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Placed a downpayment on ebay. Want refund

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jbstuart

Junior Member
What is the name of your state? Texas
I recently bought a car off of ebay. I placed the $500 down payment on promptly and expecting to purchase the vehicle. Through some unforeseeable circumstances, I realized I wouldn't be able to afford it anymore do to my work and school schedule changing. Can I get my down payment back, or is it lost?
 


racer72

Senior Member
Because we have absolutely no way of knowing the terms and conditions put in place by the seller, no one can answer your question. At a minimum, post a link to the auction.
 

TheGeekess

Keeper of the Kraken
You can offer to pay the seller's fees for the listing out of the deposit, and have the rest refunded to you, explaining your circumstances to the seller.
 

racer72

Senior Member
Nothing in the listing says the deposit is not refundable. What happened when you asked for a refund?
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
I was going to reply that this "deposit" is actually a partial-payment towards the contract obligation...
But then I saw that the dealership offers a 90 day money-back guarantee...so even if it's a "partial payment", OP should still be entitled to receive it back.
 

jbstuart

Junior Member
Well I have tried contacting him through email and he hasn't replied back and when I called him on his phone it went to his voice mail. I have instead opened a dispute on paypal. There is now 20 days for him to respond.
 

jbstuart

Junior Member
Well the seller told me on the pay pal resolution center "Refunds are not refundable on buy it nows when customer changes his mind" I don't remember seeing that at all in the ad, and is it even legal for him to keep my downpayment and I don't get anything?
 

Zigner

Senior Member, Non-Attorney
Well the seller told me on the pay pal resolution center "Refunds are not refundable on buy it nows when customer changes his mind" I don't remember seeing that at all in the ad, and is it even legal for him to keep my downpayment and I don't get anything?
Stick to the "90-day money back guarantee" angle...
 

VanMan99

Junior Member
How did you pay? If it was by credit card you might go to your credit card company and dispute the charge. If it was funded by your bank account you might ask your bank to reverse the funds. If you do this and it was PayPal you used you could risk loosing your paypal account if they feel you had no right to do this. In this case it seems to me a bit unfair to keep all your money and give you nothing in return.

Good Luck
 

jbstuart

Junior Member
Well he escalted the dispute into a claim right now, so I have to wait till dec.24 to see what decision is made.
 

jbstuart

Junior Member
So the guy escalated the case into a claim and now I am waiting for them to settle it. Paypal is investigating it themselves and haven't asked for mine or his input. Do you all think it is more in my favor or his?
 

acmb05

Senior Member
So the guy escalated the case into a claim and now I am waiting for them to settle it. Paypal is investigating it themselves and haven't asked for mine or his input. Do you all think it is more in my favor or his?
PayPal is going to side with the seller. They almost always do.
 

jbstuart

Junior Member
If i leave him a negative feedback on his ebay account, would that have any interference with the paypal investigation?
 

SnowCajun

Member
If i leave him a negative feedback on his ebay account, would that have any interference with the paypal investigation?
I've always looked at the initial downpayment on the eBay Motors part of eBay as something nonrefundable, but that's just my view. This other guys view from what I've seen of his business via his eBay auction is strictly via the internet, he has no showroom, only a storage warehouse. Anyone should agree that he's bound to feel that when someone like you comes along and bids, then sends in a downpayment, that they've honestly decided they're serious about purchasing his item.

I also do know that when you confirm your bid on eBay that eBay considers that confirmation as a contract for you to fulfill your commitment to purchase. I think right now it's all balancing on whether or not this guy is generous enough to work with you or not. I'm not trying to be rude here, only honest, because you've come here asking for our opinions. As I see it from my side you've tipped the scales all the way over to the wrong side for yourself in this situation by bidding, sending in your downpayment, and then wanting to backout!

As someone else also said, at the very least you are most definitely owing him all of his eBay listing fee expenses, as well as any Paypal deductions for monies sent to him, which may include "make ready" fees also since he was expecting you to honor your bid, as anyone would, because you showed sincere interest by getting your deposit to him up front!

This isn't his fault and personally I think for you to post negative feedback against him would be 100% wrong. I can't see where the seller has done anything to deserve that from you because you decided to change your mind! All he did was provide an auction, which you bid on it and sent in a deposit for! I mean how can you blame him in any form or fashion? All he was doing was carrying on his business and certainly not expecting after you bid and paid the downpayment that you'd back out. In my view that's not enough reason for you to mess up his spotless record with negative feedback because you changed your mind.

The one thing I've learned in my nearly 56 years on this planet is that when you're wrong the only right thing to do is just man up to it and accept the fact, that if you cost someone else money and time from your mistake, or in this case your changing your mind, no matter the reason, then you make it right. I don't know your age but the one thing in this world I've learned over my years is that integrity and honor are two of the main things that makes you a real man in this world, and to strike back and someone else for something you caused damages you, not them. Truth, integrity, and honor make me feel cleaner than any soap ever has in this world, and that if you live by those standards instead of corrupting your ownself just over money, then you'll live a better life with more people looking up to you!

Everyone in life has had something come up unexpectedly forcing them to change their plans. Whatever happened that caused you to change your mind on this purchase isn't the sellers fault, so why should he suffer with negative feedback because of what's happened in your personal life? The ball is in your court, for your own sake I hope you make the right choice, in the long run you'll be much more proud of yourself for doing the right thing and people will look up to you for having done so!

That's just my 2 cents JB, I'm not an attorney but I've been around enough years to know the difference between right and wrong.

Good luck and take care,
SnowCajun
 
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