Why So Long To Wait For A Refund?

[jellybean922]

I bought a box of books BIN on September 15th from a seller who joined eBay in 2023.  Seller had few feedbacks but I believe in trusting others for the most part.  Well, seller never shipped books and did not answer three friendly messages asking about shipping.  When I tried to get eBay involved, info said they would not get involved until the 26th.  Contacted them on the 26th and they said they would contact seller and I was not to contact eBay again until October 3rd, if I had not received books. 

That's 18 days for eBay to even consider refunding me my $65!  Why does it take so long?  Is it to make interest on the money sent to them? I mean, if a seller has not shipped in 10 days and answers no messages, isn't it obvious the buyer should get an immediate refund?  I'd rather deal with PayPal!

[klhmdg]

Sellers are not required to use tracking for shipments SO until the day after the last estimated delivery date there is no way to say it didnt ship.

How do you know the seller didnt ship?

1 day after the estimated delivery date the buyer can file a "not received" claim.

eBay then gives the seller 3 days to respond with tracking.

Did you file a claim?

eBay doesn't get interest on the money because eBay doesnt have it. The money has been sent to the seller or sellers account.

It is not obvious at all since there is shipping times involved.

IF every buyer could after 1 day say "i didnt get it" and get an immediate refund then there would be no one selling anywhere. 

There are enough scams that we dont need to invent another.

[jellybean922]

Are you joking?  The money is not sent to the seller's account until the item is delivered.  At least that is how it has been with my selling since eBay dropped PayPal.  No money into bank account until package is delivered, and I always use eBay's mailing labels, which allows eBay to see the tracking.  Do you get your money as soon as a buyer pays?  Is so, they must have different payment policies for big time sellers.

The books aren't here.  The seller did not answer three messages.  So, what do you think?  Any seller who ships a box and is asked three times about shipping would certainly answer messages inquiring about shipping. This is not a big seller buried in sales.  Even a responsible big time seller should not take days and days to answer multiple emails about shipping from a concerned buyer.

Of course I filed a claim on the 26th.  How do you think I knew eBay would not take any further action, than sending a message to the seller, until October 3rd?  That's not three days.  That's seven days.  The info here at the website says it's three days, but obviously it's not.  And there was no option to file a claim until the 26th, at which time the option appeared.

Any additional useless comments suspecting scams by buyers, instead of negligence or scams by sellers?

[gone.c-33]

Not all sellers have their funds held for 30 days. Once they pass a certain amount of transactions, their funds are released after a buyer’s payment has been processed.

Now that’s been cleared, that’s how item not received claims work: buyer files, eBay gives the seller 4 days to provide a tracking number that proves delivery (sometimes if tracking doesn’t show delivery but recent movement they will grant seller an extension until item is delivered) and if seller can’t prove delivery, buyer can ask eBay to step in after 4 days and eBay will refund.

[12345jamesstamps]

Not a big time seller here...but a seller nevertheless.

I am hooked up to 'express payouts' and can get a buyer's payment the next day after 10 PM.

If your seller has not sold anything in a month...their payment is sometimes on hold for 30 days.

Sellers do not have to answers emails sent by the buyer...

Tracking is not required...as I sell some cheap items I use just a forever stamp.

Your books might have been shipped as 'media mail' is somewhat slower.

It is possible the seller forgot add the tracking using the USPS instead of an eBay shipping label.

'filed a claim on the 26th'...'Oct 3rd' eBay will send you a notice to escalate the claim...and usually the claim is closed the next day.

I think because of 'media mail' the seller might be getting a few extra days.

Also, not knowing where item is coming from...we did have a hurricane affecting many states in shipments this week.

I currently have an ongoing shipment delayed to North Carolina that was due yesterday and have no idea if roads are even available for buyer's shipment to get to them.

Sellers and buyers are currently getting extra time and eBay might have started it on the 26th ahead of the hurricane. 

You will get a refund...but you might also get the books.

[jellybean922]

Okay, but it's 7 days for this sale. Oct. 3rd is 7 days after the 26th. My seller funds have been released, as I said, when items were delivered. I have no problem with that. 

[jellybean922]

Sellers don't have to answer emails about a purchased item? That's a lousy seller as far as I am concerned. Keep in mind, too, as I said, the seller has few feedbacks, like three.  If I bought something cheap, there would not be any immediate concern about shipping and refunds. But $65 is not cheap for me, and we needed the books for something. If the seller had answered one message, too, explaining some delay, I would have been understanding. eBay can see all messages sent through their service, and see the seller was not replying. Seller is in New York state. If I get a refund and also get the books, I will certainly contact eBay about paying for the books. I am not looking for free stuff on eBay, or looking to cheat a seller out of money.