Most Mind-Boggling eBay Shopping Experience Ever! (eBay Refused to Honor Refund Under Policy)
I've just had the most outrageous eBay buying experience. I'm honestly disgusted and dumbfounded, and I’m not sure I’ll ever trust eBay again. It’s so mind-boggling that I don’t even know what to do—I’m starting to feel like eBay is crawling with scammers and con artists.
Here’s the listing in question: https://www.ebay.com/itm/136342266365
Before I dive into the details, let me explain: there are two versions of this figurine. Although they look nearly identical, the Large version measures 17 3/4 inches tall, while the Small version is only 9 1/2 inches tall. In the seller’s listing, she clearly stated she was selling the Large version, and that the item was located in Sweet Grass, Montana. However, after I made the purchase, I noticed the seller was actually based in Canada.
I placed the order on September 9th, and shortly afterward, the seller provided a FedEx tracking number. But for weeks, the shipment showed no updates. Suspicious of the tracking number’s legitimacy, I reached out to the seller. Her explanation was that the item was in Canada, and although FedEx had picked it up, it was “stuck at customs.†She asked for my patience. She seemed polite, and I really wanted the item, so I decided to wait.
Finally, after nearly a month (arrived on September 24th) , the package arrived—but to my surprise, it was shipped by someone named David Marble in California. At this point, it felt like the seller had been lying to me from the start.
To make matters worse, instead of receiving the Large version as advertised, I got the Small version, only 9 1/2 inches tall. I contacted the seller immediately. She acknowledged the mistake but then went silent—no offer to send a replacement, no prepaid return label, no further communication.
Furious and frustrated, I opened a case with eBay hoping for help. But to my shock, the only reporting option available was “item did not arrive.†I chose that and included a full explanation in my case notes, assuming someone would actually read it.
Instead, the seller simply provided the tracking number showing the item was delivered. Without reviewing my explanation, eBay closed the case and sided with the seller. I couldn’t believe it—no one even bothered to read my message or understand what happened.
I don’t know if anyone can truly grasp how I feel right now. Honestly, if an eBay staff member were standing in front of me, I’m not sure I could hold back my anger.
And how is it possible that this seller still has a “Top Rated Seller†badge? How does eBay allow sellers like this to operate unchecked?
I’m at a loss. I hate how this has been handled and I have no idea how to get my money back. If anyone can help, I’d be incredibly grateful.
jonathanbrightlight
·11 months agoThe option you needed to choose was to open a Return Request. You don’t file a report or open a claim, you return your purchase. One of the reasons you can choose when you do that is “Item Not As Describedâ€.
As noted, though, if you have opened a chargeback dispute with Chase, eBay will no longer assist. You will have to continue working with Chase.
cibol-8751
OP11 months agoI swear, when I tried to escalate the issue, the only option I could find was “item did not arrive.†I couldn’t find anything like “item not as described.†I honestly have no idea what’s going on—does this seller have some kind of special status or something? Maybe she just knows all the loopholes?
At this point, I don’t even know how to get my money back. It feels like eBay is run entirely by AI, and there’s no actual human reading any of the messages!
Honestly, eBay is disgusting. I am seriously considering deleting my eBay account after this disgusting incident. 😞
reallynicestamps
·11 months agoIf you can't work out how to make an eBay Claim, you are also covered by the chargeback policy of the credit card you really paid with.
While eBay should be your first choice, remember you only have 30 days from Delivery for a Claim.
A card then becomes the appeal if the eBay Claim is lost.
But with a chargeback, eBay will not honour a Claim later.
And most cards allow 120 days for the chargeback, but from PURCHASE so delays in transit are important.
cibol-8751
OP11 months agoThanks so much for the reply, my friend! Honestly, this is the strangest case I’ve ever dealt with. Even before eBay ruled in the seller’s favor, I contacted my card issuer—Chase Bank—and disputed the charge. But after several days, I called them again and they said the case was still under investigation. That’s why I came back to eBay, hoping they’d help resolve it.
Then I got the news from eBay that they’d closed my case and sided with the seller. So I followed up with Chase again, and once more, they told me the case was still being investigated—even though I’ve pleaded with them and told them I have all the evidence. It feels like they’ve either decided to defer to eBay’s decision or there’s some reason they’re stalling.
Now, almost a week later, I still haven’t gotten my money back. It’s so bizarre. I clearly explained everything to Chase and even offered to send in pictures evidence, but they still haven’t done it. I honestly don’t know what’s holding them back at this point.
cibol-8751
OP11 months agoAnother question to you: Why did I only have the "Item did not arrive" option and not the "Item not as described" option when I tried to report the problem????
I dont understand!!
mudshark61369
·11 months ago@cibol-8751 ,
"Why did I only have the "Item did not arrive" option and not the "Item not as described" option when I tried to report the problem"?
If you use a phone and the app to buy on ebay maybe when you went to file the dispute you had your screen enlarged so that you did not see all of the options.
"the seller simply provided the tracking number showing the item was delivered. Without reviewing my explanation, eBay closed the case and sided with the seller. I couldn’t believe it—no one even bothered to read my message or understand what happened".
When you file an item not received (INR) dispute it is looked at by a computer that checks the tracking number for a delivered scan. None of what you write is looked at. If the computer sees a delivered scan it closes the case in the seller's favor.
Unfortunately, now that you opened a dispute with Chase, you no longer have any ebay protections. Had you come to the community before doing that, we could have told you that you could have filed an Item Not As described dispute, after the INR was closed.