I agree about the stepping in thing. From what I've seen here, it always ends badly, regardless of what spin eBay like to put on it. That's why i was reluctant and why I asked the question (albeit in a very long winded way!). I mostly wanted to know if anyone did have the dispute go in their favour in this situation.

The PayPal thing has got me stumped and yes you're right, I do need to ring them. I've never had a dispute of any kind opened against me, either through MBG or PayPal so wasn't 100% sure what happens there (only what I've read here). I always thought it was just the disputed amount that was frozen. I just hope I don't get penalised from eBay because they tried to auto take me fees and couldn't. In the past if there has been no funds in there the fees have come from the attached bank account.

Using the bank account for payment through PayPal has always gone straight through, yet on Sunday it said it would spawn an echeque. I've never had an echeque from using that payment method (although I know others do). Most of the time these days I leave money in PayPal for purchases, but sometimes it does get low so it takes whatever is left in PayPal and the rest from the bank account. Very strange!

I think I'm just going to let it go. Despite what the CS person told me and despite what their policies state, we all know that the instant either party asks eBay to step in, it automatically closes in the buyers favour, regardless. I'm pretty sure they time out after a month so I'll just ride it out. Given the buyers habit of ignoring things, I'd be surprised if she'll be back. One of the CS reps said they sent her a message telling her how to close the dispute, due to the tracking showing as delivered, but she's ignored that too.

I still think it's either a malicious tactic because I opened an UPI on her, OR, she's opened the dispute on the wrong seller and thinks if she ignores it, it will go away.

I left it too long to edit my above message. My PayPal seems to be working again, so there must have been a temporary glitch happening. The disputed amount is still being held, but it's now letting me pay for purchases.

Finally 7 days after she opened the dispute, the buyer has responded to my many messages. Accused me of being unprofessional because I asked if she was trying to scam me! I'd said if she wants to scam sellers to check the tracking first because if the tracking shows as delivered, she will lose any disputes. I had also asked if she had accidentally opened a dispute against the wrong seller. That didn't go down well either.

She did as I asked and went to her post office who confirmed the item was there and had been collected, but they don't know by whom. She's now accusing me of sending the wrong item. How would she know? I replied to her message saying she needs to take it up with the post office as it's hardly my fault if they gave it to the wrong person. I fulfilled my obligation as a seller. I told her that eBay said if she escalates the case eBay will close it in my favour because the tracking shows as delivered. I also told her that eBay will remove any bad feedback she may feel compelled to leave (they didn't but I felt that might be the step she takes if they close it in my favour).

Hopefully given that she has mentioned it was at her post office, eBay will find in my favour if she escalates (not holding my breath though). If they want to refund her that's their call, but she ain't getting a cent out of me. Not my fault her post office can't do their job properly.

Her excuse for taking so long to reply was because she works full time. Funny how her feedback is increasing each day when she's bought as paid for stuff (a lot of Chinese leave it upon payment and some of them I know for a fact do because I have bought from the same sellers in the past). I'm currently driving over 1,000km a week and still found the time to reply to her dispute, so I can't accept she didn't have 10 minutes in the evening to follow it up. I told her if she chooses to open a dispute, it's her obligation to stay on top of it. Not leave sellers in the lurch for a week between messages.

Apparently the option to escalate will appear for her tomorrow, so it will be interesting to see what happens when she hits the button (which I can guarantee she will). She opened the dispute at 2.17pm, so I'm guessing any time after that it will appear. Watch this space! I have the help page open ready to hit the button to call eBay (or have them call me back), that's how much confidence I have in it closing in my favour.

i believe apple have the next smart phone in planning that will have the new version of emoticons, 3D emoticons

there will be one thats a kiss, two lips will come out of the screen and 'kiss' you.

the ones i think most will want will be the 'raspberry' where the 2 lips blow a 'raspberry' at the recipient.

then the 'punch in the face, emoticon where a red boxing glove comes out ot the screen and well you get the idea.

would be handy with this buyer.

what other 3D emoticons can we think of?

what other 3D emoticons can we think of?

Er,   ummm,    this forum is moderated, so I'm not biting.

Good luck Tippy.  In a fair world she'd get her just desserts.

But this is ebay.   And I know you'll give 'em  bluddy hell  a hard time

There are now Simoji's. Simone Biles emoji's.

Thanks clarry, skipped my mind it was to a PO Box.