New return message from ebay "The item should have been delivered"

[sai83her]

Ok. Long story, but lets make it short. A buyer bought an item from me almost a month ago. Buyer bought it by mistake and opens a return case. I gladly accepted the return and like usual, we sit and wait for the item to be returned.

Then weeks goes by and nothing. No tracking number, no return package and the return status stays at "return started". Then yesterday, I get a message from ebay titled 

"Has ASRock Z75 Pro3, LGA 1155, Intel Z75, Motherboard #267 been returned?" along 

with a message that states like this......

"We've asked the buyer to send the item

Hi Sai,
(buyers id) indicated that they posted their return. The item should now be delivered and once you've received it, please issue the buyer with a refund by Aug 13, 2018. When the refund is complete, you'll automatically receive a credit for the final value fee and other applicable fees. If the item hasn't arrived yet, the buyer may not be returning it. if you like, you can contact buyer."

Ok, so now I'm only given the option to issue a refund by 8/13/2018 or contact the buyer. So what will ebay do? Will they automatically refund the buyer if I let it sit until then, or what? 

[hafoster]

It's an automatic message.

Ignore it.

[mam98031]

DON'T ignore the message.  You need to call Ebay.  There is a reason that message was generated and it really should not have been, so you need to pay attention to what is happening with this return.

If the buyer actually shipped the item and tracking shows it should arrive soon, you may not have an issue.  BUT if the buyer did not ship the item back, just call and get it closed out.  Buyers are suppose to ship back within 5 business days of receiving the shipping label from you.  You do NOT need to be waiting all this time.  But it will require you to call Ebay.  

Don't risk going past that date in the email.  Since that email shouldn't have been sent to you in the first place, you don't want Ebay just auto closing it and ruling in the buyer's favor.  I don't know that they would do that, but the risk is there.  So don't mess with it, handle it now.  Because if it gets closed by Ebay in the buyer's favor you may be forced to refund without your product being in your hands and it is very difficult to appeal these decisions Ebay makes.

Please update the thread if you decide to call.

[robot-hands]

Robot message.

You can ignore it, your buyer already did.

I would have called that in and got the return closed weeks ago, they call still sneak their return in the mail anytime before the case times out and you will still have to refund but the chances are low.

[pjcdn2005]

The only reason that the message was generated is because ebay has it set up to go out xx number of days even if the buyer has not entered a tracking number for the return or indicated in any way that the item has been sent back. I've received a few of those messages and have ignored them because there was no indication that the item had ever been mailed back. Eventually the return will close or the op can phone ebay and ask them to close it.

[mam98031]

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@pjcdn2005 wrote:

The only reason that the message was generated is because ebay has it set up to go out xx number of days even if the buyer has not entered a tracking number for the return or indicated in any way that the item has been sent back. I've received a few of those messages and have ignored them because there was no indication that the item had ever been mailed back. Eventually the return will close or the op can phone ebay and ask them to close it.

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It of course is your decision to do whatever you feel appropriate when you receive one of these types of message.  It works for you and that is great.

I do not however recommend it.  Things change on Ebay constantly and many changes are without notice.  I have no faith that the day I don't pay attention to this kind of stuff will be the day that Ebay decides to step in and do whatever they feel in necessary to the Request for return.  So I choose to call Ebay and get the RR closed IF the buyer has taken more than 5 business days to ship the item back.

Again, I respect your decision on how it works best for you to handle things.  I just choose not to do it that way.