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Need help – eBay closed my case even though the item does not match the seller’s description
Summary: rawiepalto-0 purchased a drone on eBay that was described as fully functional, but upon receipt, found it had a significant issue with the hinges that was not disclosed in the listing. The seller denied responsibility and accused rawiepalto-0 of mishandling the drone. Although rawiepalto-0 followed up repeatedly with the seller and documented evidence, eBay closed the case without a resolution. rawiepalto-0 seeks advice on how to escalate the issue or potentially recover the money, with suggestions from other participants about filing a chargeback with their credit card.
Hi everyone,
I’m posting here because I honestly don’t know what else I can do at this point, and I’m hoping someone with more eBay experience can advise me or point me in the right direction.
I purchased a Potensic Atom SE GPS drone on eBay. The seller described the drone as being in working condition and made some very specific statements in the listing.
The seller wrote:
“I did, however give it a brief test flight just this morning (08/21/2026) and it flies very well. (always did!)”
Regarding a repaired area on the body, he also wrote:
“There is a repaired place on the body (see pix) that has never caused any problems.”
And:
“it doesn't affect it in any way.”
The problem is that the drone I received has a serious functional issue. The hinges do not lock properly, and because of this the drone cannot function/fly as it was described.
Nowhere in the listing did the seller disclose that the hinges did not lock or that there was a problem affecting the drone's ability to fly.
In fact, he specifically stated the opposite — that he had flown it that same morning and that it “flies very well.”
I contacted the seller to try to resolve the problem. Instead of properly addressing the issue, he accused me of causing the problem and told me that if there is now a problem, it is because of “you — or the way you handle it.”
He also became extremely insulting and sarcastic toward me, calling me “cupcake” and accusing me of essentially making up the problem.
I have explained that I am not disputing the fact that there was a visible repair on the body. That is not the issue.
The issue is that the seller represented the drone as fully functional and specifically said the repair did not affect its operation.
What makes me even more frustrated is that eBay has already handled my case, and I feel that the case was not properly investigated. I don't feel that the seller's actual listing and his own statements were properly taken into consideration.
I feel extremely disappointed and, honestly, I feel deceived as a buyer.
I bought this item based on the seller's description. I did not knowingly purchase a drone with a functional problem.
I have screenshots of:
The original listing
The seller's statements about the drone flying very well
The seller's statements about the repair
Our complete conversation
The problem with the drone
The seller's accusations toward me
My question to the eBay Community is:
What can I do from here?
Is there another way to have this case reviewed or escalated? Is there a specific eBay department I should contact? Can an experienced eBay member or moderator explain what options I have when I believe a case was not properly investigated?
I'm not looking for anyone to simply take my side. I want someone to look at the facts and tell me what the correct procedure is and whether there is anything else I can do to have this properly reviewed.
I paid for an item that was described as flying very well. The item I received does not perform as described, and I don't think it is fair for me to simply lose my money and be told that the problem is somehow my fault without evidence.
If anyone has dealt with a similar situation or knows how I can get this properly escalated, I would genuinely appreciate your advice.
Thank you.
gosimus
Mentor1 week ago@rawiepalto-0
< eBay has already handled my case, and I feel that the case was not properly investigated >
eBay does not investigate cases and make decisions based on the merit of the arguments. eBay just takes the buyer's word for it, when the buyer opens a Not As Described case. What kind of case did you open? Did you do anything to follow up or did you just let it expire?
rawiepalto-0
OP1 week agoThank you for your response. I opened the case because the item was not as described / defective.
I did not simply let the case expire. I followed up with the seller multiple times and provided information regarding the actual condition of the drone. The seller, however, denied responsibility and instead accused me of causing the problem.
The important point is that the seller's own listing states that he test-flighted the drone the morning of 08/21/2026 and that it “flies very well.” He also stated that the repaired area on the body “has never caused any problems” and “doesn't affect it in any way.”
The issue I received is not simply the cosmetic repair that was disclosed. The hinges do not lock properly and the drone cannot function/fly as described. That was not disclosed anywhere in the listing.
I also have photographs/videos and the complete message history with the seller. His response has been to claim that the problem is due to me or “the way I handle it,” despite providing no evidence for that accusation.
So yes, I did follow up. I did not simply abandon the case or allow it to expire.
What I am trying to understand now is what options I have after eBay's decision, because I genuinely believe the evidence in the listing and the seller's own statements were not properly considered.
If you know the correct way to request an appeal or escalate this to someone who can review the evidence, I would really appreciate the advice. I am not asking anyone to automatically take my side — I just want the case reviewed based on the actual listing, the evidence and the seller's statements.
gosimus
Mentor1 week ago · Edited@rawiepalto-0
< The important point is that the seller's own listing states that he test-flighted the drone ... and that it “flies very well.” >
Please understand the difference between my being rude and being blunt. Stop saying all that stuff. Just stop it. I don't want to hear it any more. Do you want to get your money back or do you just want to play the affronted victim? I will help. Any of us will. Well, maybe not any of us, if some have lost patience.
What I gather so far is that you opened a return for "item not as described or does not match description" or however it's worded. Then you played into the seller's hands by going back to him and rehashing your grievances. You did not click into the return case and click the "Ask eBay to step in and help" button/link. The case timed out and eBay denied your return for refund. Does that sum it up?
How did you fund the payment for the drone? With a credit card? Call the customer service number on the back of that card and tell them that you need to do a chargeback. Have the purchase details at hand, and a copy of your statement that has the charge on it, if available. They'll have to know what to do the chargeback on.
If they ask for the reason, keep it short. If you can. Good luck.
rawiepalto-0
OP1 week agoThank you for taking the time to explain this to me. I understand what you are saying, and I appreciate that you are trying to help me resolve the situation.
Yes, I did open a return request because the item was not as described. I also contacted the seller several times because I genuinely wanted to give him the opportunity to resolve the issue directly. Unfortunately, he did not respond or provide a solution.
I now understand that I should have requested eBay to step in through the return case before it timed out. At the time, I was not fully aware of how important that step was, and I honestly thought that continuing to communicate with the seller was the appropriate thing to do.
My intention is not to play the victim or continue arguing with the seller. I simply paid for a drone that has a serious mechanical problem that was not disclosed in the listing, and I would really like to find out if there is still a way to have the case reviewed or recover my money.
Thank you also for suggesting the chargeback option. I will look into how the payment was made and whether that is possible in my situation.
If there is anything else I can do through eBay to have the case reconsidered, I would genuinely appreciate any advice. I am mainly looking for guidance on what steps I can still take.
myangelandmyprincess
Mentor1 week ago"I did not simply let the case expire. I followed up with the seller multiple times and provided information regarding the actual condition of the drone"
Contacting back and forth with the seller isn't what keeps the case from expiring time does. You have a set amount of time after you open the case where you can escalate to eBay once you see the seller won't take responsibility. And there is a set amount of time where if you don't escalate to eBay the case closed automatically.
Did you escalate to eBay?
rawiepalto-0
OP1 week agoNo, I did not escalate the case to eBay through the “Ask eBay to step in and help” option before the case closed.
At the time, I genuinely thought that continuing to communicate with the seller and trying to resolve the issue directly was the correct thing to do. I now understand that the return case had a separate deadline and that I needed to escalate it to eBay within that timeframe.
That was my mistake, and I accept that. I am not trying to avoid responsibility for that part.
My concern now is whether there is any possible way to have the case reviewed or reopened, considering that the drone has a genuine mechanical defect that was not disclosed in the listing and that I contacted the seller multiple times without receiving a meaningful response.
If anyone knows what options I still have at this point, I would really appreciate the guidance. I am mainly trying to find a legitimate way to resolve this and recover my money.
comics-scifi-collectibles
Mentor1 week ago@rawiepalto-0 The case can not be reopened. You need to contact your payment method to file a chargeback,