Did not receive item from Groupon, PayPal denies claim

[Deactivated] on 08/07/2015 - 21:53
Last edited 09/07/2015 - 01:02 by 1 other user

Hello,

I ordered a blender back in late March from Groupon, did not receive anything and contacted Groupon, they said they resent the item but the tracking never worked.
Decided to claim via Paypal, but they replied "Unfortunately, we are refusing your claim because your purchase was for a virtual, digital or intangible item, which is not covered under PayPal Buyer Protection. We only cover claims involving physical items that can be shipped and tracked." Which is clearly not true…

Is there a way to get my money back? I paid using my bank account linked to Paypal, so I guess chargeback isn't really an option.

Related Stores

Groupon Australia

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• 

  Kawaii69 on 08/07/2015 - 22:56

  +1

  I'd say call up paypal again, and say argue that it clearly is a physical item, groupon is the worst, sibling ordered a luggage set for their trip, this was 1 and a half months before the trip and expected delivery time was 2 weeks so she ordered it, and nothing for 2 weeks, so she made a paypal dispute and it carried on for about another week, until they said they'll send it again, they sent it again, and 2 more weeks past and nothing, and then she just asked for a refund. The tracking we got was also invalid and didn't work, 3 days before the trip the luggage set ARRIVED and we had already received the refund. So I guess we ended up getting a luggage set for free. But yeah just call up paypal and talk to them over the phone, and also email groupon and explain to them both and hopefully you can get your money back or your blender delivered. Goodluck!

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 09/07/2015 - 14:20

    Ok, I just called them. They basically still uses the digital item BS to refuse the claim! They said that anything bought on Groupon is classified as intangible by Paypal… doesn't matter if it's actually tangible. The item I bought: https://www.groupon.com.au/deals/national-deal/groupon-goods…

    Looking to see if the financial Financial Ombudsman can help…..

    • 

      Kawaii69 on 09/07/2015 - 14:22

      Have you tried contacting groupon?

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 09/07/2015 - 14:38

        Contacted them back in May, and then again in June (I bought the blender in March…), they said they were gonna resend, but the tracking number was always invalid.

      • 

        Kawaii69 on 09/07/2015 - 14:41

        -1

        @clse945111: Contact them again repeatedly and argue that you want your money back or you'll be taking it up with the ACCC

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 10/07/2015 - 04:34

      +1

      They basically still uses the digital item BS to refuse the claim!

      According to Groupon's Terms and Conditions, customers don't buy physical products, they buy vouchers.

      2.1.3 "Merchant" means a third party seller of goods and services for which a Voucher can be redeemed.
      …
      2.1.5 "Purchase" means the purchase of a Voucher.
      …
      2.1.8 "Voucher" means a voucher subject to these terms and conditions, which, if purchased by you, entitles you (but not anyone else) to redeem it at a particular Merchant in exchange for Voucher Products offered by that Merchant.

      So PayPal isn't BS'ing, you did buy an intangible item - you bought and received a voucher from Groupon that entitled you to a blender.

      That's the system chosen by Groupon - your beef should be with them, not PayPal.

      Have you asked Groupon for a refund?

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 10/07/2015 - 11:42

        Except, I did NOT receive a VOUCHER, I did NOT have to REDEEM a voucher with a blender supplier. Groupon is the one responsible for the communication between themselves and the supplier, not me. Anyway I'll talk to Groupon again. Seriously if anything bought on Groupon is considered intangible, they should probably remove Paypal as a payment method.

      • 

        quop on 10/07/2015 - 13:21

        +1

        @clse945111:

        Are you sure you didn't receive a voucher? Check in your account - you might find one there. You might also find that there was no requirement for you to redeem the voucher (because it is done for you automatically).

        How to Redeem

        • Buy your Groupon
        • Ensure you enter correct address at checkout on Groupon website
        • No need for further action or redemption after checkout
        • Product will be shipped to you in approx. 3 weeks
        • To track the status of your order, visit: contact.groupon.com.au/track-order/

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 11/07/2015 - 03:03

        @clse945111:

        Seriously if anything bought on Groupon is considered intangible, they should probably remove Paypal as a payment method.

        From Groupon's point of view, I think they'd see it as beneficial that PayPal won't simply recall the funds.

        PayPal make it clear that Groupon purchases aren't eligible for their free return shipping service.

        PayPal Refunded Returns Service

        When can’t I use the Service?
        The Service does not apply to:
        …
        immaterial or intangible goods and voucher purchases (e.g. Groupon), licenses for digital content and services;

        Look, I sincerely hope you get this worked out quickly, either with Groupon, the merchant, or even PayPal. But PayPal aren't being a jerk and giving you BS answers.

        You say Groupon claimed they resent the item, but the tracking never worked. Have you raised that with Groupon? Get them to tell you where the item is according to the tracking, if they can't tell you, tell them they need to sort it out. You can also contact your fair trading department and ask them to assist.

• 

  Geewhizz on 09/07/2015 - 06:26

  +1

  Just call them up, rather than going through the automated online claims procedure.