Only received a partial refund

[josie_s_86]

I recently tried to purchase some items from a seller. Unfortunately, despite the listing saying otherwise, the seller refused to ship to Australia due to Covid (which I understand).

So he cancelled my order and refunded my money. No problem or so I thought. I found out that the refund was $30 dollars short and Ebay had given me some lame voucher, which was worth $30 dollars, that could only be used if I signed up to Ebay plus and for only certain items with a strict time limit to use said voucher. You can't take money and only give a gift voucher back Ebay.

Suffice to say I'm not happy and have tried to contact Ebay and looked through their confusing help menu to no avail. I don't believe the seller is at fault, I believe Ebay is at fault. So does Ebay actually have a contactable phone number in Australia any more(I have tried one but is was disconnected!) so I can resolve this issue. I would really like to resolve this before informing my bank of the fraud committed. 

Has this issue happened with anyone else?

Thanks.

[imastawka]

Chat is the only option these days.

The phones have been closed down for months due to Covid

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/startchat_click?topicId=4000&contextId=b88c4b2d-b59c-4560-89df-ceb0b18c...

Scroll to the bottom of the page

[springyzone]

Correct me if I have this wrong, but are you saying that you signed up for ebay plus and were given a $30 voucher, which you then used to go towards this purchase.

But now the seller has refunded you but the amount you received back is minus the $30 voucher amount.

There was someone else on the boards just a few days ago, asking virtually the same question, which was if there was some way to get their voucher reinstated after a cancellation of a sale.

I don't like your chances as most vouchers are one use only. Do as stawka suggests and contact chat, you never know, they may give you another voucher but as you mentioned, they usually have strict time limits.

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The way your post read though, it sounded as if your refund was $30 short but you were offered an ebay voucher. Are you 100% sure that offer was in relation to your purchase? I had exactly the same offer pop up recently and yes, it was for $30 if I joined ebay plus. I didn't take it up but ebay does make different offers now and then, although mine have never been in compensation for anything. I guess what I am asking is, if this is what you think has happened to you, did anyone specifically say this to you or have you just assumed it because the offer showed up at the same time as the cancellation?

Ebay does not normally refund money for part of a cancellation, normally that would come from the seller.

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The only other thing I can think of to account for a refund difference would be currency exchange differences although it wouldn't come to $30 I wouldn't think, not unless you had made a fairly big purchase.

[lyndal1838]

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@josie_s_86 wrote:

I recently tried to purchase some items from a seller. Unfortunately, despite the listing saying otherwise, the seller refused to ship to Australia due to Covid (which I understand).

A lot of overseas sellers are currently refusing to ship overseas due to the very slow delivery times but most of them just change their shipping services.  I am surprised you were able to pay if the seller was not currently shipping internationally.

So he cancelled my order and refunded my money. No problem or so I thought. I found out that the refund was $30 dollars short and Ebay had given me some lame voucher, which was worth $30 dollars, that could only be used if I signed up to Ebay plus and for only certain items with a strict time limit to use said voucher. You can't take money and only give a gift voucher back Ebay.

If you have used a voucher to pay part of your invoice you do not get that back in cash.  You get back the money you paid and the voucher value goes back to ebay.

If you joined ebay Plus you are still liable for the joining fee and you will still get all the perks of that membership for the next 12 months.  If you do not want the membership to cntinue you need to cancel before it renews in 12 months time.  There is a lot more to ebay Plus than getting one voucher.....maybe you need to read the Terms and Conditions before sounding off.

Suffice to say I'm not happy and have tried to contact Ebay and looked through their confusing help menu to no avail. I don't believe the seller is at fault, I believe Ebay is at fault. So does Ebay actually have a contactable phone number in Australia any more(I have tried one but is was disconnected!) so I can resolve this issue. I would really like to resolve this before informing my bank of the fraud committed. 

The phone centre has been closed down since early in the year due to coronavirus....much the same as many businesses all over the world.

NO fraud has been committed.....you used a gift voucher to pay part of an invoice and it was returned to the issuer (ebay) when you received a refund of the money YOU paid.

You have not lost anything.

Has this issue happened with anyone else?

It happens to everyone who uses a voucher as part payment of an invoice if the transaction is cancelled and the payment refunded.

Thanks.

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[josie_s_86]

Sorry if I wasn't clearer Springzyzone.

No I never signed up for Ebay plus, Ebay was wanting me to and offering a $30 dollar voucher.

I do think Ebay offered the voucher as a good will gesture as it coincided at the exact same time as the refund and the refund was exactly $30 dollars short, the same amount as the voucher. No, no one has said anything to me one way or another and I have only assumed given the timing and the amount.

I did make a fairly big purchase, although the currency exchange rates have never really been an issue. Usually the exact same amount has been refunded even with large purchases.

If it it a currency exchange rate issue, then that's a pretty **bleep**ty thing to do, considering the seller said he would ship overseas in the listing and cancelled the order without telling me and it was only through me phoning America finding out the reason why he cancelled. He even relisted the item saying he would ship overseas when he has no intention of doing so.

[springyzone]

Thanks for getting back to clarify.

Firstly, I have to say I don't think the voucher was offered to you as compensation for a shortfall in your refund.

I know it may have occurred at the same time as you were having difficulties with your purchase but I think that is just coincidence.

Ebay regularly makes special offers to members, via messages, with invitations to sign up for ebay plus. These deals have differed over time but as I said, I received the exact same $30 voucher offer recently so I suspect it was sent to a lot of people.

One thing I have noticed (learnt) from this board though is not every member receives certain offers. Sometimes you'll hear of someone getting a message about an offer but another person doesn't get it. So even if you have friends who may not have received the offer, it doesn't mean the offer was specific to you, if that makes sense. It will probably have gone to a lot of different people, just not every single person.

The $30 shortfall in your refund then has to have some other explanation as I don't believe the $30 voucher offer was meant as a substitute.

What I would do is message the seller. Mention that you received a refund but it was $30 short of what you paid and ask them to clarify exactly how much they refunded as you are trying to work out what happened. I can only think of currency exchange problems but it does seem a large amount. It can add up though.

If you don't get any clear answers from that, I would do as imastawka suggests and contact ebay chat. I wouldn't even mention the voucher offer as I think that will just confuse the issue, just say you made a purchase that the seller cancelled but the refund you received came up $30 short, could they check it out and explain.

I'd love to hear how you get on with this. Good luck.

[lyndal1838]

Thanks for the clarification....I think I may have the answer now.

Could you post the item number so we can check for sure?

I suspect that the item was listed with Global Shipping, whether the seller realised it or not.

The seller gets paid for the item and any postage within the USA.  The rest of the postage and charges (including the GST) goes to Pitneey Bowes who arrange the shipping internationally once they receive the item in KY.

If the seller refunds you without a dispute being opened he can only refund what he received.   If an official dispute is opened by you, it should also trigger a refund of the money sent to Pitney Bowes for the international postage, fees and GST.

I agree with Springy.....the $30 voucher is co-incidence.  I had the same one that expired on 31/10 and yesterday I got another one for the same amount.  lol

Just a tip....if you want to join ebay Plus wait till the voucher goes up to $50 and cover your year's subscription in one go.

[pc-blackice]

The $30 Ebay plus voucher with the redemption code "YOGIFT"? because a lot of people got that voucher

[laceyribbons6329]

Hi, I'm also having a problem with a refund.  Returned a shirt, US $39.99, immediately received US $39.99, but didn't reliaze that I paid $54.13 Australian.  I have been chasing the buyer as they have to request EBay to make the full refund.  I'm finding they are not understanding why I want the difference.  Have tried to make contact with EBay, but unable to as the item is more then 10 days old!  I'm thinking, no more purchases from the USA! 

[davewil1964]

If you paid $US39.99 and were refunded $US39.99, you were refunded in full. If it's sitting in your Paypal account as $US, convert to $A. You might even make a profit.

Changes to exchange rates are a risk you take. Neither the buyer nor eBay is obliged to give you any difference.