[78-L] "Protection" and other problems

[goldenbough at arcor.de]

An eBay seller has full PayPal seller protection if he can provide proof of delivery that can be 
verified online. The key words are 'delivery' (not: shipping) and 'online' (not: paperwork). 

I admit that eBay and PayPal protection for buyers and sellers, according to their User Agreement,  
is at their discretion - obviously to prevent misuse of an unknown kind. They may in fact base their 
decision on some VIP status of the seller or buyer, which may lead to injustice, because it's in 
contradiction to their User Agreement!).  

However, the user has the right to appeal. And only then will senior staff have a look at the file.  
Succes rate for appeals: 80%, IIRC. 

The perspective of potential fraudulent misuse of PayPal depends on which side of the Atlantic you are.  
Have a look at the eBay chat boards on eBay Germany or eBay France. Then it's the U.S. buyers who 
fraudulently claim non-receipt, they say.  

For me, it's more the USA that is full of distrust. I just come back from the U.S. and I am shocked. 
The prepaid 4-star hotel asks me for my credit card. Why, I ask.  'Because something may be broken or missing'. 
Do I get theirs if something is missing from my suitcase?  ('For the thief everybody is a thief', say the Arabs) 

At the gas station, when my European CC is not accepted, because we have 4-digit Zips, I have to pay cash 
BEFORE pumping. Unheard of in Europe, of course.   At Wal-Mart etc. they even test my 20-dollar-bills.  
Maybe I should test the bills that THEY hand back to me, because VISA Europe is not honoring ANY Wal-Mart 
purchases because of fraudulent charges!   

Never ever have I seen so much distrust.  Must be because there's so many crooks around. 
Back OT. 


Practically speaking, for a US based seller there are three possibilities. 

1) Either you stick to the PayPal rules and ship by expensive courier service (FedEx, UPS) or USPS Express Mail 
International with delivery confirmation - but then you may lose some customers for high shipping costs. 

2) Or you ship the economy way by Priority Mail International and insure your package - NOT (!) via USPS, 
but through an inexpensive online third-party like SHIPSURANCE or U-PIC. Advantage: nobody sees that the 
shipment is insured and may be valuable. You may even declare a low value for customs! (Will not concern insurance.) 

3) Then there's the third option: self-insure.  Put a dollar or two on the side for such cases of 'loss' or 'damage'. 
This is the most economic way, because in general only 1 or 2 shipments in a thousand will be critical.  

As for myself, I do not even self-insure, but charge only the mere postage fee. And my buyers have the full 
right of refund - anytime and for any reason, including return shipping. Result?  

For an identical 78 sold the same week or month, I get double auction results, sometimes even 5 times the 
usual price!  In other words: 

I am consumer/buyer oriented and do not need any 'protection', because my auction results are WAY better. 
Therefore I am able to cover any loss easily - without complaining.  

Isn't this the way it should be? 

Benno