eBay Seller Using A Refund Back To Buyer (Me) To Get Around Delivery After Latest Est. Del. Date.

[bj95212]

Question: An eBay seller is using a full refund back to the buyer (me) to get around delivery after the latest estimated delivery date and kindly have the buyer pay back the seller once the item arrives to me – what should I do?

Hello! Yes, the eBay seller immediately issued me a full refund after I day I purchased the eBay item knowing that the eBay item would not arrive by the latest estimated delivery date. In a private message, the eBay seller asked if I could pay him/her back once I received the item after the estimated delivery date. The eBay seller quickly shipped the eBay item to me before issuing me a refund after obviously realizing it would not arrive by the last estimated delivery date. According to eBay policy after speaking with eBay Customer Service, I could open a case against the eBay seller if I did not get the eBay item by the last estimated delivery date and get a full refund (and keep the eBay item too!). I am sure the eBay seller knows this and that is why the eBay seller issued me a quick refund (as the item is being shipped to me too). VERY SMART AND CLEVER FOR THE EBAY SELLER TO DO THIS TO ME AND TRY TO BEAT THE SYSTEM! The eBay seller knows he or she is at a total loss of the item at this point and is HOPING I pay the eBay seller back once I eventually receive the item. Total loss if the eBay seller did not issue a full refund to me as I can open a case after the last estimated delivery date and win (full refund and keep eBay item) and be angry too with the eBay seller. I think the eBay seller is thinking a full refund from the eBay seller is a better bet hoping for me to pay him or her back than a total loss. Again, according to eBay policy, I am not obligated to pay the eBay seller back! This is a trick as I see it to get around eBay policy and try to get paid back! THIS IS UNDERHANDED! What should I do? The eBay seller is hoping in his or her good faith, yes; I should pay the eBay seller back – but I am not obligated to do so. The eBay seller did not fulfill his eBay listing’s shipping delivery agreement. I am still waiting on the item to arrive at this time. What should I do? This is the first time this has happened to me!  

[lamber9347]

To the OP, it sounds like you are misinterpreting some of the policies. I say that based on what you've written here and the majority of your feedback left for others. The estimated date of arrival is only an estimate that the bots on this platform create based on the postal codes used by the seller and buyer. It is an estimate and not a guarantee. Simply because an item doesn't arrive by the estimated date of delivery does not qualify for an immediate refund to the buyer as you are implying.

There are times when a case may end up in a refund to the buyer but there are circumstances for each case- it is not just automatic refunds. Many times eBay may give out a refund to the buyer in order to make the buying experience be pleasant, but that doesn't mean the seller didn't also keep their money- the refund can come out of eBay's pocket for customer satisfaction. So you are incorrect if you believe that every time a package doesn't arrive by the estimated date, that the seller loses the money and the item. 

I'm not seeing what you think is underhanded in this situation. If seller refunded you and still shipped the item, they are at a loss so what advantage is there to them doing this? I'm just not seeing what was so unethical from the seller to you. Sounds more like an error from a newbie seller. Best of luck to you....

[bj95212 · Accepted solution]

Okay, I am back.

I have spoke with eBay a short time ago this evening. I hate now that you have to go through Live Chat in order to speak with someone over the phone as Live chat is where any type of contact starts.

Anyways, eBay told me this after much deliberation with supervisors. The item was somehow never sent and was picked up by the seller the following day the item was sent, so it never left the Post Office. I am not sure how that happened as packages are shipped from the shipper P.O. daily, but somehow the seller was able to stop and still pick it up. That says all to me! So, the seller had it right along and was lying to me!!! So, the seller has trying to scam me and get paid back for it for an item not received!!! MY INTUITION WAS RIGHT!!! According to the eBay rep., the seller has been warned!!! I like to know what the seller receives when they are warned, the eBay rep. never shared with me what they do to sellers in this situation??? 

So, I have learned something today (...and I hope all of you do too)! ...to watch out when a seller gives you a refund the same time the item is shipped and then stops in shipment! A big warning sign!!! This would have ended up being an item not received case if the seller did not refund me that next day and I would have won anyways the eBay rep. told me! It was a BIG SCAM attempt!!! 

Anyways, thank you very much for all your input for everyone! CASE SOLVED!

[mtgraves7984]

"... This would have ended up being an item not received case..."

@bj95212 

Yep. And most of us would have waited until one day past the Estimated Delivery Date on the Order to open one.

[downunder-61]

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@mtgraves7984 wrote:

"... This would have ended up being an item not received case..."

@bj95212 

Yep. And most of us would have waited until one day past the Estimated Delivery Date on the Order to open one.

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But not if we had already been refunded.

I still do not see any BIG SCAM attempt other than maybe the seller was avoiding a defect for OOS.

Thanks for posting OP and gald you did not get the item and have to fight with your consience

[myangelandmyprincess]

I'm not sure how ebay live chat would know the seller went back and got the item from the post office...if that had occured and the seller knew you wouldn't get it the messages and what not make less sense.  There still literally is no benefit to the seller just refunding you and asking for repayment if you get it.  It sounds more like it got lost in the mail but anyhow 

[releasethekraken_1]

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@bj95212 wrote:

Okay, I am back.

I have spoke with eBay a short time ago this evening. I hate now that you have to go through Live Chat in order to speak with someone over the phone as Live chat is where any type of contact starts.

Anyways, eBay told me this after much deliberation with supervisors. The item was somehow never sent and was picked up by the seller the **bleep**

So, I have learned something today (...and I hope all of you do too)! ...to watch out when a seller gives you a refund the same time the item is shipped and then stops in shipment! A big warning sign!!! This would have ended up being an item not received case if the seller did not refund me that next day and I would have won anyways the eBay rep. told me! It was a BIG SCAM attempt!!! 

Anyways, thank you very much **bleep**

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Nothing you’ve written changes my opinion in the slightest. Thanks **bleep**

[auctionairecorp]

This is a great scam, I am thinking of trying it, yeah definately. Any tips for me?

[downunder-61]

Yeah, try a scam that works LOL