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1/19/2010
We continue to do everything in our powers to make sure all customers and suppliers are made whole. Unfortunately, many PayPal customers have reported to us difficulties in getting their refunds through PayPal. In a recent conversation with PayPal regarding customer refunds this is what they told us.:
White Elephant Media: Are buyers being issued refunds?
PayPal: All transactions made between
11/16-11/22 were fully refunded. If these buyers attempt to open a
claim the dispute will be closed to avoid duplicate refunds. All other
buyers are being refunded who file within the 45day time frame of the
transaction. For buyers who file outside the 45 day time frame or made
a payment prior to November 1 2009 on the website (there was no buyer
protection prior to November 1) they are able to open a chargeback or
file an ACH return to receive a refund.
If you are a credit card customer please understand PayPal was our merchant processor for our credit card transactions. This means credit card charges were processed through PayPal, regardless of whether or not you have a PayPal account. As recommended by PayPal above, if you have not already received your refund through PayPal please contact your bank to initiate a chargeback or ACH return.
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Listed below are some encouraging emails we've received from our customers. Thank you so much for your understanding and loyalty. We've been egregiously wronged and unjustly put out of business; your support really helps. Thank you. :)
Ebay
has been an incredible and enjoyable experience for a long time.....
until John Donahoe's "disruptive innovations" were implemented to the
site. The sad truth is that those times have gone and it looks like
many other ex-ebayers need to look at other venues. Ebay is NOT what it
used to be - it has alienated its sellers and in doing so, its buyers
too. You are not alone. Many feel utter resentment now for the site
they once loved. 2010 will be the death-year of Ebay! I love your
merchandise, I have bought many DVD's from you before I stooped using
Ebay almost a year ago.
I am confident your quality items and great service will be a great success in little time if you start over. I will GLADLY buy from you.
G.
Thank you for responding to my email in this difficult time, I appreciate it. It is hard to maintain your professional head when all you want to do is go hide under a rock. I commend you all as you sort through this mess. My money was refunded, so you can scratch me off the list. Thank you for your excellent service, I did leave you good feedback about that you had made it right, even before I knew what was going on. I'm sorry things are so rotten right now. Hang in there, God prevails, if you give Him the power to do so, Blessings.
B.
I am very sorry to hear about what has happened to you.
Ebay has a real scam going in a number of different ways, and the sellers really have to eat the losses.
H.
Dear Sirs:
I appreciate the e-mail you sent me, when I wrote you, I was told how to recieve a refund.
You were correct, and I got my refund. Thanks for answering, and helping me.
You are kind and of excellent character by doing and acting like you do.
Thank you for your actions, you could have said,, Heck with all of it.
May God Bless you for your actions,, and the way you treat others.
I hope you will always be treated like you treat folks,
No One else would have cared for the customer if what happened to you,
Happened to them.
Thank you and I wish you the very best.
I am so sorry, you had trouble., you did not pass it to the customer.
You are truly one in a million, with the actions you showed.
Thank you for your kindness,,
L.H.W.
Hello-
I just visited your web page detailing your entanglement with Paypal, so I thought I'd write to let you know that since I never received the DVD, I filed a dispute claim for a refund through Paypal as you suggested. Sorry to hear about this problem- I have purchased many DVD's through Whit Elephant and even some from Moonbase, and have had nothing but good service from you.
Hope things can be resolved and keep up the good work (along with making the behind-the-scene details of Paypal and ebay public so the truth can coem out). Here's to a better 2010!
T.M.
Hi there,
I'm sorry for the awful circumstances you guys are facing at present, I knew there was more to it as I found you to be great ebay sellers.
Don't forget it was Goliath that fell in the end, not David.
Best regards
K.
I am confident your quality items and great service will be a great success in little time if you start over. I will GLADLY buy from you.
G.
Thank you for responding to my email in this difficult time, I appreciate it. It is hard to maintain your professional head when all you want to do is go hide under a rock. I commend you all as you sort through this mess. My money was refunded, so you can scratch me off the list. Thank you for your excellent service, I did leave you good feedback about that you had made it right, even before I knew what was going on. I'm sorry things are so rotten right now. Hang in there, God prevails, if you give Him the power to do so, Blessings.
B.
I am very sorry to hear about what has happened to you.
Ebay has a real scam going in a number of different ways, and the sellers really have to eat the losses.
H.
Dear Sirs:
I appreciate the e-mail you sent me, when I wrote you, I was told how to recieve a refund.
You were correct, and I got my refund. Thanks for answering, and helping me.
You are kind and of excellent character by doing and acting like you do.
Thank you for your actions, you could have said,, Heck with all of it.
May God Bless you for your actions,, and the way you treat others.
I hope you will always be treated like you treat folks,
No One else would have cared for the customer if what happened to you,
Happened to them.
Thank you and I wish you the very best.
I am so sorry, you had trouble., you did not pass it to the customer.
You are truly one in a million, with the actions you showed.
Thank you for your kindness,,
L.H.W.
Hello-
I just visited your web page detailing your entanglement with Paypal, so I thought I'd write to let you know that since I never received the DVD, I filed a dispute claim for a refund through Paypal as you suggested. Sorry to hear about this problem- I have purchased many DVD's through Whit Elephant and even some from Moonbase, and have had nothing but good service from you.
Hope things can be resolved and keep up the good work (along with making the behind-the-scene details of Paypal and ebay public so the truth can coem out). Here's to a better 2010!
T.M.
Hi there,
I'm sorry for the awful circumstances you guys are facing at present, I knew there was more to it as I found you to be great ebay sellers.
Don't forget it was Goliath that fell in the end, not David.
Best regards
K.
Dear white elephant
very sorry for your unfortunate circumstances - hope every thing gets sorted out.
hope all works out for you all, and sorry for all those who lost there jobs aswell. especially when in these days everyone has to feed there families. anyway take care and hope all works out well
V.M.
UNBELIEVABLE ONE OF MY BEST SOURCES FOR MUSIC. SHAME SHAME SHAME ON EBAY
Never ever had a problem with you guys
R.N.
Hi there;
After being very confused for quite awhile I was able to locate the message on your main webpage. I just wanted to say thanks for posting that and that I understand that because ebay and paypal have frozen your assets that you can't ship what I paid for. I actually was a bit slow on the draw and missed the date to file dispute claims with either ebay or paypal so I had to file a claim through my credit card company + I am condient that I'll get a refund through some avenue. No problem.
I just wanted to say thanks for posting the information. It seems like you are in an even worse spot than the customers who didn't get their products. Good luck, and if you get reinstated I would still order from you guys in the future.
M.
Thank you for your email. I will request a refund. I have bought items from you before and have never had a problem You always had great service, shipping, and products. I hope everything gets worked out in your favor. I will contact you if they do not refund my money. Thanks again for the update!
K.
Dear White Elephant,
I'm very sorry to hear all that's happened. I know you've been around a good amount of time. And having to let employees go before Christmas. Anytime really..especially for those who have families, pay rent and mortgages..That's terrible. I pray things are resolved and you once again get established.
T.T.
I did take a look at my recent paypal history. My last purchase with you was a refund.
The service was prompt and I have nothing to complain about. I know it was not your fault, Seems you are the one being blamed for a bad situation with ebay. I appreciate the good service that you have given me.
Whoever screwed your good name needs to be taken out and shot.
H.W.
While we understand the need to vent and send hateful emails, such as the one below, please keep in mind this situation was not of our doing and we're working to make sure everybody is taken care of.
I HOPE YOU DIE IN A FIRE
WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND
I AM TELLING EVERYBODY I KNOW ABOUT HOW YOU GUYS RIPPED ME OFF
HAVE A ROTTEN HOLIDAY
R.M.
WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND
I AM TELLING EVERYBODY I KNOW ABOUT HOW YOU GUYS RIPPED ME OFF
HAVE A ROTTEN HOLIDAY
R.M.
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We at White Elephant Media and related companies (Outpost Media Deals, Mediamusement and Moon Base Media) are terribly sorry for the problems you have had with your shipments. We are not ignoring you, we are overwhelmed. We are working to resolve all problems. We greatly appreciate your patience.
eBay/PayPal unjustifiably shut down our accounts without any notice whatsoever. We are trying to ascertain the reason for this other than what they considered was "increased fraud risk". We want to point out that White Elephant Media has been in business for nearly 6 years and was one of eBay’s largest sellers. We had outstanding customer service ratings. We were a real brick and mortar business with numerous employees, and a large monthly volume. The point is we weren’t a fly by night business, and actually had met with eBay/PayPal personnel on our premises as part of the "fraud risk assessment" program. Nothing had changed in our business. In short we are completely perplexed why we are in this position.
We are working long hours diligently to resolve all issues and see that EVERYONE gets paid, both customers and suppliers. Nothing will be done over the next few weeks during which we will be working long hard hours to resolve these issues, while we meet with consultants and advisers to develop a strategy to see that everyone gets paid. Bankruptcy is an easy $850.00 solution, we want to take the more difficult route and see everyone gets paid.
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We suggest you apply to PayPal for a refund as they have frozen our money and seized all accounts, it is impossible for us to ship and there will be no more shipments. If you wish to contact us about your sales order then please do so at the complaint email address below, please understand we are behind over 21,000 emails as of December 2nd, and we have only a skeleton staff working. Please be patient. We are working on a plan to pay everyone.
complaint@whiteelephantmedia.com
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If you have had similar eBay/PayPal problems or know someone that has please contact us at the ebayabuse email below.
ebayabuse@whiteelephantmedia.com
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If you are reading this, you are probably upset. You paid for product and it wasn’t shipped, which is probably why you are at this site. We understand - we are upset also. No shipments or refunds will be able to come from us. We don’t have access to our PayPal account. With that said, eBay and PayPal have indicated that they will be handling refunds using money they seized from us. Some of our customers have received refunds and others haven’t. We are still trying to figure out what happened with PayPal and eBay. The money for us to operate is in our PayPal account, but we have been barred from accessing it. We are working to resolve this issue and to pay everyone that PayPal/eBay has not taken care of. This will not be a fast process, though.
Our PayPal/eBay account was closed November 18, 2009, after selling successfully on eBay for almost 6 years. Several weeks ago, we were asked by PayPal to give them a “deposit” so we could keep accepting PayPal payments. (And if you sell or buy on eBay, you know you have to use PayPal). At first PayPal asked for us to pay $212k into this deposit account. They expected it to be funded in about 3 months. On November 13th, 2009 PayPal decided to increase the amount they wanted from us. Basically, in order for us to keep selling like we have been for years, PayPal increased the amount they needed in our “deposit” account to $600k. (Many eBay sellers are facing this type of problem).
They closed our account after we indicated it would be impossible to come up with $600,000 in about 6 weeks during the holidays. Why they wanted more than a half a million dollars and when it would be repaid if ever was exceptionally nebulous and never explained to us. 48 hours after we were locked out of our account, there was well over $230k in the account. That is the money we use to pay for our merchandise and postage. We were denied access to it and therefore we are unable to operate.
Imagine if you own your home and have been making payments on it regularly for 6 years and all of a sudden your bank says you have to pay an extra year’s worth of payments next month or you will be evicted from your home. We don’t feel this is right and we are working to get this corrected.
The minute we found out that PayPal and eBay froze our accounts we stopped selling and stopped shipping in our 4 eBay brands; White Elephant Media, Outpost Media Deals, Mediamusement and Moon Base Media. With that said, several days later we noticed sales were continuing on eBay under our names, but it wasn’t us, we didn’t authorize this and we didn’t receive any money. We have no idea how eBay and PayPal are doing this. We notified PayPal/eBay that it was going on and that we did not have product to ship, but to this day sales are still occurring. Please understand we have nothing to do with these sales.
We are devastated. We were forced to lay off our 20-person staff in November. And we know there are customers out there that are waiting for their products. We are trying to solve this as we speak.
As there are updates, we will post them here. In the meantime, you can get your money back by contacting the PayPal and/or eBay resolution center.
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Below is some useful information you might want to download and read.
The first is a Consent Decree signed by PayPal with the Attorney General of New York regarding PayPal highly questionable business practices, in addition to the $1.7 million dollar settlement they paid with the Attorney General of Florida’s office.
Download Consent Decree information
Second is a lawsuit against PayPal involving many of the same issues as in our situation, you might like to download it.
Download lawsuit information
Finally, here is the Judge Fogel order in the case when eBay tried to get the court to dismiss the suit. You can read it yourself, but the Judge found there was enough evidence of wrong doing from eBay that the case should proceed and not be dismissed.
Download Judge Fogel order
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AGAIN IF YOU KNOW OF ANYONE WHO HAS HAD EBAY/PAYPAL CLOSE THEIR BUSINESS WITHOUT GOOD REASON PLEASE HAVE THEM CONTACT US
ebayabuse@whiteelephantmedia.com
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Sincerely,
White Elephant Media, Inc.