What do I do about a seller who has not sent the item I purchased and paid for?

[lightninglantinga]

I bought an item, paid immediately with PayPal, way back in Sept. 2013. The item has never been received, the seller keeps putting me off with reassuring emails but in fact seems to just churn out emails without intending to supply the item purchased. The emails seem to run through a cycle, each offering an excuse and a solution, but nothing actually happens. I am now starting to get the same emails for the third time. The seller has delayed long enough that I don't seem to be able to take action through ebay; it seems there is a time limit that has long since passed. Any suggestions? It is not a large amount but it is now the principle of the matter and I would like my money back.

[toby_le_pue]

There is a time limit of 45 days to file a claim and

you have long passed that.

You will know better next time.

Never let it go past 43 days without filing a claim.

[dmil8030]

Hello 'lightning...',

What you describe is probably the most common question new users post to

these message boards, right after "how do I cancel all the auctions I won".

You paid with paypal, and that means you have 45 days in which to file a claim

to get money back for a no-show item.

Sadly, you have a low feedback score and if you buy from 'a certain overseas country'

there is a very good chance the seller will never send the item and just delay you

with false promises and lies. 

They will delay you past day 45 when you can no longer do anything about it, and past

day 60 when you can't even leave feedback.

So read this link from top to bottom:

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/buy/item-not-received.html

Next time an item doesn't show up, by all means contact the seller around about

day 40, but if you do not have your item or your refund back in your hands by day 43,

drop all communication and open a claim.

You simply need to open the claim by day 43, not have the whole thing concluded.

(Officially it is day 45, but it is wise to tell yourself day 43 just to be safe).

Alas, for your Sept 2013 transaction there is nothing at all you can do.  Just read

through the link I posted and consider yourself older and wiser.

You're in good company in that respect.

Best wishes