Return case closed in Seller's favor. Buyer still wants refund. eBay won't credit Final Value Fee?

[xntryk1]

15 days after winning an auction, the buyer opened a return case due to a very minor defect that wasn't mentioned in the listing. Of course, eBay automatically approved the return for me (gee, thanks). That gave the buyer 9 days to return the item (which equals "5 business days" according to eBay). On the 10th day, the item still hadn't even been mailed, so I opened a case with eBay to get the return case closed. The very next day, eBay decided in my favor and closed the return case. Almost immediately thereafter, I discovered that the item was suddenly on its way back to me (I get notifications from the P.O. about what mail to expect). I imagine the buyer received notification from eBay that I had opened a case, so he remembered he needed to get that item in the mail.

I love robothands' advice in another thread "Block the buyer, refuse the package, do not refund, ignore forever." That would work just fine if only eBay were involved. But unfortunately, PayPal is also involved and they've got their 180-day refund policy. I don't see how it's possible to ignore the power that PayPal has to simple lock down the $$ in your PayPal account and refund whenever they feel like it. 

Also, now that eBay has closed the case, they're done with it. The ONLY way to refund the buyer is via PayPal. But here's the kicker, since I'll be refunding via PayPal, eBay WON'T refund their final value fee! I've called them and asked them. I'll still have to send the buyer a full refund, but I'll lose the final value fee (not to mention the postage). And it was a $4500 item, so the final value fee was substantial. Don't suppose anybody knows a way around this nonsense?

[green-night]

Has the buyer actually opened a case with Paypal?

I'd call and ask eBay again about the FVF.    If they still won't budge, I'd @ one of the eBay reps on here and see if they have an explanation as to why they should keep over $400 in FVF for a transaction that ends up getting reversed.  Other than greed I mean. 

[xntryk1]

No, the buyer hasn't opened up a PayPal case, yet. The returned item is scheduled to be delivered to me TODAY  (4/18). But since the buyer has exhausted his refund options on eBay (after they closed his case in my favor), I have no doubt that he'll try PayPal next - if I don't just issue a refund, first.

How does one go about @ one of the eBay reps on here?

[nmemoryof]

You will probably eventually get those fees back once eBay gets the full picture.  Anyway, the good news is that you had other people interested in the item.  So you can probably resell it and end up OK.  Let's hope the returned item is in sent condition.

[xntryk1]

Fingers crossed on all of that. 

[green-night]

I would absolutely NOT refund this buyer until and if they open a claim with Paypal.  And I wouldn't communicate with them anymore either.   And do NOT refuse that package or you could end up having to issue a refund and lose your item. 

[xntryk1]

I totally agree with all of that - except the part about not refunding them until/if they open a claim with PayPal. My problem with that is, they still have 150 days to open that claim with PayPal (they only waste 30 days on eBay). And this buyer hasn't done anything fast, so they could take their sweet time doing that. Meanwhile, I'd have to keep the funds languishing in my PayPal account. If it was just a small item, that would be no problem. But it's a $4500 item, so it's a problem... 

[green-night]

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@xntryk1 wrote:

I totally agree with all of that - except the part about not refunding them until/if they open a claim with PayPal. My problem with that is, they still have 150 days to open that claim with PayPal (they only waste 30 days on eBay). And this buyer hasn't done anything fast, so they could take their sweet time doing that. Meanwhile, I'd have to keep the funds languishing in my PayPal account. If it was just a small item, that would be no problem. But it's a $4500 item, so it's a problem... 

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If you get the item back today, immediately relist it and if it sells you will have twice that amount in your account.  Then you could just let the buyers money sit there to be available in the event they file a PP dispute which I agree they will figure out how to do eventually. 

[xntryk1]

That's another little catch I neglected to mention. I was selling this item for someone and they're so disgusted with the nightmare we just went through with eBay that they don't want to relist it. They don't want to have anything to do with eBay ever, ever again... 

[green-night]

@Anonymous 

tyler@ebay 

Any advice for the predicament the OP is in?   Would/should eBay be refunding FVF's in the event the OP refunds via Paypal even though no case has been opened there yet?   Given the circumstances, messages, cases, tracking etc.

Certainly doesn't seem right eBay would keep those fees, but is there some protocol here that needs to be followed or what? 

[xntryk1]

Thank you, green-night

[uniwarehousewares]

Hi,

       if case already close in your favor, first thing you should do is to block that buyer , and don't communicate or give response to buyer and report buyer to ebay. secondly if you see that money is credit from pay pal  than call ebay and get it fix. 

There are some psycho buyers, he already kicked out for what he deserved. must report the buyer to ebay so he can enter in their list of monitoring what he is doing and what he will do to other sellers. 

Also go to internet there are some website there where you can report buyer over internet, these kind of buyers must be banned.

Hope its Help 

[xntryk1]

Yeah, I'll definitely report the buyer - after everything is resolved. It's his slowness at every step of the way that put me in this predicament. Thanks.

[tyler@ebay]

Thanks for the tag @green-night!

Hi @xntryk1 - definitely sounds like this one has been a hassle!

If we've been asked to step into a return request because the buyer hasn't gotten the item sent back to you within the required amount of time we can be asked to step into the request and would find it in your favor. At that point we consider the transaction closed. 

With that being said, if you end up receiving the item back, we'd encourage you to issue a refund to the buyer as you would have both the item and the money. However, there is not a way we would have to force you to do so. 

When it comes to the Final Value Fee, there isn't currently a way we have to automate a credit for that fee if you issue a refund outside of an eBay request (return, item not received, etc). But that doesn't mean we wouldn't give you one, it would just need to be reviewed manually.

In any case, if you do issue a refund I'd encourage you to contact Customer Support by phone or social media so they can pursue a courtesy credit for you. Thanks!

[xntryk1]

Thanks for responding tyler@ebay . 

I definitely don't want to end up with both the item and the $$. I never try to rip anybody off, no matter how they treat me. But since the transaction is closed, there doesn't seem to be any way to give that refund via eBay. So should I give it via PayPal? Will eBay even be aware of it, if I give it via PayPal (since the transaction is closed)? Please advise.