Please clarify. If I refund a buyer via paypal but don't cancel thru ebay, do I still get a defect?

[queenslander]

Certainly do I refunded last Month due to an Item I sold went missing whilst the Grandkids were here in the school holidays. Refunded thru Paypus and still got a defect for the sale 5 days ago on my other account. Thanks Ebay for nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[van_werkhoven]

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@queenslander wrote:

Certainly do I refunded last Month due to an Item I sold went missing whilst the Grandkids were here in the school holidays. Refunded thru Paypus and still got a defect for the sale 5 days ago on my other account. Thanks Ebay for nothing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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What catagory does it come up in in the detailed report?

It's only been a week, but I refunded someone in full last week and have not gotten a defect (yet?). I sure hope I don't get a defect because I just did another refund today (it's been a bad week apparently...)

What are we supposed to do?

[digital*ghost]

I think there's either a trick to it, or it's a bit hit and miss. I've issued a couple of full refunds since the new system came in and haven't been defected by any of them. There were messages between myself and the buyers before the refund, and I sent the items anyway but didn't cancel the transactions on eBay, so that may have something to do with it? (i.e. if the item is sent and eBay get to keep their money? ).

One was a few months ago now, and never showed up as a defect - the buyer actually had store credit from ages ago, bought and paid for something as they weren't sure how to go about using it, I just posted the item then issued a full refund. 

[black*poppy]

I've refunded a couple of buyers since the new system came in and even did cancellations and got my FVF back (these were change of mind returns) and I didn't get defects for these.

I think I did read on another thread that a CS rep had said that if there is no messaging between the buyer and seller then a refund can result in a defect.  I dunno, I think that should be written in the policy somewhere.  It's like they can make it up as they go along.  

I'm thinking my new strategy might be to go on Live Chat when I'm considering doing a refund for whatever reason, to get it in writing that it won't result in a defect.  If I subsequently get one anyway, I'll have something to use as a basis for having it removed.  

Wow that's alot of time and hassle though, and still might not work.

If they could just make the rules clear AND STICK TO THEM, we'd all be able to make adjustments.  It's ridiculous that we aren't told the rules of the game.

[dylan11235813]

maybe if an order is marked as posted and then refunded. I have refunded maybe 5 times and never had one, it does seem like a bit of hit and miss type thing going by other comments.

I contacted ebay a few weeks ago and they said they had no access to paypal records and couldn't refund the FVF on a fraudulent transaction (they knew what it was for though), I got it back in the end but it was a waist of my time.

[character_parties_aus]

I've refunded directly into the buyers paypal account by sending money, of course still Kop the fees but no defect. For the amount of fees I pay on a average sale it's worth it for me. Ebay can't do nothing about that.

[black*poppy]

Isn't it ridiculous though that you are forced to jump thru extra hoops and pay MORE fees just to stay in the game because of such an inconsistent and lousy system. It's shouldn't be this way.

[Anonymous]

I am forever issuing refunds through paypal for postage because I combine it and refund the overcharge when they pay it as they go. So what a defect for being honest? Ebay has become ridiculous.  

[pennyforum14]

I do partial refunds for overpaid postage all the time and have never had a defect for these.  I have also done a few full refunds, mostly for buyer change of mind, and after the cancellation process has completed. If the option chosen is Buyer made a mistake or changed their mind, no defect is given for these either (or at least not in my experience).