Refunded buyer without having buyer send item back

[suntrade167]

Ebay gets worse by the day! no protections for sellers. Recently a buyer claimed that an item purchased from me "didn't appear to be authentic". It was authentic, but contact with buyer was non responsive. Ebay actually issued a refund on the item without having the buyer send the item back!! Also, you can no longer contact a person at Ebay! The website just gives you a run-around when you try to get help with no discourse to talk to a real person on the matter anymore. So lame!

[mtgraves7984]

It sounds like the buyer opened a Return request that you didn't react to? If so, there's nothing to do now.

It's always a good idea to approve a return if the buyer claims 'Not As Described'. 1) You issue a return label for the buyer. 2) The buyer sends the item back to you. 3) You approve the refund... when the item is returned to you.

If enough time passes that it escalates to eBay, a return won't be required. That is eBay's MBG for buyers.

Sorry this happened to you. It probably happened to me. Once.

[little*blackdog]

So when the buyer opened that case w/Ebay... did you respond within the case?  You need to respond there and maybe show proof of authenticity if you have it.  If you let the case just close without your input, yes, the buyer will get refunded. 

If the buyer didn't respond to your messages, you should of gone directly to the case and left your message there so Ebay could see you were actively involved.  Also... you should report the buyer if they're not telling the truth.  AND put them on your Blocked Bidder List so they don't come back.