended and then there was that 21-day hold on the payment! The winner never left me any feedback so I had to wait the full 21 days - a month from the date my auction ended for me to receive my money.

I think it's rediculous and I will definitely try to sell my items through other venues before I'd sell through eBay again. I think it's great that there is buyer protection, but I have two issues:

1. 7 days is too long to allow a buyer to pay. If you bid on an auction and win, you know when the auction is ending so you ought to be able to pay right away...seriously, payment should be received within three days at the latest...a whole week is stupid and not fair for the seller.

2. 21 days to hold payment?!? My buyer had their item in less than a week after I received payment. I can understand holding funds for maybe a week or ten days..but three weeks is way too long.

Usually when I sell things it's because I need some extra cash ASAP...so waiting over a month for the money you need just doesn't work for me.

But do you think that paypal holds payment 21 days because of overseas ebayers?

maybe so..i just think it's a long time to wait for payment

Arrgh that is annoying I know what you mean. The last thing I sold was a gift card. I tried to sell a sapphire ring on there and the fees kept racking up because it didn't sell so I gave up also. I also don't like the 7 day thing and I don't like e checks. Buyers use echecks and want their item before the money gets to me and I am like noooo! When buying I pay instantly or if they say I can pay later i pay within 3 days. People are really low on money now and need their money fast.