How did this happen? Return closed two days after return label provided.

[justagirl12]

I am the buyer. I purchased an item. It wasn’t as described. Opened a return request the same day I received it. Seller responded six days later and accepted the return. The next day I received a return label from the seller through eBay. That same day I shipped the item back. Today, not even three days later, I get an email from eBay saying the return has been closed in the sellers favor because I didn’t return the item in time. I could see that the seller had called in and spoke to a customer service rep and then five or 10 minutes later case was closed. I called and was told that since the case was closed I had to wait until the item arrived back to the seller and then call back to “appeal”. Can anybody explain to me how this is allowed to happen? 

[glyph01]

The only thing I can think of is either tracking showed no movement and/or the seller was able to somehow convince the CSR to close it, flouting eBay's policy.

How long a buyer has to ship the return:

Once the return is accepted, we'll provide the buyer with a date by which they should ship the item back to you. After 15 business days, if we don't see any indicators that the item is on its way back to you, we may close the return and protect you from negative feedback. Some returns may remain open for up to 35 business days. Returns cannot be closed at the request of a seller.

• eBay or seller-provided labels: If an eBay label was automatically provided or you provide non-eBay return labels and upload tracking, we may close the return if we don't see tracking scans or signals from the buyer showing the item was shipped within 15 business days of when the label was provided. If tracking is not uploaded, we may wait up to 35 business days before closing the return
• No label provided: If the buyer is responsible for return shipping, we may close the return if we don't see tracking scans or signals showing the item was shipped within 15 business days of the return being accepted. If you are responsible for providing return shipping and do not upload a label, we may wait up to 35 business days from the date the return was accepted before closing the return.

[justagirl12]

I literally shipped the return back the same day I received the return label. The seller called eBay the day after I got the return label and sent item back and CS CLOSED THE RETURN! I was told I had to now appeal it. Appeal it?! It’s was their mistake and I have to appeal it?!?!? And it was an eBay provided return label. I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck. If this can happen to me, it can happen to ANYONE! I’ve been on here since 1999...different I’d....and never saw such blatant incompetence!