Seller trying to avoid sending prepaid shipping label

[jugphd]

I purchased an item that arrived on June 17th, and it was the wrong item - it didn't fit where it is supposed to go.  I immediately initiated a return request, which was approved by eBay, except that the eBay message says that the seller notified eBay they sent a return shipping label, which is not true.  Instead, the seller contacted me and offered me a $2 refund for the item that cost me well over $8 and asked me to keep the item, which is useless to me.  I responded to the seller via eBay and explained that the item is useless to me and asked for the return shipping label, and offered to accept the same type of item that would have the correct dimension that would fit.  The seller then tried to convince me to keep the item because of all the effort on my part to return it, and all the effort on their part to issue the return label and then check that the item is in the same condition as it was when it was shipped to me, and to entice me they now offered a $4 refund.  I replied and refused the offer and gave the seller two options: (1) to provide me with the return shipping label, or (2) to send me the correct item (for which I previously provided the correct size), and requested one of those options ASAP.  I have not yet received a response to that last request.

As I recall from the initial contact from eBay, the seller has till June 23rd to provide the return shipping label, although, according to the eBay claim, the seller informed eBay that the return shipping label was sent to me (which is obviously not true based on the refund offers that I've refused).  Is there some direct contact link to eBay to report that seller and request the money back guarantee?  Thanks in advance  for any advice on next steps to take.

[albertabrightalberta]

Please clarify. When you say, "it was the wrong item - it didn't fit where it is supposed to go," are you saying that it was correctly described and photographed but it is the wrong size? Or was the listing for a different item than you received? 

[jugphd]

The item I was sent had a threaded bushing that is too short.  The description of the item by this seller didn't specify the length of the threaded bushing, and I didn't realize that the item can have different lengths of the threaded bushing till after I received this item and checked other sellers on eBay who actually specified 3 different lengths in their descriptions - short, medium, and long.  I need the item with a medium length threaded bushing, because the short bushing doesn't fit through to the other side in order to apply the hex-nut to it.  I hope this explanation is helpful.

[jugphd]

The item I was sent had a threaded bushing that is too short.  The description of the item by this seller didn't specify the length of the threaded bushing, and I didn't realize that the item can have different lengths of the threaded bushing till after I received this item and checked other sellers on eBay who actually specified 3 different lengths in their descriptions - short, medium, and long.  I need the item with a medium length threaded bushing, because the short bushing doesn't fit through to the other side in order to apply the hex-nut to it.  I hope this explanation is helpful.

[jugphd]

OOPPSS... I put this in the wrong spot.  See copy below your response albertabrightalberta.  I'm new to this...😳

[qeqo_0 · Accepted solution]

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@jugphd wrote:

Is there some direct contact link to eBay to report that seller and request the money back guarantee?  Thanks in advance  for any advice on next steps to take. 

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Yes @jugphd just leave a private message here for eBay on Facebook, or open an account just to contact eBay, and tell eBay that you need a prepaid return label. Be very brief! 

eBay will give the seller 5 days to either refund outright no return needed, or provide the return label. If the seller does neither, eBay will force the refund for the seller.

[jugphd]

Thank you!  Will do this.

[monster-deals]

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@jugphd wrote:

I have not yet received a response to that last request.

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Stop talking to them, they are trying to sandbag you.

Just let the return play out.

[jugphd]

Thanks monster-deals.  I will stop talking to them.  Before I saw your response I saw they're trying to have me start a return process on the item on which I already started the return process, and they want me to put in the reason "I changed my mind", which isn't the reason for the return in the first place - the **bleep** thing didn't fit!  So I sent them screen shots of the eBay message to me on when the return was initiated (06/17/23), and a screen shot of the eBay message to me letting me know that the seller sent me the return shipping label (08/18/23), which they obviously DID NOT, since they've made a couple minor refund offers that I rejected.  I sent them one last request to send me the return shipping label, and if I don't receive it by the date that eBay required (06/23/23), I will go directly to eBay and request my refund via the guaranteed money back provision. So you're absolutely right - they trying to sandbag me.

[mtgraves7984]

Before I saw your response I saw they're trying to have me start a return process on the item on which I already started the return process, and they want me to put in the reason "I changed my mind", which isn't the reason for the return in the first place - the **bleep** thing didn't fit!

@jugphd 

Well... both 'I changed my mind' and 'Didn't fit' are remorse reasons. Know that depending on your seller's Return policy, your claim could be denied, or you could end up paying return shipping cost to the seller if you used one of those two reasons.

[ma-647837]

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@jugphd wrote:

1. So I sent them screen shots of the eBay message to me on when the return was initiated (06/17/23),

2. and a screen shot of the eBay message to me letting me know that the seller sent me the return shipping label (08/18/23), which they obviously DID NOT, since they've made a couple minor refund offers that I rejected. 

3. I sent them one last request to send me the return shipping label, and if I don't receive it by the date that eBay required (06/23/23), I will go directly to eBay and request my refund via the guaranteed money back provision. 

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3. Unfortunately @jugphd you won't see an Ask eBay to step in on 06/23/23

2. as that expired immediately when the seller "sent" the return shipping label on 06/18/23.

Instead, the clock has started and eBay expects you to mail the nonexistent return label. So you need to contact eBay on Facebook right away, as you will never be able to

-- "go directly to eBay and request my refund" nor

-- mail the return back with the missing label.

[jugphd]

Thank you, ma-647837.  I've done it per the advice of qeqo_0 above, and actually got a response from a person there saying they'll look into it.  I hope they do.

[dqdistribution]

Honestly, a few sellers have done the option to flag they are unable to provide a return label.

All this has resulted in is me contacting eBay.  A case being opened, a 5 day hold happening, and a full refund while I get to keep the item.

I refuse to ever provide my own label when it's the sellers responsibility. They can buy a label from a different website, same as I'd have to. If this isn't something they don't want to deal with then they shouldn't sell internationally. 

[ma-647837]

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@dqdistribution wrote:

All this has resulted in is me contacting eBay.  A case being opened, a 5 day hold happening, and a full refund while I get to keep the item. 

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Astounding! Same as already shown above, copied here. Will one-duhs never cease?

[dqdistribution]

Oh I know.