That's why I keep a completely separate and unconnected account only for PayPal and payment wires (different bank, no overdraft protection etc).

All funds are depleted the instant they arrive. I learned the hard way that I needed to protect myself and not rely on PayPal.

If I was the buyer, I would never ask for the $200 deposit back.

Plus the buyer has gone and purchased another game. It’s not like his mum died, or he’s in hospital. He just changed his mind. Shouldn’t he have asked the question about refunding the deposit before buying the other game?

And leaving it until the last minute before canceling, when he knew full well this guy was driving 5 hours?

Sorry, there are situations where I would refund the deposit in full but this is 100% not one of those situations.

Stop communicating with him man - he gave you the deposit then flaked out. $200 lesson for him

Is this guy a Pinsider? Open call for him to step up and hear why he thinks he deserves the $200 back

In my country, the law is:
If a buyer steps back, he loses the deposit.
If the seller steps back, he should pay back the deposit - 2 times.

Does this actually protect you in the long run? Can't paypal just leave your account in negative balance and the next time you sell something they then just recover the funds from that?

The risk is Paypal draining any connected account. If they assign a negative balance to the Paypal account you're not out a bunch of money while trying to sort things out.
If you give a hoot about Paypal you can sort it out at your leisure.

....after what you went through, I'd ask him for an additional $100!

How about this: no refund, but if he drives up to help you siphon the gas from your mom's SUV, he can keep half of it.

Based on the effort you put in to get this pin to him that early in the morning, keep the deposit. If you had done nothing and he was coming to your place to view the pin before finishing the deal, then I could see refunding some or all of the deposit.
I know that when I put down a deposit on a pin, there is a good chance I am not getting it back if I change my mind. And I wouldn't even ask for it back. That's why you do your research before sending over any money.

Again, what's the point of a deposit if it is refundable?

I'd tell him you are happy to give back $100 "cash" and that is welcome to DRIVE OUT to pick it up.

Situation sounds way too familiar. There are more flakes in this hobby lately than I have ever encountered. 5 in the last year for me.

You know, if this transaction had been put thru as a sales item where Paypal would get its commission I would be proactive and contact PP and say what is happening with this good faith deposit and see just where I stand if the depositor is going to try for a refund. But since this is F & F I don't know how friendly PP would be with this type of action.

I don't think OP has said whether it was F&F or a purchase transaction. If F&F it's at least slightly more work for the "buyer" to get his money back, since he'd have to do a chargeback through his CC.

too bad.... his loss. keep the deposit, that's what its for. so many flakey people out there in this hobby, teach him a lesson. Bet he don't do it again, help us all out in the future.

those things are beasts.

keep the deposit...Too much work on your part not to.

If the connect account is a negative balance for more than 72 hours, Paypal instantly sends it to a debt collection company.

They don't fool around.

Your credit rating takes a big hit, then your home/auto insurance goes through the roof.

72 hours doesn't seem plausible as they want you to send them a check to resolve a negative balance. Plus what if you're using Java...

https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/how-can-i-resolve-my-paypal-account-negative-balance-faq3088

If you have Java installed on your machine, you've got bigger problems than Paypal, lol

They did, -$600+..... so I opened a new PayPal account with a new email and bank account. Problem solved.

You were right to keep the deposit.

And the buyer was right to buy Iron Man instead of SW Episode I.

Too bad you didn't get to complete your sale though.