How effective is eBay's Money Back Guarantee?

[jvdv]

From what eBay advertises it seems pretty straight forward - you buy and pay for an item and if it isn't delivered within 30 days you get a refund from eBay. Sounds great but I have heard many stories where it isn't that straight forward.

In my case I bought and paid for a scanner a few days before Christmas. Several days later I receive a message from the seller saying he is away over Christmas / New Year but would post it on his return on Jan 10. I have messaged the seller twice this week with no response and there is no indication that the scanner has been sent.

Of course it may turn up but if not can I expect eBay to refund the payment?

[twyngwyn]

Only if you follow these rules:

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/buy/item-not-received.html

[lyndal1838]

You will only get a refund if you open a dispute within the 30 day time limit.

How long before Christmas did you buy the item?

I think you have been way to patient....I would have asked for a refund as soon as the seller told you he would not be posting till after the 10th January.

I think I would be opening the dispute now

[imastawka]

As Lyndal says, open the dispute - Item Not Received - immediately

as you bought it on 23rd December

I suspect the seller, who hasn't sold much,  didn't like the low price.

[phorum_junkie*]

If you want to rely on ebay then you should open a dispute straight away. Personally for an item not received dispute I would always open a Paypal dispute, they are not anywhere as likely to refuse you a refund if the parcel shows as having been delivered to a completely different suburb about 30k away.