Why is this seller protected by E-bay and PayPal when they are obviously unethical and dishonest?

[purrc]

We purchased a smartphone from  which was defective. After some hassle they agreed to replace the phone and also agreed to pay the return shipping but advised us to return the phone by the cheapest way and not to pay extra for a tracking number. 

We complied with their demands and believed them when they said a replacement had been sent however, after several weeks of waiting we put in a claim for a refund. PayPay refused to honour out claim because we did not have a tracking number even though they had a copy of the e-mail in which the seller told us not to get one.

We have no phone, no help or refund from PayPal and no refund from Visa because the transaction took over the 45 days allowed.

This seller has proven to be unethical and dihsonest and PayPal has proven to be useless in protecting the buyer from unscrupulous sellers.

[pierrelebel]

I am sorry to read about that problem.

eBay/PayPal do not protect bad sellers.  The protection offered to buyers is valid for 45 days from payment.

Credit card issuers on the other hand usually give protection their cardholders for up to 90 days from transaction.  Try them again.

[pierrelebel]

In addition, you should use the eBay feedback system to leave appropriate feedback and DSRs.

You have 60 days from date of purchase to do so.

[surplusdealdude]

ebay didn't "protect" the bad seller, you did.

You did it by not following the rules for sending items back.