The People vs Paypal

So here's the basic rundown of what happened with me, hid-lights.com, and paypal


I order HID Ballast #1 from hid-lights.com
hid-lights.com tells me Ballast #1 is out of stock, my $57.99 is refunded to my paypal. However HID Ballast #2($65 + $7.99 s/h) is new and similar to Ballast #1
I ask in email reply if Ballast #2 is sure to work with my kit... no reply. I order Ballast #2 on their previous reccommendation
Ballast #2 is NOT compatible with my kit :slap: I immediately email hid-lights.com about an exchange
After much delay and the opening of a Paypal buyer dispute, hid-lights.com emails me RMA# to send back Ballast #2 in exchange for Ballast #1
I send back Ballast #2 ($13.26 out of my pocket)... Ballast #1 never shows up
I email hid-lights.com directly as well as post in the open buyer dispute about my level of pissedoffedness
hid-lights.com never responds, I escalate the dispute to a claim
Claim is denied by Paypal on the grounds of the dispute "concerning the quality or attributes of the product, not the shipment of goods"
I email Paypal explaining that I am not just displeased that the item was incompatible, but that I sent the item back in exchange and never heard from the seller again


Anybody ever fought Paypal and won?.. or am I just beat out of my $86 :frown: Also notice that on their website (http://www.hid-lights.com/hid-accessories.htm) all items listed are still "in stock" yet I've been waiting for my ballast since 1972

And more importantly, anybody know where I might be able to get an HID ballast like this (http://www.hid-lights.com/supervisionballast.jpg)??? I haven't had use of both my headlights for over two months now :frown: :frown:

I'm comfused, how is this paypal's fault? Scams happen...and that's a lot less than I was scammed out on.

Well shipping costs are non-refundable anyway, so you are entitled your $65 back. But since Paypal denied your claim for whatever reason, chances are you are SOL unless somehow the seller feels bad and decides to refund you anyway...don't hold your breath.

I'm comfused, how is this paypal's fault? Scams happen...and that's a lot less than I was scammed out on.

This isn't paypal's fault necessarily, but if they're going to have this pseudo juicial branch of the system then it should work properly. I thought as the sanctioning body of so many internet transactions they would be interested in reuniting me with either my money or my goods.

I know I'm not the first guy to be pimped on ebay but I'm sure somebody must have been able to work through the system and perhaps get a hold of someone with both brains and authority

That's one of the reasons I don't purchase very often, it at all, over the internet...

I've been waiting for my ballast since 1972


So then you shouldn't mind waiting a little longer...

^lol

Paypal emailed me back and basically told me they don't have to do anything since its my fault I sent the ballast back to them. So since they won't help I emailed the seller again trying to strike a deal on applying my $72 to a whole new kit since the one I have is now listed Out of Stock (which means it'll most likely never be reordered) I also told them my last resort is to visit their offices in Lawrenceville GA to speak with whoever necessary to resolve my issue. I'll see if they respond...

Did you order direct off their web site or via one of their EBay auctions? Paypal is just a convenient payment clearinghouse so their decision sounds satisfactory. If the transaction was through EBay then you could have recourse or some form of dispute resolution. If not then try to work it out with them direct.

It looks like Hid-lights.com is also seller importsquare on EBay located in Lawrenceville, GA. This seller has a history of negative feedback on EBay especially the past 12 months. See link below.

http://feedback.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback&userid=importsquare&myWorld=true


The old saying "buyer beware".

wish I had seen that before, I never would've used em. I bought my HID kit from their ebay store a few years ago. For the replacement ballasts I ordered through their site.

In any event, I'm quite serious about paying them a visit at their office in Georgia. I'll be in Atanta in a little while anyway and Lawrenceville isn't far away.