Return request, what happens to held amount?

[liliumina]

Hello everyone! 

I just had my first return on Ebay. The item is currently on the way back to me. I have a question about the funds that Ebay put on hold. When the buyer started the return, the funds were put on hold and the same amount showed up as negative in my available funds. I've made other sales afterwards, so my balance got zeroed out. (I have received payouts again after the held amount was deducted from other sales). Now, when I get the item back, do I issue the refund from that held money or does it come from my bank account? Just wondering how this works since technically, I already paid off the return with my other sales. I would think that the held amount becomes "available" again. Is that correct?

[gsuperior]

Yes, they take it out of the held amount.

[lonebuck-books]

It gets paid from the held amount.  That is why they put the amount on hold, to make sure that the money is there to refund the buyer.  If the buyer never sends the item back, after a while the hold is released and the return is closed out.  That happens about half the time when I get a return request.  I think some buyer are just fishing for a returnless refund and once they realize you require the return, they move on.

[liliumina]

Thank you! 🙂 That's what I thought, I just wanted to confirm

[kako_5344]

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@liliumina wrote:

Now, when I get the item back, do I issue the refund from that held money or does it come from my bank account?

I would think that the held amount becomes "available" again. Is that correct?

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No, the held amount continues to be held: The refund comes from your available balance or your bank account.

Then a few days later, the held amount is released. On a return @liliumina eBay deducts twice, then adds once.

[liliumina]

Well that would suck. My balance already went from negative to 0 because of a sale I made after, so basically I didn't receive a payout for that sale at all. So they gonna charge me again once I receive the returned item? They should make the held amount available first before I can refund. Yikes 😐

[liliumina]

What do you know, they did charge me twice. Gotta wait for the held amount to be released now I guess.  Case is closed but money still held lol. Let see if its credited on Monday.

[liliumina]

In case someone is wondering, today everything sorted itself out. The held amount was released and I got the initial amount credited (with fees). It went directly from on hold to available. Thanks everyone for your answers. I know now what to expect should it happen again. (I hope not).

[charl-12]

Hi I’m dealing with the same thing…buyers returning an item three weeks later smh 🤦‍♀️ I’m still confused will the funds that are on hold get taken out my checking account on file or just remain in eBay as a negative balance? Thx