PayPal help ... please

[robinharper]

Hi all,

once again I come to pick your brain I fear.  So I recently opened a PayPal account (Go me ) so I could buy a cute Baby Pony from here and that all went without a single hitch but now someone wants to pay me for a bought item through PayPal and I am stuck.

The person bought a rather old and rara computer console from Nintendo of me for quite a few bucks and she paid through PayPal since she didn't wnat to do a normal bank transfer.  Since I now had a PayPal account, I didn't see any problem with it, but here it comes ...  Before PayPal pays me the money, I have to send in a proof that I also send the package with the game console.  Here lies my problem.  How do I do that?

The buyer asked for a normal postal package and if I do so, then all I have is a ticket that confirms that I send that day something.  It doesn't state where to, what I sent.  Just the date, the person who helped me at the post office and what I had to pay for the delivery.  Is it enough if I take a picture of that ticket and send that to PayPal?  In the mail they spoke of a number of the package or so, but I won't have one.  Or do I need to tell at the post office first that I need a confirmation slip for PayPal before I let them ring it up?  I have no clue what to do here.  How does this work?  Please help me ...

A very desperate, feeling a migraine coming on, and already regretting she ever agreed to let herself be paid through PayPal
   Robin

[ClosetAvalanche]

It sounds like the normal 21 day paypal hold. They usually place a restriction on new accounts-- basically, you get your money after 21 days, or the buyer leaves feedback, or the tracking shows delivered.

[Stormy31685]

I am not 100% certain how Paypal works in your country, but here would be my recommendation based on what I know of how it works in the USA:

1.  Take a picture of the package with the item inside (before you seal it).  It might be helpful to use a box with some distinct marking or pattern that would be visible both when the top is open and when it is all taped up and ready to be mailed.  Take a picture of the taped up box with the address of where it is going as well.  Make sure it exactly matches the name and address provided by your buyer (should appear on their paypal payment).

2.  Ship it.  If you can, I would recommend trying to ship it through paypal directly.  You can call paypal and I am sure someone will lead you through the process.  In this case, you should completely pack the items and then take the down to the post office and get an exact weight, then come back and use that information to print your label.  If you prefer to take it to the Post office to ship, definitely figure out if there is tracking.  There should always be an article number or customs form number (unless it is within your own country and sometimes even then) and you can use this with paypal.  If you can get a tracking number without spending a lot, do it.  It will make things much easier in the future.  Take a picture of the receipt and if you like, the box with the paid postage on it.

3.  Upload the information to paypal (receipt photos, open box photos, closed box photos, tracking or article numbers).

This is a bit of a hassle the first couple of times, but it will not be hard in the future and it is well worth the hassle.  When used properly, Paypal is an excellent payment tool.

Congratulations on your first sale through paypal! 

[robinharper]

To ClosetAvalanche: no, not the normal 21 days wait period cause they need the sending number from me for the package ...  And I also don't wnat to wait till the console arrived and the buyer leaves feedback cause lately in Belgium people tend to refuse to pay their items afterwards.  That's why I normally ask for the money first before I send anything.  Now I am stuck ...

To Stormy31685: we can only use PayPal here for money.  No shipping at all.     It would have made things a whole lot easier.  If tomorrow they can't help me out at the Postal Office with this, I will just cancel the buy.  This is really starting to get ridiculous.  The buyer doesn't want a shipping with number or Insurance cause it is more expensive and I understand that (although for such an expensive item, I would at least have gone myself for tracking), Belgium is crazy at times with their prices for shipping.  A normal shipping is okay but if you wnat to add a tracking number or Insurance you start with prices that are five times the normal shipping.  And even then they lose packages in their system and can't find them back despite tha tracking number.  Horrible system.  That's why I prefer not to work with the Postal office but if that is what the buyer wants ...  Well ...  I will do the picture option.  I find that already an excellent idea.  And if the Postal Office can help then with the number, I should be set ...  I hope ...

In any case, for the moment I am so not liking PayPal at all ...   

Thanks for the tips already!

Hugs
   Robin

[ponylady]

First of all congrats on your new Paypal account!!

While your buyer wants normal postage that is not going to satisfy Paypal's terms. The item must be shipped with tracking, no matter what country you are in.  It protects you in the long run in the event your buyer claims they never received the item. If there is no tracking Paypal will side with them and you will not only be out the item but the money too. I know Paypal seems frustrating but it actually is not. They have terms that must be met and with a new account they do place restrictions, unfortunately.

A quick question, have you verified your account?

[robinharper]

Then I give up.  I am cancelling the sell.  Since tracking is too expensive for her, PayPal can just give her back her money.  I am through with it.  Had enough of it.  I am just going to keep the account to make buys myself but selling with it?  No way!  Way too much hassles in Belgium.

Kiala wouldn't work for PayPal by the way?  If someone then agrees to shipping with Kiala, then I could still go for PayPal ...

Thanks in any case, ponylady.  I know now that it is then impossible with normal postal shipping which she should have known since she claims she always does it like this.  Not possible thus.  Perhaps seh was trying to rip me off ...  *shudders*  I hope not, but I am starting to pose more and more questions regarding her as the buyer of the console ...

Thanks again to everyone for the help and advice.  And if someone can help now with my Kiala question, I will be all set I guess for PayPal.

Hugs
  Robin