Buyer refunded, item eventually delivered, buyer not responsive now

Question

Buyer purchased an item from me and I shipped it USPS. USPS tracking then did not update for over 1 week so buyer asked for a refund, thinking the item may have been lost in the mail system. I sent refund. Item was eventually delivered but now buyer has been non-responsive to two messages requesting he send item back to me. He has the item and has now not paid for it. How to resolve this?

mr_lincoln · Answer

Hi @mrjinglesusa

-Normally you wait for the Buyer to file an official eBay claim that they did not receive their item and then you upload tracking but if the item is not delivered during the claim period then you refund.

eBay launched a new Seller protection for this providing the criteria is met as explained below:

If the following criteria is met eBay will reimburse you if the package is eventually delivered after you have refunded a Buyer through an eBay claim that they did not receive their package AND delivery is confirmed through tracking on eBay. eBay launched this new Seller protection in late 2025.

Seller prints the shipping label through eBay
Seller ships and gets a carrier scan within their Handling time
Buyer files a claim through eBay that they did not receive their package AND the Seller refunds the Buyer through the eBay claim
The package is delivered later and after the Buyer has been refunded, eBay tracking confirms the delivery

If all you did was refund the Buyer outside an eBay claim then they are under no obligation to send the item back or pay you outside eBay. eBay will not do anything either.