Buyer opened item not as described against wrong seller

I got a return request about a damaged ink cartridge sold tyo a buyer. I approved the request since I had sent him a Cyan (blue) ink cartridge mid March. Ebay closed the return. The buyer then informs me that he had made a mistake and the damaged ink cartridge was a black ink cartridge not the Cyan (blue ) one I had sold him. My question is now that ebay closed the return I can't appeal it and I have no way that I can think of to get my money back from the buyer who now has my money and my ink cartridge. Do I have any options left?

indianabutler

3830 View listings

Posted 5 months ago·Last reply 5 months ago

12 comments

luckythewinner

·5 months ago

1159 View listings

My question is now that ebay closed the return I can't appeal it and I have no way that I can think of to get my money back from the buyer who now has my money and my ink cartridge. Do I have any options left?

All payments from buyers require the buyer to initiate the payment. Even if eBay allowed an appeal, eBay has no way to claw money back from a buyer.

Think about it - would you shop on a venue where you had to agree to let the venue take money from you in the future without your permission?

Do I have any options left?

Not unless the buyer agrees to repay you. When you refunded the buyer, eBay refunded their selling fees to you as part of that refund. So if the buyer repays you, eBay needs to get their fees back from you as well.

The only way I know of to accomplish this is for you to create a new listing, and have the buyer agree to buy it. That way you get your share, eBay gets their share, and the buyer gets a clear conscience.

nyr134

·5 months ago

2442 View listings

If the buyer saved the postage label or a packing slip, if any, he’s got your name and address and could mail you a check.

a_c_green

·5 months ago

4168 View listings

@indianabutler wrote:
I got a return request about a damaged ink cartridge sold tyo a buyer. I approved the request since I had sent him a Cyan (blue) ink cartridge mid March. Ebay closed the return. The buyer then informs me that he had made a mistake and the damaged ink cartridge was a black ink cartridge not the Cyan (blue ) one I had sold him. My question is now that ebay closed the return I can't appeal it and I have no way that I can think of to get my money back from the buyer who now has my money and my ink cartridge. Do I have any options left?

Given that the buyer contacted you after getting refunded to tell you about this mistake, then it sounds like he is willing to repay you (since I cannot think of any other reason why he would be continuing with this). You have his phone number in the Order Details for the sale, so I would phone him up and arrange for him to send you a payment via PayPal or similar.

You don't need to involve eBay at this point, as the original sale has already been refunded; eBay's role in this is over and done with.

growshareandgive

·5 months ago

86 View listings

Hi, just a friendly reminder that contacting buyers outside of eBay or arranging payment through platforms like PayPal is against eBay’s policies. All communication and transactions should remain on eBay to ensure both parties are protected.

In this situation, it would be best to keep everything within eBay either by contacting support or asking the buyer to repurchase the item so the transaction is properly recorded on the platform.

Hope this helps!

gurlcat

·5 months ago

1986 View listings

@growshareandgive wrote:
Hi, just a friendly reminder that contacting buyers outside of eBay or arranging payment through platforms like PayPal is against eBay’s policies. All communication and transactions should remain on eBay to ensure both parties are protected.
In this situation, it would be best to keep everything within eBay either by contacting support or asking the buyer to repurchase the item so the transaction is properly recorded on the platform.
Hope this helps!

@growshareandgive Yeah, you TELL 'em, Community member since 2-28-2026!!!! 😆

growshareandgive

·5 months ago

86 View listings

I just want to be helpful :,(

christworks

·5 months ago

1329 View listings

@growshareandgive wrote:
Hi, just a friendly reminder that contacting buyers outside of eBay or arranging payment through platforms like PayPal is against eBay’s policies. All communication and transactions should remain on eBay to ensure both parties are protected.
In this situation, it would be best to keep everything within eBay either by contacting support or asking the buyer to repurchase the item so the transaction is properly recorded on the platform.
Hope this helps!

Hi, just a friendly reminder about what ebay policy actually says.

The policy refers to buying or selling off the platform. In this case, the transaction has already happened. It is done. There is nothing listed on eBay to be taken off the platform. The buyer made a mistake and if they are willing to repay the seller, they can do whether through Paypal, Zelle, or however they agree - including the seller creating another listing. But then eBay will expect the seller to send something, and there is nothing to send.

After a transaction takes place, buyer/seller are free to talk off the platform. That's why phone numbers are made available.

Hope this helps!

albertabrightalberta

·5 months ago

I can explain it to you but I can't understand it for you.104 View listings

@growshareandgive wrote:
Hi, just a friendly reminder that contacting buyers outside of eBay or arranging payment through platforms like PayPal is against eBay’s policies. All communication and transactions should remain on eBay to ensure both parties are protected.
In this situation, it would be best to keep everything within eBay either by contacting support or asking the buyer to repurchase the item so the transaction is properly recorded on the platform.
Hope this helps!

When a transaction has already taken place, the parties ARE allowed to exchange contact information.

growshareandgive

·5 months ago

86 View listings

Thank you for letting me know, I didn't know that! 🙂

growshareandgive

·5 months ago

86 View listings

I’m sorry you’ve had this happen that’s a really frustrating situation.

From what you described, the key issue is: You sold a cyan cartridge which was returned for a damaged item, But the buyer later confirmed the damaged cartridge was actually black, not the one you sold.

So if the item in question doesn't = the item you originally sold, then the return claim doesn’t actually align with your transaction, which puts you at a disadvantage when in actuality you sold them a perfectly fine black cartridge.

Even though the case is closed, you may still be able to contact eBay support and request a manual review, provide the buyer’s message where they admit the mistake, and frame your case as a misuse of the return system rather than a standard return.

jonathanbrightlight

·5 months ago

0 View listings

@growshareandgive wrote:
I’m sorry you’ve had this happen that’s a really frustrating situation.
From what you described, the key issue is: You sold a cyan cartridge which was returned for a damaged item, But the buyer later confirmed the damaged cartridge was actually black, not the one you sold.
So if the item in question doesn't = the item you originally sold, then the return claim doesn’t actually align with your transaction, which puts you at a disadvantage when in actuality you sold them a perfectly fine black cartridge.
Even though the case is closed, you may still be able to contact eBay support and request a manual review, provide the buyer’s message where they admit the mistake, and frame your case as a misuse of the return system rather than a standard return.

Please don’t provide incorrect AI generated responses. There is no option for eBay to manually review a return that has been closed and they cannot collect the money back from the buyer.

gurlcat

·5 months ago

1986 View listings

When you say you approved the request, do you mean you REFUNDED him before receiving the returned item? If so, of course the case is closed, nothing left for the buyer to do.