Long story very short.  Purchased an item in FEBRUARY, returned 2 weeks later (not as advertised, with lots of correspondence and photos in-between).  Item was ‘free post’, but seller agreed to refund postage as well as original cost.  Returned registered, tracking etc. as requested, and seller advised of cost.  After received back, seller wanted photos of stamps, registered sticker, which obviously I could not do, as they had the parcel.  That hadn’t been part of the seller's conditions of return.

Requested eBay to intervene, and it was agreed that seller had accepted to pay for return postage (all in messages).

So from March, I’ve been attempting to get eBay to honour their policy – if the seller doesn’t pay return postage, then eBay will reimburse, and get the money from the seller.  Agreed by eBay that is the policy.  ‘It will be in your PayPal account in 7-10 business days’.  Many 10 days calls later, I spoke to a supervisor tonight.  I think you are all going to love this – ‘The money has to come from a different eBay account and we have to wait for funds to be available.  We are processing so many returns, and yours was one that had to wait’.  (Not verbatim quote, but near enough).

When I did a little hop up and down about the money eBay receives in sellers fees, wait for this – I was told ‘that money is used to upgrade and maintain the eBay site’.  I suggested (politely of course) that with the amount of glitches and ‘improvements’ (?) on the site, the money wasn’t being well spent. 

If I get my postage refund in 7-10 days, that will be near enough to 2 months waiting.  Pretty pathetic. 

Oh! and it’s only $25.70, but it’s now definitely the principle of the matter : seller agreed to pay - reneged.  eBay agreed I was owed and they would pay - but procrastinating.