what recourse does a buyer have when an item does not arrive?

[walo.au.3otl3oy6]

What recourse does a buyer have when an item is posted and does not arrive after several months?

[padi*0409]

If you paid by Paypal you have until 30 days after the last ETA of the parcel to open a case with eBay, if that has passed then you have 180 days after the purchase date to open a case with Paypal.

[hbrih3]

Ebay options seems to disappear after 60 days from purchase date. Some o/s sellers have over 60 days maximum expected delivery on their items which they allows them to avoid having eBay involved or getting a -ve feedback if taking the money and not sending the items.
Lesson here is if the maximum delivery date is more then 6 weeks from purchase date avoid buying from them at all costs, just not worth the hassle if the items are never sent or disappear in transit..

[davewil1964]

eBay allows a buyer to open a case within 30 days of the last expected ETA. If the expected ETA is over 60 days, a case can be opened 30 days later. You are correct in that feedback can only be left for 60 days from the date of transaction, but most people purchase for the goods, not the ability to leave feedback. I have had no feedback as a seller for my last 3 sales (at least), so it doesn't seem to be a priority for most buyers.

[sandypebbles]

Hopefully they used PayPal which give 6 months to open an  item not recieved dispute

And assumingly they have communicated with the seller already 

What does the tracking say?

Is it still floating around in transit somewhere?

[shayaman2]

According to my knowledge, first, try to contact the seller and get the refund. It doesn't work you can open a case on eBay.

[padi*0409]

Read my post about the time limits, by the sounds of it the OP has gone past the limit for an MBG claim.

Even with a Paypal claim if the seller can prove they have sent the item the buyer will lose the case, unlike eBay where delivery has to be proven.