No money without feedback - is this likely?

[frazzledgirl]

Am about to return goods to seller because they weren't as described - she has agreed to this.

But got this message today: "the money has not been released into my pay pal acount as you have not left feedback back to me yet, the money needs to be there in order to refund this back to you.

"as soon as this is done i will return your money back to you using pay pal."

Is this likely? Don't want to leave feedback before a refund and lose my only weapon unnecessarily. Also, have had refunds before without having left feedback.

WWYD?

[Tortoise]

That is rubbish.
I often don't leave feedback for weeks never had a problem with paypal because of it. And anyway feedback is optional, you don't have to leave any if you don't want to.

Have you sent the item back to her? I personally wouldn't refund until items recieved back anyway.

[buggylovinmummy]

Ive heard about this a lot lately on here, paypal are holding funds until feedback has been left, nobody really knows why though.

[frazzledgirl]

I thought as much. She's only got six feedbacks, so could be clueless rather than tricky I suppose.

What should I reply? Want to refuse politely without actually implying she's trying to pull a fast one, ideally...

[HecatesTwopenceworth]

The best thing to do would be to contact paypal before you accuse her of anything. They may actually BE holding the money.

My sister mentioned this to me actually. I was wanting to buy something from ebay but was worried about getting ripped off and she said that the seller wouldn't get the money until I'd left feedback. So it happens - maybe with low feedback?

Anyway, find out from paypal.

[sweetfall]

Just say "I shall provide feedback once I have received my refund. Thank you"

[Disenchanted3]

its true.

if you are a new seller paypal hold the funds until the buyer leaves +

its shit & unfair on the seller,

its happened with beverything ive sold on my new account.

[Disenchanted3]

its true.

if you are a new seller paypal hold the funds until the buyer leaves +

its shit & unfair on the seller,

its happened with beverything ive sold on my new account.

[buggylovinmummy]

If shes only got 6 feedback shes probably telling the truth as it happens a lot now if theyve got a low feedback score.

[frazzledgirl]

OK, glad to know she's not lying - thanks all for the confirmation - but what should I do?

Don't want to leave positive feedback until I'm genuinely feeling positive, IYSWIM, which I won't be till she has refunded me!

[Qally]

No, she's right. Paypal hold the funds until the buyer leaves positive feedback, or the time limit for a dispute has passed, and only then release to the seller. It's since they guaranteed all transactions - they're protecting themselves against scammers. She can't refund what she doesn't yet have.

But she needs to do the "mutually agreed not to proceed with transaction" route anyway, because that refunds her listing fees as well.

[Disenchanted3]

she cant refund you though as her funds are held.

you DO need to leave + to free them, or they will be freed after 28 days if no 'dispute' is opened within the 28 days.

[Disenchanted3]

Yes get her to cancel the transaction. WEhen you afree the purchase will be void.

[frazzledgirl]

Ah, Qally that sounds interesting and could be better for us both - does that take a long time?

Sorry, only ever sold six things on eBay myself and all went through OK, so I know nothing about this.

[Qally]

Nope, it takes minutes! Here. You'll need to confirm that you agree to cancelling the transaction, and then it's on Ebay record that its done and dusted. Benefit to her is she gets her listing costs back, too.

[Qally]

Oh, don't panic that it's the unpaid item process! It's the same route to start with, but scroll down to the second yellow box and you'll see the "mutually agreed" option. It's just the system to use when cancelling a deal.

[mygirllollipop]

Seller could also put money into her paypal account from bank account to refund you, although this takes time.

[Tortoise]

But why would anyone leave + feedback if item not as described?
Glad i am not new to selling, sound more complicated than it was!
What if you want to use payment in Paypal to do postage label as i sometimes do?

[insertwittynicknameHERE]

I have had this numerous times when paypal hold the payment until positive feedback has been received or a certain amount of time has elapsed and no queries have been made.

I have never had to wait long though because as soon as I have received positive feedback the payment is cleared almost immediately.