Another item hasn’t arrived question

[plus-x]

I recently ordered an item and it got to be about 5 days past the estimated arrival date. I checked the order details and there was no tracking number or link to track like most items have. It was reported as shipped, but no tracking info was visible to me. 

It’s the holidays, things get delayed, no big deal. I’d still like the item and it’s not so much money that I’m going to get freaked out over it. I clicked the ‘Item hasn’t arrived yet’ link, said I wanted the item (not a refund yet) and asked for a tracking number. 

Now the seller claims that because I filed a complaint, he has no access to the tracking number or his funds on eBay. He says eBay has blocked his access. This makes zero sense because according to the eBay articles on ‘items not arrived’, seller is supposed to either give me a tracking number or give me refund. How could he do either if that’s true? But is it? eBay doesn’t always make perfect sense from the outside. 

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@plus-x 

The seller doesn't understand how refund requests work.  If you filed a not received refund request then the sellers funds are frozen in the amount of the sale.     All refunds must come from the sellers back up funding source of credit card, etc..    Then after the refund is issued the buyers funds are released to the seller.  

A refund request has NO affect on the seller being able to access tracking which must be uploaded to the sold item within the sellers stated handling time.  A seller however is not required to use tracking as it's for the sellers protection to prove delivery.  

If your package is late arriving this is what you do:

Look for the last estimated delivery date in your purchase history. You can file a refund request when the item is at least a day late. 

Select your item on this page to start a refund request:

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-refunds/get-help-item-hasnt-arrived?id=4042&st=

4 business days after you file the refund request ask eBay to step in and help if the seller has not refunded you.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/returns-refunds/ask-ebay-to-step-in?id=4701