Accepted a return case, buyer refuses to send return estimate or tell me PP ad. eBay refunds buyer.

[authenticomega]

Hello.

I sold a $300 item a few weeks ago to a buyer in a different country. Buyer opens a return case saying there is a defect. Funny, as I did not notice the defect upon close inspection of the item before shipping. Oh well, I accept the return. 

I cannot purchase a return shipping label in his country so asked the buyer to send me an estimate so I could send him funds via PayPal (standard return policy). The buyer refuses to do so, "I DO NOT TRUST YOU!" (?).  I tell him I need to know how much to send him and he tells me to stop messaging him. 

I look up my own estimate online to send him him funds, however his PayPal email address is nowhere to be found. I contact him again and tell him to send me his PayPal email address ASAP. He ignores me. 

Knowing that this will end badly for me if I cannot facilitate the return somehow, I contact eBay and explain the above. I get the reply below: 

"I received your email on the return request. Since you had already done , what you should(ask for paypal email in order to send money to buyer) . You dont need to do anything else for now but to escalate case comes September 3, 2020.

 I trust that the information provided is of help to you.Thank you for your patience and understanding. And I wish you all the best in your future eBay transactions

Stay Healthy and Safe! Sincerely,  

Cherry C.

eBay Customer support

And just earlier today the case was closed in favor of the buyer. IT IS NOT EVEN SEPT 3RD! Did this eBay rep straight-out lie to me? I did everything I could to facilitate a return and am now out both the item and money. 

If anyone has any advice or way I can recoup my losses please let me know. Thank you.

[cream_couture]

Call eBay or request a call from eBay. I had the same scenario earlier this year (buyer from another country, SNAD claim and wouldn't reply to me so I could buy shipping label) and eBay refunded me for the item. When you call ask for an appeal to be decided on the phone. 

[pjcdn2005]

The 'system' they have set up for international returns is very frustrating for both sellers and buyers.  I understand why they have sellers pay for return shipping in nad situations but they need to have a better return system set up for international transactions and better directions on how to proceed.

[ronica7-2013]

There is no recourse for international buyers. There are some dishonest and unscrupulous sellers on Ebay who know that the avenue for returns is not there and it sucks.