Since when can a seller not allow refunds?

[lighthouse_foundation]

It's been a while since I've purchased anything here, especially a service which is more difficult to dispute than a physical item. But in the past a buyer could file a SNAD and eBay would normally side with the buyer. 

But recently I purchased a service which the seller didn't provide in the time frame advertised.  I attempted to cancel the order and eBay sends me a message, "Your cancellation request has been declined."  And another message, "The seller can no longer cancel this order." Which of course is not true because he could cancel it at any time and refund my money.

Yes I know that he puts Seller does not accept returns on his auctions, but at one time eBay didn't allow this and a buyer could dispute a purchase.  So apparently now sellers no longer have to offer refunds. 

[lacemaker3 · Accepted solution]

Asking to cancel a purchase is not covered by the money back guarantee. Sellers are not required to cancel, it is up to the seller.

A return for a refund is not the same as a cancellation. The most recent seller who left feedback for you, sells in the "Specialty services" category. This is one of the few categories which are not eligible for the money back guarantee, so you can't file a not as described or item not received dispute.

[mudshark61369]

@lighthouse_foundation,

eBay has never covered "Services" with their Money Back Guarantee (MBG). Sellers can have a No Returns/Refund policy, for physical items, that can be overridden by the MBG for SNAD. However, if you look below the icons for the different payment a seller offering a service accepts you will see Coverage:

[chevymontecarlo88]

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

The most recent seller who left feedback for you, sells in the "Specialty services" category. This is one of the few categories which are not eligible for the money back guarantee, so you can't file a not as described or item not received dispute.

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@lacemaker3 What is the category (items in specialty services) that is not eligible for the eBay MBG? 

[lacemaker3]

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@chevymontecarlo88 wrote:

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@lacemaker3 wrote:

The most recent seller who left feedback for you, sells in the "Specialty services" category. This is one of the few categories which are not eligible for the money back guarantee, so you can't file a not as described or item not received dispute.

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@lacemaker3 What is the category (items in specialty services) that is not eligible for the eBay MBG? 

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All of the sub-categories in the Specialty services category as far as I can see. All the ones I checked, anyway.

[chevymontecarlo88]

Thanks. I did not know that existed. 

[12345jamesstamps]

'The service'...I read some of the 'not supported status' which is rather long...sounds like a fail-safe on the seller. 

It's not a physical item.

Nothing to return.

Sellers have to offer refunds on physical items.

The feedbacks on this selling item are not good...

You try something and it doesn't work or you don't like it..you can cancel 'future service' but you can't get a refund of a 'past service'...like telephone monthly service, wifi service, renter's insurance as examples.

[lighthouse_foundation]

It was for a cellphone unlock service. The seller was not available during the hours posted on the page advertising the service. I got tired of waiting for him after two Whatsapp messages which he didn't reply to. Hours later he replied, "i'm not near my pc at the moment. can we do it on a few hours?" At that point I gave up on him.  Silly me. I thought noncompliance with the advertised hours of operation was grounds for a refund. Lesson learned. 

Furthermore, I feel that his not offering the service during the posted hours of operation is a legitimate complaint and I wrote that in my negative feedback. (Which I very rarely give and only when the seller genuinely deserves it, as in this case.) But apparently eBay wants to keep this guy making money for them because my negative feedback has not been posted. And it's entirely possible that my negative feedback somehow violates an eBay policy. I'm not sure how since he has negative feedback from other disgruntled buyers.  

[swrwizard]

Add to this that eBay has started initiating auto-charges to auction items that normally the buyer would be able to combine shipping on. This happened to me today, but I was able to get the seller to give me a refund. He could have refused. This is a problem for everyone buying & selling because this will lead to massive excessive fees & taxation on both sides of the transaction members make.

[kensgiftshop]

With feedback like theirs, I'm surprised they sell anything.

Checking the sellers feedback, should have told you to find another seller.

[fab_finds4u]

The bad thing about that category is scammers list cameras, watches and cell phones, a physical item instead of a service, and they hope the buyer doesn't notice.  Then when they don't deliver the item the buyer can't get a refund from eBay

 If they paid with their debit card or a gift card they are SOL.

[kensgiftshop]

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@lighthouse_foundation wrote:

 I thought noncompliance with the advertised hours of operation was grounds for a refund. Lesson learned. 

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Were you contacting them on your time or their time?

[syncpedia]

Leaving them a negative really wouldn't be appropriate. People are way too quick to neg others today.

[tiberius848]

I've purchased thousands of items over years and have "not received" an item only a few times over many many years.

Yet the OP has left 3 negative feedbacks in a short period of time claiming "not received, case closed in my favor". While I get that it sometimes very rarely happens.. I don't think it would have happened 3 times from 3 separate sellers. Sounds like a pattern of abusing returns and feedback. And I didn't even go through his/her whole feedback history so there might be more.

Thanks for posting OP i'm going to add you to my blocked buyer list.

[lighthouse_foundation]

I was contacting him on the time listed in the auction. We're both on Eastern time.