Can I still get a refund if my item doesn't reach me until after return deadline?

[flishseller]

A few weeks ago I ordered something, but a few days after the item was shipped, I discovered it was bootleg (with no indication) and immediately requested to return them.

The "return by" date is July 5th, and the package only arrived just today (July 3rd). I assume the USPS won't be picking it up tomorrow as they are closed for the 4th of July. If the seller doesn't get their item back by the 5th, do I lose my chance at a refund? The item will likely be picked up the morning of the 5th but will take a long time to reach the seller since they are in another country.

If the deadline passes and the seller hasn't received their item, am I screwed out of a refund?

[12345jamesstamps]

No.

The day it arrived to you per tracking...you have 30 days to return it under eBay....Assuming it has tracking.

And make sure you have tracking on it when you return it.

[flishseller]

It does have tracking, but the thing is I requested the return weeks before it arrived. It arrived today and it says "return by July 5th". But you say I still have 30 days from today to return it?

[flishseller]

It may also be worth noting that I was supposed to receive the package on June 30th, thus leaving me plenty of time to start the return, but the delivery got delayed.

[12345jamesstamps]

I think you might have made a mistake or maybe not. You cannot request a refund until it arrives to you with tracking on the date it is in your hands. Did you open a claim with eBay? If you did not open a claim(case) with eBay you are OK. Emails back and forth to seller don't mean anything.

[soh.maryl]

How did you "discover it was bootleg"? 

Did you mean you discovered it was counterfeit?

How, since you had not yet received it?  

[flishseller]

Cause I was ordering a bunch of games from different sellers, and upon getting one that was a counterfeit copy, I realized a few others I had ordered (including this one) were also counterfeit. 

Doesn't matter though cause I was able to get the return going now by just going to the post office myself... something that hadn't even crossed my mind until speaking with support.

[ms.rodriguez*]

See if you can print the return shipping label today.   Make sure that you drop it in the mail box on July 5th. Make sure that the clerk scans it. Don't just leave it on the counter. Make sure that you put the return tracking # on the case.   Even though you get the label from ebay  and they generated it , they still want you to type in the tracking # in the case.   Hopefully that will work out.

OR see if you can reach out to ebay on Facebook and explain the situation to them. Perhaps they can let you know if the return period starts on July 3, the day that you received the item.  The folks on facebook are very knowledgeable and have helped many folks.

[kensgiftshop]

The seller doesn't have to receive it by the 5th, you have to have it shipped and scanned by the 5th.

[house*of*paws]

Hi @flishseller 

July 5th is the deadline for providing the tracking number for the return if you’re buying postage yourself … OR having it scanned by the post office if the label was provided you.

[evry1nositswindy]

In the future, never open a return until you have the item in hand and have inspected it.  You may have sent back the very thing you wanted.  The time starts ticking once you click return.  There was no hurry.  You have 30 days after the delivery date to return.