How I got scammed by TinyDeal and Paypal - UPDATED

I’ve been a member for a little while now, and for my flashlight related shopping I mainly use the big sellers. Once in a while I shop for cheap small things from other sellers. It was my misfortune on a fine august day to shop from a little store called TinyDeal. I purchased a cheap clone of Google Cardboard for $4.69, air mail non-registered, just for the fun of it. All was fine and dandy until the 45’th day since the order, when I opened a Paypal dispute for non-receipt. I was saying how I didn’t receive the order, Tinydeal was saying how they were “urging” the post office to deliver my very important cargo. Then, out of nowhere, they produced a tracking number. I purchased the product non-registered airmail, mind you. Weirdly enough, the tracking number, RS141408429NL, displayed as delivered at the post office near my home, where I always pick up the orders.
Now, I don’t know if they shipped my order at the same time with someone’s registered order from my area, or if the number is fake. I found it strange from the beginning that is was 10 days from time of order to actual shipping. Stranger thing is, Paypal decided the case in his favour. I don’t know is Paypal asked Tinydeal for more details regarding shipping, an invoice or something, but they never asked me for any details regarding this transaction. I have, of course, emails from Tinydeal confirming my order airmail non-registered. I even wrote to Paypal asking them to review the emails , but I think that will lead to no result.

You may ask why am I bothered, it is only $4 and change. It’s not about the sum of money, it’s just that I hate scammers and thieves and I will do anything to catch them. As far as I know, they stole from me and were aided in the process by Paypal, who also makes a nice profit on each and every transaction we make through them and they should provide protection from these very cases. Is this normal, am I being unreasonable?

You are right!
I really hate this thing and…hate Paypal too |(
Hope for you to win the cause and have your money back in your wallet.

the tracking no looks legit

could it be maybe the post office delivered the package to the wrong address?

@ tempo - yes the number is legit, it shows someone receiving something. I never ordered with tracking, the screenshot of my account shows Non-Registered Airmail and the first time I’ve seen this tracking number was when I filed the Paypal case

@ jmpaul320 - someone obviously had to sign for it, the address in my TinyDeal account is correct, also in the Paypal case details as well. Paypal could have asked TinyDeal for the address that tracking number leads to, but they chose not to.

PayPal has never (yet) failed to protect me. But, if they did, the next step I would take is going to my bank and see if they will decide in my favor and reverse the charge. I know most banks have protection policies for unauthorized transactions, but they may also have other fraud protections. It may be hard to convince them you did not receive the item, but it might be worth the try. If you succeed, you will be sending both Tinydeal and PayPal a clear message that they don’t have a right to your money just because they want it.

Ouch. Very sneaky!

Well… you can bet your bottom dollar I’m not buying from Tinydeal (for sure)….

I’ve thought about doing the chargeback claim with my bank, I will certanly look into it. I paid with a debit, not credit card.

For a small amount of money it’s often easier to do a charge back with a debit card, than with a credit card, or at least it is in the UK

Same here.

You may wish to update your post in the dealer rating thread with this information.

Came to my mind a similar issue… (in spanish) Electronic Cigarette - Página 26 - ForoLinternas - Foro sobre linternas y tecnología LED

Good info antiparanoico!

hi Daniel

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

But I'll try my best to solve this problem for you.

I will PM you, please tell me more details.

Thanks.

Seems like the problem is with your post office. Have you contacted them?

Why should I contact the post office? Tinydeal gave paypal a tracking number that shows a package being delivered somewhere to weasel out of refunding. Again, I did not purchase with tracking number. The post office does not hand out packages to just anyone, you have to present a valid ID to pick up the parcel IF the tracking number is in your name.

I’ve had the UPS driver come and get my signature and hand me a package, I go upstairs then realize its not even addressed to me, then have to run after the delivery guy… I’ve also had the post office deliver the wrong packages. That there was no tracking is odd, but it seems Paypal should check who exactly signed for what…

Agree. It seems to show a pattern of creating a tracking number for PayPal claims. I wonder if they intentionally don’t send if no tracking, and they have a recent tracked item in your area?

Wow that indeed would be very wrong on so many levels. It seemed odd that they postponed shipping as much as possible even though there was plenty of stock according to their site.