just one question about standard business practice of paypal

[dmichaelg]

If a business in Hong Kong does not advertise its location and a friend purchases an item from this company, via a facebook ad link, and this company is supported by Paypal payment, is Paypal abetting fraudulent business practice if my friend receives an item very different than the one pictured and described in the ad?

[kernowlass]

@dmichaelg 

Paypal would not be able to check every seller / merchant in over 200 countries worldwide that adds paypal to their website to accept payments.
So they give you 'some' buyer protection but the onus is on you to risk assess your transactions.

They do stop bad companies from using Paypal when enough claims start rolling in.
However as they are in China (mostly) then its easy for them to just start over with a new name, so stopping them does not really do anything.

The BEST thing is to not buy from them in the first place, to recognise them -

1. No return address on the returns policy. The site will look as if its in your country (where they despatch goods from) but they will ask for returns to go back to China (returns depot) at a shipping cost often more than the item is worth.
2. No contact telephone number. if you click on contact the most you will get is webmail or an email address.
3. Rarely company address information.
4. Great pictures of items at bargain prices that turn out to be tat.
5. Fake reviews.
6. Google and you can often see previous company names as they change them once enough claims roll in and Paypal stop them using their services and start over.

[dmichaelg]

The argument for "let the buyer beware" is time-tested, we know. My personal thought on the matter, and agreeing with everything you say, is this -- When a younger, more impulsive buyer sees the Paypal method of Payment, it may be easy to infer that Paypal has lent some credibility to that site, or outright approval of the business, without checking the bottom of the page for those specifics you mentioned. After all, Paypal MUST HAVE some demand to shpw credulity before allowing any site to use not only its service, but its brand, in good faith, as well.

[kernowlass]

@dmichaelg 

Even credit cards have terms and conditions and don't cover you for everything, so yes its always buyer beware.

[dmichaelg]

That is a difficult question to ponder, i guess, unless you are practiced in legal matters and/or major marketing decisions.