Question on Receiving a Refund on a Package with a 2-3 Month Return Shipping Time and No Tracking

[icygirl75]

Hello,

Recently I received an item from a seller on eBay and the item was missing a piece and so I wanted to get a refund or exchange on the item. The seller and I ultimately decided to return the item.

I used the "contact seller" option on the "My eBay: Summary" page for this order to initially contact the seller and have been in contact with the seller through the "My eBay: Messages" page for every message since.

I sent the seller the package without tracking since they were okay with that. The thing is the package is being shipped back to them from Canada to Japan and the shipping and handling fees here in Canada can be very expensive. The least expensive option I could find with tracking would have costed approximately $70.00. Without tracking, the least expensive option I could find was about $20.00. I shipped the package back to them with the latter option and was told the delivery time would take about 2-3 months.

My question is: What's the best thing I could do here on eBay to make sure I get a refund on this item? The seller also said they would cover the return shipping and handling fee. I'm concerned because the eBay Money Back Guarantee should only last until 30 days after the estimated delivery date, since the package wasn't tracked all the way to my doorstep. The package was only tracked until it left Japan. And even if I start a case, as far as I understand, I only have up to an additional 21 days since eBay will close cases if they last for longer than that.

The estimated delivery date for this package, when it was sent to me was Sept. 11 - Nov. 6. I only just shipped it back today on October 10. Adding 30 days plus 21 days for the time I have to open a case and to leave it open only brings me to December 27, if I'm understanding everything correctly.

I never used the "Return this item" button for this package and never received an email from eBay that said anything like the seller has accepted a return request from me.

Am I taking the right steps, or is there something else I should do here? Any help would certainly be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jessica

[reallynicestamps · Accepted solution]

The item you recieved was missing a piece.

You decided you needed a replacement.

The seller told you to return it-- without tracking. (Or was this completely your idea?)

You used Surface shipping.

Never accept a replacement on an unacceptable item. There is no reason to believe the replacement will be any better.

Never return anything without tracking. Neither eBay nor Paypal will accept anything else as proof of return.

Never ship Surface. By the time it arrives, all deadlines for Disputes will have passed.

OTOH- your seller is in Japan. The Japanese have a very high reputation for honesty in business dealings. It's a stereotype, but fingers crossed.

Your best bet is to open a Not As Described Dispute in Paypal.

Sometimes PP will accept Proof of Shipping instead of Proof of Delivery.

Sometimes.

EBay wants Proof of Delivery. Every time.

Phone the Paypal Customer Support and ask. 

If they are not hopeful or helpful, go to the credit card which I hope you back your PP account with, phone the 1-800 number and ask about a chargeback.

In future, you only want refunds. No 'replacements'.

If you then feel happy about new dealings with the seller you can purchase again.

[icygirl75 · Accepted solution]

Thanks for your reply. This is helpful information.

[esclyons]

Yes hopefully you used a credit card, then you have 180 days to do a charge back if the seller doesn't come through on their end of the deal..

Going forward ..returns always have to be tracked, and the shipper /seller is responsible for these costs, but you have to open up a return through ebay so there is a paper trail,..

Don't be surprised if the seller stops communicating with you as well. If that happens, go to your bank/ credit card issuer and file a charge back..

[pjcdn2005]

Neither ebay or PP will force a seller to refund a return unless there is proof of delivery but hopefully your seller will do as promised.

Regarding another posters claims that paypal will sometimes allow proof of shipment rather than proof of delivery, that would definitely not apply in this case. 

[lady.stark]

"Never accept a replacement"

I have accepted replacements in the past with success. However, those replacements were not from China sellers.

I know it is currently too late, but next time, if you ship without tracking, buying third party insurance would cover you if the package get lost.