no tracking number and item not received

[paigelovesbroadway]

I bought something back in the middle of September that was supposed to arrive the 25th of September. The item had no tracking number too. I contacted the seller in early October asking about it and they responded saying they'd get the number to me asap. I then contacted them at least four times since early October and I have never gotten the tracking number or item. I waited a little bit on opening an "item not received" case because COVID/the election have really slowed down the postal service but I don't want to be scammed. Is there anything else I should do now? eBay is allowed to step in on the 5th. Will I be able to get a refund from eBay if the tracking number was never provided and there is no proof of me lying (I'm not). I just want my money back since I think it isn't coming. 

[mtgraves7984]

As long as you open an Item Not Received case and the seller can't prove you got it, you'll get a refund. Good luck.

[disneyshopper]

Make sure you go back to the case on November 5th and click the link to Ask ebay to step in, to force the refund.

[reallynicestamps]

Go to the Resolution Centre at the bottom of this page and open a Not Received dispute.

Ignore the suggestion that you Contact the Seller because you have already done that.

Ask eBay to step in and Escalate to a Claim.

If the seller cannot  prove delivery (not shipping, delivery) you will be refunded.

However, you have only 30 days from that last estimated date for delivery, and that has probably run out.

Go to Paypal's Resolution Centre which is under Tools at the top of your PP account page.

Open the same Not Received dispute and follow instructions.

You have 180 days from Payment for this.

If the seller cannot prove delivery you will be refunded.

In future, if this happens again, only send the seller one message.

"When was the purchase shipped, what service was used, and what is the tracking number?"

Really you only want the tracking number. If the purchase is on its way, you can wait a little longer. But if he tries to schmooze you, go directly to the Dispute.

[mudshark61369]

@paigelovesbroadway,

You really need to read the terms of ebay's Money Back Guarantee (MBG). On almost every listing page in the upper right there is a MBG box with a See details button in it. Click on it and read the info, paying attention to the time frames for filing disputes, and asking ebay to step in.  When you finally filed your Item Not Received (INR) dispute, if the seller did not respond within 3 days, you can ask ebay to step in any time after that.   (Never accept sending a replacement item from a seller who didn't send an item the first time especially if the item is coming from China)

The short version of the MBG is you have 30 days from the last estimated delivery date to open an INR dispute. You have at most 30 days from that date to ask ebay to step in (file on day 29)  unless the seller does not respond to the dispute with proof the package is enroute, has issued a refund or offered to send a replacement, within 3 days.  (Never accept sending a replacement item from a seller who didn't send an item the first time especially if the item is coming from China)

 " I waited a little bit on opening an "item not received" case because COVID/the election have really slowed down the postal service... ".

While Covid has caused some slow downs, most of them are for ground delivery.  Priority and 1st Class package shipping are only slower by a couple of days.  Since March, I've sold and bought many items, and only one item I sent via Parcel Select took longer than 14 days to be delivered.  The longest delay for a Priority package was 4 days after the last estimated delivery date in April.