Seller will not refund defective item

[stconway2012]

I have a long and unhelpful correspondence with the seller of a water butt stand. When I ordered the item the description was that it was suitable for up to 210 liter water butts. The butt we are using is smaller than that and has dimensions less than the Ward butt the seller says it is suitable for. When we setup the stand and half filled the butt with water the stand splayed and was unstable . The stand is in Three parts and only held together by small lugs at the bottom no fastening at the top. the seller has bee photos. Ebays standard processes dont help as the seller has changed to not taking returns. how can you contact a real person at

Ebay without go thruogh this round about as they only deal with returns

[jckl1957]

The key thing here is when you received the item.

As long as you received it less than 30 days ago, you need to open a return case stating the item is not as described.

Find the item in your purchases and click on 'more actions'.  Choose 'return this item' from the dropdown menu to open a return case.

[tressygirl]

You don't have to contact eBay,  and you don't have to message this seller anymore.

If you are still within 30 days of the item's last estimated date for delivery proceed this way.  The seller has no choice but to accept , and fully refund you.

You have received an item not as described,  so you are guaranteed a full refund under eBay's 30 day MBG,  Money Back Guarantee policy,  if you claim within 30 days of the item's last estimated date for delivery.

You then go right of the item in your Purchase History,  and from More Actions select Return this item,  selecting the reason...  Item Not as Described.

The seller has 3 days to accept the case,  if they don't ,  you need to  escalate on day 4,  or within 30 days,  and eBay will step in and force the refund.

If the seller wants the item back first,  they need to pay for a fully tracked return postage.  On receipt of their item they have 48 hours to refund you.  Again,  if they don't,  you escalate the case.

Do not close the case early for any excuse or promise the seller may give,  and do not forget to escalate.