Customer Opened A Return Case But Hasn't Returned Item

[irishnomads]

As a long time seller on eBay, it seems that all of my "problems" are those with buyers who have very few feedbacks and purchase items that are $9.99 And, so it goes.

This purchaser bought a collection of flat, paperback children's books from me. I CAREFULLY wrapped the books in tissue paper. Because these books were thin, I wrapped a few of them as a "pair" in the tissue paper. 

The buyer received the package, and before opening EACH tissue wrapped package, fired off a "return" case with eBay stating that I hadn't sent all the book. Actually, this buyer should have opened a "not as adverstied", but, there we have it.

I emailed the buyer and mentioned that, all the books were in fact sent. Had they looked at EACH and EVERY wrapped item? 

Apparently not. 

So, now I have this "return" item in limbo. eBay already took the $$$ out of my account to have the person return the item, but they are, in fact, not returning it.

My question is, will I ever see the additional shipping $$$ that eBay took out of my account and how long does the person have to return the item (which they are not) before the case is closed?  It's been almost 30 days.

[missjen831]

Ebay doesn't take the money out of your account, they place it on hold. If ebay issued a label, you haven't been charged for it and you won't be charged unless it is used. The buyer was given 5 business days to ship the books back. If its been longer than that and the tracking doesn't show the item was shipped, call and they will close the return.

[lintbrush*]

Did you authorize the return?  

Did you let the buyer know to close it at the time they found the other books?

[shoptalkid]

If the buyer does not provide return info within something like 5-7 days after they open the case,  you call eBay and get it closed in your favor.  Do NOT wait until later or let it just close on its own!    I let the latter happen because I forgot to call ebay and before you know it, I received an "ask eBay to step in" message.   I wasn't going to chance dealing with a bot deciding the case, so I called up Ebay.  They told me I should have called much sooner, but still closed the case in my favor.  

I suspect my buyer was phishing for a refund with no return (for buyers remorse no less.smh) or they came to their senses and realized it wasn't worth the hassle to return $4 worth of items that were exactly as described.  

[irishnomads]

I did, but the customer doesn't know how to close the case. 

[phcd1]

Let sleeping dogs lie, do NOT message the buyer an ask "What's going on?".

You only get charged for the return label IF they use it.

You can call eBay if it's been more then 5 days (and no tracking activity) since you approved the return, and see if they will close the case in your favor, but I woulnd'nt. Just let the case timeout on it's own and the money will be released typically in 30 days.

BTW, if it wasn't a SNAD case, why did you issue a return label?