Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
As most of you know, I recently bought a creality LD-001 SLA 3D printer. The slicing software doesn't work so I opened a claim at paypal and asked for a refund. I got the decision from paypal today, and they say they'll give me a full refund once the seller receives the item, returned at my expense, and they provided a return address in China. The post office quote to return it is $160 USD and they don't guarantee delivery before the return deadline given by paypal of February 11th. My first issue is that it's not my fault the software doesn't run (that's what they get for marketing a product that's still in beta and not informing the customer it's still got bugs) so why should I have to pay $160 to find out the software doesn't work? And second, they sent me this item from California, not from China, so why should I have to pay to send it to another country when it was shipped from within the US?
Paypal says all they can do is ask the seller for a return address within the US, but if they don't provide one I have to send it to China. We'll see what happens.
All this time I bought using paypal online, foolishly thinking the very worst that could happen is that it would take a few weeks to get my money back, and now it turns out I stand to lose about 30% of my money on this deal.
I hope others will benefit from my misfortune, and be aware that paypal protection, while better than nothing, isn't all it's cracked up to be.
One more thing - while the Creality FDM printers are pretty good, I strongly advise that you stay away from the LD-001, at least until it's been proven that all the bugs have been worked out and you're not going to end up like me, with a $500 paperweight.
Paypal says all they can do is ask the seller for a return address within the US, but if they don't provide one I have to send it to China. We'll see what happens.
All this time I bought using paypal online, foolishly thinking the very worst that could happen is that it would take a few weeks to get my money back, and now it turns out I stand to lose about 30% of my money on this deal.
I hope others will benefit from my misfortune, and be aware that paypal protection, while better than nothing, isn't all it's cracked up to be.
One more thing - while the Creality FDM printers are pretty good, I strongly advise that you stay away from the LD-001, at least until it's been proven that all the bugs have been worked out and you're not going to end up like me, with a $500 paperweight.
When FDR coined the phrase "The Arsenal of Democracy", he was talking about Detroit. Proud to live in the 2nd most violent city in America!!
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Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
That's real crap.
If it was me, I'd post a scathing review of the printer on YouTube, stating you'll consider removing the review when the company holds their hands up and admits they're in the wrong and puts things right by you.
Also it may help find out how many others are in the same boat as you, and if they also used PayPal, I wonder if it would make them take notice?
It seems to me that PayPal don't want to upset this seller as they must earn big bucks from them from all the sales, they don't earn so much from just you, so much for buyer protection. If anything, this really is a case for protecting the consumers.
If it was me, I'd post a scathing review of the printer on YouTube, stating you'll consider removing the review when the company holds their hands up and admits they're in the wrong and puts things right by you.
Also it may help find out how many others are in the same boat as you, and if they also used PayPal, I wonder if it would make them take notice?
It seems to me that PayPal don't want to upset this seller as they must earn big bucks from them from all the sales, they don't earn so much from just you, so much for buyer protection. If anything, this really is a case for protecting the consumers.
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Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
It's like eBay, they're too big to care about bad purchases, they earn so much money from the bigger sellers, why should they care when the sellers let down a few buyers.
I remember a few years ago, a couple of sellers stopped sending out any goods for months, loads of people bought items from them, yet eBay dragged their heels before they took proper notice and acted.
I remember a few years ago, a couple of sellers stopped sending out any goods for months, loads of people bought items from them, yet eBay dragged their heels before they took proper notice and acted.
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Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
You would think a youtube video would get their attention, but they'll never see it. I found out the hard way that creality does not have access to youtube. The Great Firewall of China, doncha know.
When FDR coined the phrase "The Arsenal of Democracy", he was talking about Detroit. Proud to live in the 2nd most violent city in America!!
Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
Creality may not see the video but plenty others will and they might vote with their cash.
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Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
I'll echo this so you don't have to Mr rochesbrochesb wrote:Creality may not see the video but plenty others will and they might vote with their cash.

Also if there are more disgruntled customers in the same boat, and the video builds a "band of brothers" you may be able to pressure PayPal.
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Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
I might try a video if they don't come up with a U.S. address. I already have a video showing the problem, I guess I could add to it and show how creality is screwing me. I'm pretty sure the demand that I ship to China is a tactic to discourage me from returning the item.
When FDR coined the phrase "The Arsenal of Democracy", he was talking about Detroit. Proud to live in the 2nd most violent city in America!!
Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
Not sure what the laws on libel & slander are like in the USA, just make sure you stick to the facts to avoid any legal threats of litigation.....
Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
That's good advice. I've been known to shoot my mouth off before so I'll be careful.
At this point I'm thinking of giving up on 3D printing all together. The FDM stuff is OK, but can't produce the quality I want and I keep having to put money into parts (just had to order a new heating end) so I might not even continue with that. There's only so much frustration one man can take, can ya dig it? I really am at my wits end with this thing. What I'd really like to do is take a sledge hammer to this thing, send all the tiny bits back to Creality, and tell them to pound it up the bum. I keep remembering the video of the soldiers in Iraq blasting that PC when it didn't work. Never an M-16 around when ya need one, eh?
The people I thought I could depend on for help have left me hangin' (none of those guys are members here), and even the guys I don't even know, like Chris in Canada, have been helpful but unsuccessful in finding a solution. I've tried every software I can find from any place I can find it (like facebook and all the other 3D print forums) and it still just sits there laughing at me and not printing a damn thing except the one test file. That would be great if all I wanted to print was small cubes with holes in them, but I need a wee bit more variety.
Anyway, I do feel slightly better after venting to you guys, so thanks for that.

At this point I'm thinking of giving up on 3D printing all together. The FDM stuff is OK, but can't produce the quality I want and I keep having to put money into parts (just had to order a new heating end) so I might not even continue with that. There's only so much frustration one man can take, can ya dig it? I really am at my wits end with this thing. What I'd really like to do is take a sledge hammer to this thing, send all the tiny bits back to Creality, and tell them to pound it up the bum. I keep remembering the video of the soldiers in Iraq blasting that PC when it didn't work. Never an M-16 around when ya need one, eh?
The people I thought I could depend on for help have left me hangin' (none of those guys are members here), and even the guys I don't even know, like Chris in Canada, have been helpful but unsuccessful in finding a solution. I've tried every software I can find from any place I can find it (like facebook and all the other 3D print forums) and it still just sits there laughing at me and not printing a damn thing except the one test file. That would be great if all I wanted to print was small cubes with holes in them, but I need a wee bit more variety.
Anyway, I do feel slightly better after venting to you guys, so thanks for that.

When FDR coined the phrase "The Arsenal of Democracy", he was talking about Detroit. Proud to live in the 2nd most violent city in America!!
- Son of a gun-ner
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Re: Do not rely on Paypal to protect you
At least you know some are on your side Gary 

Mick - The grit in the underpants of life!
Always happy to spare the bytes
Apparently my mind works in mysterious ways
TOTM needs YOU
support YOUR TOTM competition, I'm doing my part, are YOU?
Always happy to spare the bytes
Apparently my mind works in mysterious ways

TOTM needs YOU
