After how many days must a seller give me a refund for non-delivered package?

[bg74]

Package was sent via USPS ground advantage.  The original projected delivery date was eight days ago.  USPS tracking shows the package bouncing around the Houston TX area for past 13 days.  I've opened two cases with USPS which obviously haven't helped.   I requested refund through eBay and seller responded that I just need to wait for USPS to deliver.  This looks like it could go on forever.  At what point is the seller obligated to issue me a refund?  The item is needed to do a repair in my home and I'd really like to just go and order it elsewhere and get on with it.

[deltilogical]

Eventually someone will notice the 1/4" layer of stickers and it will get moved to the right stream to get to you 

[bg74]

I submitted a Missing Mail Search Request yesterday with USPS and it shows on the tracking, along with the package still sitting at Missouri City, TX.  We'll see what happens, or doesn't happen, next.

[bg74]

To tie a knot on this, the package finally made progress out of the Houston/Missouri City TX postal black hole after 16 days (?!).   The Missing Mail Search Request might have done the trick.  I would never have imagined the USPS was capable of  this, but now I know.

[sapphire_studio]

Put yourself in the seller's position. They did everything correctly. USPS is having a lot of issues with some sort of facilities right now and also the weather in the majority of the country has been really messed up this last week. It is 95% likely that you're eventually going to get your package. If they were to issue you a refund right now then you would get the item and a refund. I know that it is a bummer that it is late but that is the risk of buying something online and not the seller's fault (in this scenario).

I bought a birthday gift in early January for someone whose birthday was the 14th and it hasn't moved since the 15th. I haven't even remotely considered opening a case or even saying anything to the seller because I can see that they shipped on time and USPS is just having issues with the package. 

What I will be is careful to do is make sure I open a case within 30 days after I purchased the item.

Also you won't win a case unless 2 weeks have passed without the shipping updating at all.

Even Amazon is extremely late with a ton of my packages probably because of the weather. 

And whatever you do don't leave negative feedback over this it is not the seller's fault.

[soh.maryl]

Was capable of what? The USPS is staffed by human beings, so there are errors made.

And, as mentioned, that particular facility evidently has acknowledged issues.