To ask if I've been conned? Deal outside eBay on PayPal.

[NotAnotherUserName5]

Over a week ago I found a tv on eBay we wanted. There was the ability to make a 'best offer' so I did.

Had an email off the seller accepting my offer but to call or text them as they'd be out before auction ended. They didn't accept my offer on eBay so it was still on eBay as for sale.

Given they had good feedback I contacted and said yes send me the details and I'll pay on PayPal (feel stupid with hindsight)

Not heard anything since. Have texted asking for tracking info but have been fobbed off with I'll do it later twice now.

Have I been conned here?

Yep.

But forward all the correspondence onto Ebay for their review, they might censure the seller somehow.

What sort of details did you include in the Paypal payment? Did you write "Ebay" into any field?

Definitely report it to eBay and PayPal. As you paid through PayPal I think you should have some buyer protection on there even though you didn't go through eBay.

Did you pay goods and services? If so do a chargeback.

Did you pay Friends and Family or Goods and Services? If you paid F&F there's nothing you can really do I'm afraid, if you paid G&S then stick a claim in with PayPal.

I'll check the PayPal when DH gets home. I can't remember password and he completed the transaction on there.

It did mention in the invoice payment for tv and gave some details.

It was an invoice they sent to us and we paid from that.

Can't afford to lose £400 through being an idiot.

If I tell eBay will I be suspended for doing a deal outside eBay?

Oh and if they sent an invoice as a gift and we somehow stupidly missed it, can be credit card company help recover the money?

It's important to know whether you paid as Friends and Family, or the other option.
If it's F&F you have zero comeback I'm afraid, which is why they put a warning on it.
Fingers crossed for you.

Report to ebay and paypal. As long as you paid for it properly through paypal then you should get your money back as it was not your choice to deal outside of ebay, you submitted the offer and paid on the basis it would be accepted. They are the con artists so you should get your money back but only if you paid properly through paypal i.e not a friends and family transaction

If I tell eBay will I be suspended for doing a deal outside eBay?

No you won't.

You paid by PayPal so you should be safe. The only thing the seller could do is say post an empty envelope to your address signed delivery so then PayPal have a tracking number in which case it may be decided in the buyers favour.

Yeah that happened to me

So I've logged into PayPal but it doesn't say if it was sent as a gift, for goods or services? The invoice was sent to us so would it have made it clear it was a gift on it?

It does make reference to the tv in the invoice they have written in "payment for xx tv and bracket"

Hm. I'd be less certain that their intent is to defraud with an invoice. I'd give them a call and let them know you need tracking info ASAP.

You can get your money back from PayPal, OP. Find the original payment on your summary page and lodge a claim. PayPal offer buyer protection even when you aren't using eBay.

GloriaGilbert hope you're right!

Thanks for help everyone!