Refund request through Paypal, not eBay, after 3 months

[kwickone]

Hey all, long time eBay'er (both seller and buyer) and just had an odd and frustrating scenario.

I get that the buyer has way more power than the seller, but curious as to your thoughts. Scenario:

1. Sold Apple Watch on Nov 27, 2020.

2. Buyer received watch on Dec 3, 2020.

3. No feedback, and no comms from the buyer after purchase.

4. Paypal email on 2/27/2021, buyer requested a refund. Details only this: "The item I received is defective, it not working. I want a refund". Buyer never reached out to me.

5. I replied to Paypal case, stating that seems suspicious. And that it has been almost 3 months, and that I do not support a refund".

6. 3/1/2021. Paypal said they will refund the buyer. And the buyer will ship the item back to me.

Thoughts?

What if the item comes back in different condition than I sold it?

How is a 3 month old sale allowed to be refunded?

This is very frustrating.

Thanks!

[pburn]

Buyers are not required to reach out to sellers before, during, or after filing a dispute. Buyers who make their purchases using PayPal have 180 days to file for a refund. 

[kensgiftshop]

@kwickone 

With Pay Pal, a buyer has 180 days to file a claim.

[kwickone]

Thanks for the replies! That is quite the refund policy. So if the buyer returns the watch in a different condition than was sold, do I have zero recourse? 

[kwickone]

Oh, and do I get my eBay seller fees back for this hundreds of dollars sale?

[luckythewinner · Accepted solution]

Thoughts?

• Buyers who pay with PayPal have 180 days to file a dispute.
• Buyers are not required by PayPal to reach out to the seller before filing a dispute.
• "I don't support a refund" and "seems suspicious" do not trump PayPal policy.

What if the item comes back in different condition than I sold it?

It will be your word against the buyer's because no one from PayPal observed your original shipment, the buyer's receipt of it, or the buyer's return shipment to you.

How is a 3 month old sale allowed to be refunded?

Because you agreed to a six-month dispute window when you agreed to use PayPal.

This is very frustrating.

Yes.

[ittybitnot]

What if the item comes back in different condition than I sold it?

You will be refunding anyway.   If you think about it, do come back and let us know what you get back.  And don't throw away any erroneous parcels that may arrive in the meantime at your address (that you didn't order) from other vendors. 

@kwickone 

[worldwide_ship]

What if the item comes back in different condition than I sold it?

You call PayPal and tell them the item didn't arrive in the original condition. They will then ask you to file a police report or an IC3.gov report. They will still refund the buyer and then reimburse you out of their pocket. 

[doc-holmes]

I didn't need to read past "sold apple watch" to know what happened. Electronics can be a dangerous game.