Seller not refunding shipping for item not as described

[rista323i]

I returned an item for not as described (wrong model). Seller agreed to refund $19 for shipping back, which he did, but when the item arrived back he just refunded the remaining original amount. Meaning it is me who paid for shipping in the end even though I got an email from ebay stating it is seller's responsibility.

Seller then tells me ebay "does not allow him" to refund me shipping. I contacted ebay support after 3 weeks of these excuses and they tell me that is completely untrue and that I shouldn't worry. Then they transfer me to offline support and the "support" I got is beyond useless. They basically just repeat to contact the seller and work it out and that communication is key. I wouldn't have reached to them if there WAS any communication.

It's only $19 but it's a matter of principle. Can ebay really not do anything about it? Sellers can just get away with not refunding shipping which they are clearly responsible for? I can't appeal the case as ebay treats it as finished because there was a refund, although not a full one.

[nobody*s_perfect]

This seller is going to get away with it because you did not get a prepaid return label from him. If this situation arises again, file a case for item "not as described" so the seller has to pay for return shipping in advance. Then after he gets the item back, he refunds your full original payment.

[mkaczorsee]

Why didn’t you use the prepaid label the seller provided when he accepted the return?

[rista323i]

I did file a case for item not as described and then got email from ebay that the seller can't buy a return shipping label but that they are still responsible for the cost. Seller is from Russia, I guess that's why he couldn't use a prepaid label but I believe he knew very well what he was doing. I guess I thought ebay saying seller was still responsible meant something. They even told me in chat that I have proof seller didn't keep his word and that I shouldn't worry but it appears this is completely meaningless.

[1tuna]

the seller in Russia was obligated to send you a return label or the money to buy one,the seller did neither and you basically just let them get away with it. a CSR can force a refund when the seller does not compy with a NAD.

nex time this happens demand a refund or shipping money,you were supposed to get it but since you did not know the rules you were just lied to instead.

messages are not an action word,the seller can promise you the moon in messsages and it means squat

[rista323i]

OK thanks. Ebay should then make this a lot more clear. They literally sent me an email saying the seller cannot send a return label and I should communicate with him and that he is responsible. He used a trick where he did refund me $19 initially but then did not refund the entire price of the item. Seems like a loophole that is easily abused by sellers. I can't appeal the case, I can't leave feedback either.

[fab_finds4u]

Only a seller from your country can provide a return label.  Everyone else has to reimburse the buyer. However, eBay is unable to force them to reimburse you so what you needed to do was ask for the return shipping up front. If the seller didn't provide it then you needed to let eBay know the seller refused to provide the return shipping cost so you can return it, and ask them to force the seller to refund.  eBay then would have refunded and not required you to return it. 

I'm so sorry the seller led you on.  The next time you need to return an item  get eBay involved right away.  Let them know the seller can't provide a label and has not provided return money. 

[rista323i]

Yeah, the seller actually made me think he DID reimburse the shipping. I saw I received $19 and didn't think much of it. When in reality all he did was refund a small amount of the original purchase. Pretty scammy from somebody with a decent rating but I guess he knew I couldn't leave feedback either so it didn't matter.