While I'm on a posting spree I thought I should pass on a warning a friend gave me. I've had good luck with all the people I have dealt with on this forum so far so it doesn't apply to anyone here that I know of. A friend of mine bought a fuel tank for his GSXr from a guy on another forum. He payed with paypal assuming it would give him some degree of protection. When he received his purchase there was a deflated basketball and an empty oil bottle in the box. He contacted paypal immediately but because the seller has proof that he shipped paypal will not refund the money. It doesn't seem to matter that what he shipped is not what my friend bought, as long as something was shipped. He later found that the same guy burned another buyer for $800. Instead of a frame he received a box with an old rusty razor scooter. Same story there, paypal won't refund his money. Buyer beware I guess...
-Jessie
You should be covered in a paypal claim for "item significantly not as described" it's not just proof that a box shipped that is required. When you win your claim which almost always goes to the buyer, I've had experiences where I know I shipped a working item and got shipped back the item deliberately sabotaged so as to be able to claim the "significantly not as described" reason, you just have to ship the item back at your expense of course. Be sure to get signature confirmation or scammers can just claim you never shipped it back.
nevermind
Dealing directly with an individual has its inherent risks. Going through ebay (other similar medium, like Gun Broker) has better protection than a direct deal. Paypal does not refund all of the money. They go after what is in there account. They cannot get what is not there. I know, I have been screwed before.
The only recourse is to file a mail fraud against him.
or hunt them down and punch them in the balls repeatedly. >:( >:(
This is one of the most frustrating things about the PayPal "protection" policy when items are not purchased through eBay. I had a similar experience on the KatRider forum with a spring I bought. The seller was also on this forum. I bought and paid for a Kat spring and got an old GS spring instead.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=44072.0
Be careful out there!