Consumer complaint received 2016-06-21
Company: Paypal Holdings, Inc
State: OH
Product: Money transfers
Sub-product: International money transfer
Issue: Other transaction issues

Complaint:
I found a snow mobile that I was interested in, which was located in XXXX, a city located in XXXX. I contacted the seller of the snow mobile and we exchanged conversation over the next week or so about the product, and purchasing it. The seller wanted me to wire him the money ( {$5000.00} ) but I did not feel safe buying something in another country by just wiring funds. I requested him to send me an invoice via PayPal as I assumed that PayPal was the safest way to make the payment in the event there was issues I would be protected and can easily file a dispute with PayPal to be protected. He was n't happy with receiving PayPal as a form of payment, but he did send me an invoice of {$5200.00} as I instructed him to so that he has the additional {$200.00} to cover the fees that PayPal will charge to receive the funds. 
After sending payment, I proceeded with trying to schedule my drive out to XXXX to pick up the snow mobile. Being a XXXX hour drive ( each way ) from XXXX OH where I am from, I wanted to ensure everything was in order for the long trip. 
He had told me the town he resided in, but never the exact address. I asked him numerous times, and his response was 'just head up here, I 'll give it to you when you are close '. I did not want to drive XXXX hours to not have an address of where to go to, especially crossing the border incase I was questioned for the drive when pulling a trailer. Within an hour of starting the drive, and insisting I received an actual address, the seller then stated that he either needed more money for the snow mobile due to PayPal fees ( which was incorrect ) or that he needed cash instead. Having already sent him the {$5200.00} which was already deducted from my account, and being a weekend, I was n't able to go and withdraw another {$5000.00}, especially since he had not refunded me the original payment. If he wanted me to bring cash, he could have easily refunded the payment, and I would have been able to reschedule the trip and bring actual cash if necessary. 
Since we did not come to terms on the purchase, I decided to turn back around and head home. 
Once I returned I asked him to issue a refund, which he ignored. I asked numerous time, stating that I would file a dispute with PayPal if he had not refunded me, which he also ignored. 
I file a dispute, later escalating it to a claim. The seller attached a tracking number in his answer to the dispute filed, and upon receiving the box that he had sent and attached a tracking number of in PayPal, the contents of the box were as follows : ( picture of box and contents also included in evidence pictures herein ) XXXX XXXX, bag of XXXX chips, hand cream, toy XXXX wheeler, picture of the sled being purchased inside XXXX XXXX, and disinfectant wipes. 
The claim got turned down via PayPal as they stated that this has to do with the purchase of a 'motor vehicle ' and they do not govern, not does a purchase of such fall under their buyer protection terms. 
I have filed a Police Report with my local Enforcement Agency, as well as made a Claim to the Ohio Attorney Generals Office. That claim number with the Attorney Generals Office is XXXX, filed on XXXX/XXXX/2016. 
I wish to file the claim here as this is absolutely a form of fraud this individual has committed, as well as to prevent him from doing so in the future as he seems like someone who will again and again after what seems like he is getting away with quite easily. 
Documentation being provided includes, full conversation via text message as a PDF file, Police report filed with local agency, copy of initial money transfer via PayPal, and pictures of box and its contents as received from the seller.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation