REFUND REQUEST same as ITEM NOT RECEIVED?

[teenytrinkets]

I've been selling on ebay for years, and I've only had a couple of items never arrive, and I've refunded my buyers without an INR case.

I have a buyer in the US message me 10 days ago saying he didn't receive his item (but he has a mountain of feedback detailing a lot of refunds for item not received, so it smelled foul to me).  I asked him politely to wait another week, as it may be delayed in customs.  In the meantime, I called ebay to report him. They did an inquiry, but I guess nothing came of it, because he messaged me again today saying it still hadn't arrived. I'd already decided I would resolve through an INR case (to have it on record) so I asked the buyer to open an "Item Not Received" case in order to refund him.  Instead of that though - I got a "Request for Refund".  Is that the same thing (one just the Ebay term, the other one the Paypal term)?

[tyler@ebay · Accepted solution]

Hi @teenytrinkets - yes, we don't consider something opened by the buyer to be a 'case' until we are asked to step in. Until then we consider it a 'request for refund' or 'request for return' depending on the situation (item not received or not as described, respectively).

It's still tracked the same way from our systems, just a semantics change. Sorry for the confusion!

If you suspect them to be abusing the system please consider using the 'report buyer' link within the request so you can privately message the right folks to review the buyer's account. If there is no tracking acknowledging an attempted or actual delivery, I would also consider issuing a refund through the request. It will get you your fees back and close the request out. Thanks!

[reallynicestamps]

But you put your tracking number and date of delivery into the Dispute, if in fact you used it on this shipment?

[Anonymous]

Whenever any sellers use report buyer link, do eBay listen and do actions?  From my experiences that feature seems to be worthless.  eBay needs to wise up and do action from now on.  Thanks.

[pjcdn2005]

It's unlikely that eBay would act on info from just one or two sellers. I'm guessing that there has to be a pattern of problems.  

[teenytrinkets]

Even with a pattern they do nothing. This buyer had MULTIPLE refunds and INRs this month alone - rep on phone sounded shocked. She reported to investigate.

Nothing happened. Buyer will continue to scam sellers in Canada, as most don't use tracking for these items he buys... 😞