PayPal Buyer Protection

You must open a dispute within 180 days of the purchase date for an item that is not received or significantly not as described. If the seller does not resolve the issue directly, you can escalate the dispute to a formal claim. PayPal will then review the transaction details to determine if you qualify for a full refund.

No, PayPal explicitly excludes industrial machinery, real estate, and motorized vehicles from its Buyer Protection program. Custom-made items and gift cards are also generally not covered if the seller can prove they delivered the item. You should always review the eligibility list before making high-risk or massive purchases.

If you receive an empty box or completely wrong item, you are covered under the 'Significantly Not As Described' clause of the policy. You will typically be required to ship the incorrect or empty package back to the seller with tracking information. Once PayPal verifies the tracking, they will usually issue a refund from the seller's account.

There is no extra fee applied to buyers for utilizing the standard Buyer Protection program; it is built into the transaction cost paid by the seller. However, if you are making an international purchase, currency conversion fees may still apply. The dispute resolution process itself is completely free for the buyer.