What to do when seller blocks return and refund?

[julian_oz]

I wish there was a way to contact eBay Customer Support but the web site sends me around and around in circles with no opportunity to ask eBay for help.

I bought a product from a Seller in *August*.

The product had mismatched parts so it is impossible to use.

I alerted them three days after delivery.  They wanted photos.  Then they wanted videos.  Then they wanted delay for the original supplier to respond.  Then endless circular excuses.

Eventually agreed to return and refund.  After two weeks the return postage label they SAID they sent has not arrived.

They are obviously trying to "run out the clock" and wear me down.

What can I do?

There is no way that I can contact eBay - the return is "in progress", right?  But it will never happen because they haven't sent the return postage label.  I'm blocked.

Suggestions.  Anything.  Help.

~~ Julian

[*casey*]

"the return is "in progress", right?"

The seller's been fobbing you off, lying to you.  There's no return in progress.

You should have opened an item not as described dispute  through eBay's money back guarantee but you only had 30 days so I think you'll be out of time for that 

https://pages.ebay.com.au/ebay-money-back-guarantee/

If you paid with Paypal, you have 180 days to file a claim.

Or if that fails, you may be able to do a chargeback through your bank.

[julian_oz]

Thank you SO much for taking the time to help a dope.

So by stringing me along the Seller ensured that I timed out of eBay's guarantee?

And there's no "appeal" to eBay... of course, so they don't want you to contact them.  Pretty poor.  Empowers thieves.

Used a credit card through Paypal.  Does that count?

[*casey*]

"So by stringing me along the Seller ensured that I timed out of eBay's guarantee?"

The way your post was written, I presumed your contact with the seller wasn't through the eBay Money Back Guarantee  ?

Or was it,  where you could have asked eBay to step in, but it timed out ?

If that's the case, file a claim with Paypal now.

[julian_oz]

I just asked for a refund which was agreed.  But then no returns label.  So when I try to use the eBay guarantee there's no way to contact because "the refund is in progress".  No it isn't.  It's taken two weeks to NOT get a return label because they are clearly trying to time me out.

So disappointing.  Can''t be the first time this has happened and eBay has utterly failed.  The 1800 number?  That refers me to non-exiting web page links.  $170 down the toilet it seems. 

Last time I'll use eBay for anything other than cheap stuff.  Very disappointed.

Oh well.  Thieves win again, I suppose.

Thanks again for taking the time.

[*casey*]

Try going to  eBay Help at the top of the page.

Follow the prompts until you get to the automated assistant.

Ask to speak to a supervisor and they 'may' be able to help you with your refund.

If no luck, open a Paypal claim as I've already advised.

Good luck with it.

[daydreams_12]

You say that you paid with Credit Card through Paypal..  Why o earth haven't you put a claim in through them as advised by "Casey". 

I really suggest you take a good read of "Buying on Ebay".  The seller has certainly played you.  Where was the item coming from?

Not sure about return in progress, did you physically request that through Ebay or just the seller?

[sugar249]

---

@julian_oz wrote:

I just asked for a refund which was agreed.  But then no returns label.  So when I try to use the eBay guarantee there's no way to contact because "the refund is in progress".  No it isn't.  It's taken two weeks to NOT get a return label because they are clearly trying to time me out.

So disappointing.  Can''t be the first time this has happened and eBay has utterly failed.  The 1800 number?  That refers me to non-exiting web page links.  $170 down the toilet it seems. 

Last time I'll use eBay for anything other than cheap stuff.  Very disappointed.

Oh well.  Thieves win again, I suppose.

Thanks again for taking the time.

---

You have being a member for 17 years,  surely you have taken the time to read up on how the MBG works,  The ''thieves'' as you call them, are empowered by users, who don't read the T&C's and dont study the correct process's for issues.

[sandypebbles]

You had all the power to use the tools you are given to get your money back

There was no need to go along with the seller

No, it's not the first time that a buyer has chosen to do what the seller said, rather do what the needed to do and open a dispute 

They only win if the buyer allows them to win

Sorry, I am not going to sugar coat reality 

Do you check seller's feedback before you buy?

You have certainly supported some questionable ones 

[julian_oz]

Casey's advice was just last night.  So yes, will do that today.

Seller was local and had 98% good rating.  Of course, the BAD ratings never get done because the Seller ensures time expires before bad feedback can be recorded, right?

And refund request by eBay buttons.  Seller abused the eBay process. 

The problem is eBay not managing the market place it created.  If they were accessible and diligent, people would not be tempted to (or rewarded for) misbehaviour.  But... it's 2024... Pointless to whine.  It is what it is.  Why should I expect eBay to be accessible and diligent when banks and insurance companies do what they want and no-one is accountable?

I certainly have no interest in researching a market and sellers before every small-ish purchase.  Tedious.  Easier to just not use eBay.  One big pain in the **bleep** erases all previous small benefits.

But thank you for taking the time to respond.  Really appreciate it.