This is ridiculous...Ebay UK, that is. Every transaction on Ebay USA says "You have entered a legally binding contract". Nor will Ebay USA put up with non-delivery of a won item. The seller would have his account frozen. If this is what happens on your Ebay, I certainly understand why everybody hates it.

It doesn't matter if you are dealing with Ebay.com (USA), Ebay.UK, Ebay.CA or any other countries Ebay. They all say you are entering into a legally binding contract. That contract is between the buyer and the seller and Ebay has no way to compell the buyer to pay or the seller to sell.

Ebay can give a buyer a "non-paying bidder" strike or a seller a "non-performance" strike but that means little unless you get a number of these strikes. I challenge anyone to flat out tell me how many strikes it takes to be suspended but I guarantee you that one strike means nothing.

In this situation Paypal could freeze the seller's Paypal account if he refuses to sell and doesn't refund the buyer's payment. If the seller refunds the buyer's payment there is little recourse for the buyer through Paypal or Ebay. The buyer can give the seller negative feedback and nail his DSR ratings with all 1 out of 5's but that is it.

The bottom line on this situation is, the seller doesn't want to sell the sign and as long as he refunds the buyer's payment there is nothing Paypal or Ebay will do to force the matter. The buyer could live in Texas or Yorkshire, it doesn't matter, he isn't getting the sign and the seller will still be able to list as many items as his little evil heart desires.

Vlad

Hi Alan,

Emails can be submitted in court as a form of evidence, the same as other forms of documentation, letters, recordings, phone calls, texts etc.

Obviously they are subject to rigorous scrutiny.  In my ' other ' life / job !  I know of quite a few  ' people ' where harassment evidence against them has included texts and emails which have been sucessfully used to secure prosecutions

Lummox

Hi folks, thank you once again for all of your helpful comments, I am truly gratteful to you.  I took the advice given, declined the cancelation request and went ahead with the transaction by paying in full with paypal, minus the post.  The seller came back to me and reluctantly agreed to complete the transaction at the initial asking price of $875 and also deliver to my door.  Yesterday afternoon the sign (bigger than I had realised) arrived on my doorstep, this was a super gesture.  I was really pleased, it's in such excellent condition. Okay it might not be the most fantastic looking of signs in some collectors eyes but it is still quite difficult to come by a sign like this in this super condition and especially if you collect Irish whisky memorabilia as I do, that is the interest for me, in as far as it is now an integral part of a special collection.    In conclusion there were some lessons for me to learn with the help of this website and with thanks to all of your comments on everything especially regarding the security policies of paypal together with the power of a looming negative feedback comment which to be fair will not now happen in this case.  Again thanks, it's been great, really pleased with the successful outcome of this. BP.

Well done Blackpool

Power to the People !!

Lummox

the lad made a mistake he meant to put it up at the higher price lets not hang the lad for a simple mistake. i can tell a few storys about  gazumping  if you like.

blackpool really you should meet the lad half way with the money it was a mistake we all make them

Its only an old sign!!!
thats fair enough