Catch-22 in return procedures?

[argus_museum]

Experts,

On my "buying ID" I bought a lens from a new seller (maybe a mistake, but everybody is a new seller at some point). The lens arrived in semi-working condition and I filed for a refund, got the return label, and sent it back. It arrived a couple days ago.

The seller tried to refund me but the funds from my purchase (his first sale) are on hold. (Not sure why, maybe because he's a new seller?) Now eBay is messaging him to do the refund before eBay has to "step in." The seller of course wants to avoid eBay stepping in, but can't do the refund due to the hold.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Mike

[monica-sells]

If I understand your question, that seller needs to enable a "backup" funding source to satisfy the return while the original funds are on hold. If the fund are "on-hold" the refund should still go through with the funds coming from the backup source, When the funds are released, the seller will receive them back.

That is usually the bank account for a seller (USA)

[caldreamer]

Sounds like the seller is giving you a bunch of baloney.    When buyer opens "case against the seller" EBAY immediately freezes the funds (so there will be money available for the seller to give the refund).

If for some reason, there are no funds available (seller must have refund buyer and EBAY will take the money from the seller's bank account to cover this refund).

If this seller refuses to give you a refund, you should "ask EBAY to step in".

[argus_museum]

@monica-sells @caldreamer 

Thanks for your excellent replies on this question.

I have written back to the seller telling him that he should have an altenate funding source and that the refund should come from that. I've also asked him to tell me what response he gets when he tries to do the refund.

Mike

[luckythewinner]

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@argus_museum wrote:

Anybody have any suggestions?

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This is not your problem to solve. 

The seller can refund out of his own pocket while the funds are on hold if he chooses to. 

If he does not, eBay will step in and your seller will learn a hard lesson. 

[mam98031]

@argus_museum 

Being a new seller, they just don't understand the process.  They are not likely trying to take advantage of you in any way, they just don't know the process.

They can and should send you a full refund now.  It will be paid by the seller's back up funding source they entered when they set up their selling account or directly from the bank account.  

The new seller can not pull from the funds that are on hold.  However after the seller issues the refund to you, they can contact Ebay and try to get them to remove the hold on the initial funds so they can get that money into their bank account.  

If the new seller has other questions, you can have them reach out to me and I will help them go through the process.  They can reach be by clicking into any one of my listings and sending me a message. 

BTW, the seller absolutely does NOT want Ebay to step in.  This is harmful to the health of their selling account and even though they would be forced to refund you, they would not get their selling fees refunded and a Defect on their Seller Dashboard.

[argus_museum]

Thanks very much @mam98031 , particularly for your offer to assist the seller.

I have messaged him quoting your reply and inserted a link to your listings.

Mike