Paypal orders the destruction of $2,500 Violin

[kev]

This is a fun one!

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/01/04/paypal_destroys_violin/

 

[DanLights]

wait, so the rules actually say that Paypal demands the buyer to destroy an item if (he thinks) it´s fake? Wow.

 

[Proggm]

Update: PayPal has contacted The Register via its PR agency to point out the reason that the destruction of goods exists in its terms and conditions. "The reason why we reserve the option to ask the buyer to destroy the goods is that in many countries, including the US, it is a criminal offense to mail counterfeit goods back to a seller", we are told.

Well, it makes sense.

 

[DanLights]

How does it make sense that it´s illegal to mail counterfeit goods back to the seller?

 

[Wohma]

Because you give him a chance to try again. Which in a way makes you an accomplice. If I was selling fake Gibson guitars on eBay and all that could happen to me would be buyers returning their goods to me, now THAT would be a business.

 

[updog]

so how would they ever know the violin (or any item for that matter) is actually destroyed? counterfeit goods usually aren't of absolute zero value, like this violin here.

paypal was probably doing this by the book, but i still can't help but feel a bit of "fuck you" on paypal's behalf...

 

[Empathy]

This should clear up a few things;

http://www.regretsy.com/2012/01/03/from-the-mailbag-27/

 

[DeclanWhite]

ive been fucked in the ass by paypal twice. first time i bought something that never arrived... i won the claim, but the seller had already removed their bank details so i wasnt able to get any money from it. second time i sold a few fair of drumsticks for 50$ and the seller disputed and i provided evidence of it being sent, but they still won for some reason...

 

[Proggm]

How does it make sense that it´s illegal to mail counterfeit goods back to the seller?

Because you give him a chance to try again. Which in a way makes you an accomplice. If I was selling fake Gibson guitars on eBay and all that could happen to me would be buyers returning their goods to me, now THAT would be a business.

This.

 

[Rogueleader]

That's horrible, but its nothing compared to...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/apr/28/krystian-zimerman-missile-defence-poland

"Shortly after 9/11, his piano was confiscated by customs officials at New York's JFK airport, who thought the glue smelled funny. They subsequently destroyed the instrument."

 

[Loren Littlejohn]

Yeah I would be furious if I received a knock off. I mean put yourself in the buyers shoes, would you want to be out $2500 on a fake?

I'm not saying this was or was not a fake, I'm just saying if you bought one you would do whatever to get your money back.