2 Buyers ignored Collection Only & paid via P/pal immediately & I refunded immediately via P/pal

[ermintrude41]

I had one item for sale clearly stating Collection Only, but a Buyer bought/paid & I refunded via P/pal & relisted the item. 

2nd Buyer did exactly the same & I refunded via P/pal the next day. 

The 3rd Buyer paid & Collected. 

Ebay has charged me a fee for 3 sales & on trying to sort it out, I've compounded the problem by inadvertently refunding the genuine Buyer & they don't know how to proceed. 

I now think I should have refunded via ebay?

This is the first time this has happend to me & I don't know how to get out of this muddle, so any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[rusticrye]

PayPal is not safe for sellers of collection items - no proof of posting receipt, which is the only thing a payment processor will accept for an Unauthorised Account Use claim.  The only safe payment methods are cash or bank transfer, once the buyer has fully examined the item and is happy with it.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to prevent buyers from paying by PayPal. And as PayPal no longer refund any part of the payment processing fee when a refund is actioned (something you may not be aware of...?), it's really no longer worthwhile listing collection items on Ebay in my view.  I personally list my collection items on Gumtree, Ebay's sister site, where I'm in total charge of how I'm paid. Plus, I can leave the ad running till someone has actually turned up, paid, and taken the item away.

@ermintrude41 

[ermintrude41]

Hi - Thank you for that information & I'll look into it.
On this occasion I'll have to treat it as a not too expensive lesson.
Regards, ermintrude41