Hasta La Ideas

This is what happens when you rip The Clash off on eBay

As product designers we’re supposed to play a role in keeping objects out of the wastestream. Consumers play their part too, with sites like Craigslist and eBay providing a vast network for vintage and antique object reallocation among enthusiasts. And while Craigslist runs on sneakernets and cash, eBay’s financial engine is PayPal.

In a rather sad story currently making the blog rounds, PayPal has a mechanism in place to deal with counterfeit objects and refund issuance. After a recently disputed transaction involving a $2,500 antique violin—the seller claimed it was real, the buyer said it was fake—PayPal told the buyer they’d issue a refund, upon providing evidence that they destroyed the object in question. The buyer complied.

Hit the jump to read the tale, as told by the seller.

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