Buyer request a refund from July 7th sale

[12345jamesstamps]

Hi all,

I have a buyer requesting a refund. I usually don't have a problem with that. It is from a sale on July 7th.

How is it even possible to request a refund so long ago through eBay? I don't think this is a credit card charge back because I think they take the refund right away. I believe this is through eBay? What should I do? I don't want my rating to get hurt. Should I just give this buyer their refund and move on? It's not a lot of money. It's more of the principle of it. Is there a time limit of refunds on eBay? And I don't feel like calling CS and I don't do Facebook. Any thoughts?

[dptedora]

Do nothing the time is up for a refund and feedback

[lakefor94]

If they requested a refund by opening a return case, you can deny and the case will close.

I have had a couple of these in the past year. eBay does allow these cases to be opened.  The choice is with the seller to accept or deny.

[12345jamesstamps]

My funds are on hold by eBay.

[12345jamesstamps]

Does it hurt my rating to deny it? And do I do it online and not call CS?

[ms.rodriguez*]

That is ridiculous that a buyer can open a claim through Ebay.  CALL ebay now and tell them to close the case and to release your funds.  Or contact Ebay via Facebook and explain.  When you do that , none of your family or friends will know that you did that. It will be totally private. Do NOT give a refund to this buyer. Make sure that  you block them.   If they do go through their credit card, than you have no choice but to refund.  Do NOT refund.  

[lakefor94]

What does the return case state?  There is usually a note from the buyer for the reason of the return.  What are you seeing? 

I have closed them in the past by denying the return.  Never had to involve eBay or contact them. No hits on seller defects for seller rating. 

What exactly are you seeing? 

Stepping out to take the daughter unit to the dentist.....

[kensgiftshop]

If it's a case through Ebay, the MBG has expired and there's nothing Ebay will do.

The buyer can still open a case, but it's between the buyer and seller, Ebay won't get involved.

Just deny it and the case will be closed.

But, they can still g to Pay Pal or their credit card.

[12345jamesstamps]

Item was not received. Requesting a refund. I have until Nov. 18th to respond.

[12345jamesstamps]

So why are funds on hold?

[b86fiero]

Was the item shipped with a tracking number?  If so, check the tracking to see if it was delivered.  If proof of delivery through tracking upload the tracking number to the case and request eBay close it in your favor.

If no tracking, you cannot prove it was delivered.  It is up to you to decide whether to refund the buyer and move on.

Has the buyer left feedback for you?

[12345jamesstamps]

No tracking because address was in Chinese. I had quite a few sales and finding feedback or even the sale so long ago seems impossible.

[stuff4divas]

@12345jamesstamps   the address language has no affect on the tracking number. if tracking shows 'delivered', simply upload it onto the case. The date of the sale should be on the case and ebay would have sent it to your personal email.

if all this seems like too much work for you and as u state, it is a small amount, throw principal away, refund, and move on, especially if the buyer never rec'd the product.

the July date is somewhat explained due to it being an international sale.

[b86fiero]

You can check your feedback received fairly easy.

The eBay ID of the buyer is stated in the item not received case.  Go to your feedback folder, choose to find feedback and type in the buyer's ID.  If no results show then the buyer did not leave feedback.

If you shipped overseas without tracking ........ Sorry but my advice is to refund the buyer and move on.  If the buyer is refunded eBay should remove the sale from your account and the buyer then cannot leave feedback the conventional way.  (There are back door ways to leaving feedback but eBay will often remove it eventually if you are a Top Rated seller).

Hopefully it's not a lot of money.  For me it would be a choice of losing some money to protect my account standing or dealing with the issue for the foreseeable future.  Is it worth the time and stress?     

[onlinecentral · Accepted solution]

The transaction is deleted from the buyer's Purchase History after 60 days.
The transaction is deleted from the seller's Sold History after 90 days.
The Final Value and Managed Payments fees are not refundable to you or the buyer.
Issuing a refund through Paypal or snail mail would be a headache.

Send the buyer an authoratative message.
Life is full of statutes of limitation. If you miss the deadline, then you forfeit.

A few people have criticized me for posting that in the past. I wasn't kind enough.

I never heard back from the buyers and none of them pursued the issue further through their credit card.