Problem with seller about a refund

[dlking58]

I have a problem with a seller.  I purchased a 2 large rolls of elastic for making face masks.   The black elastic was good quality.  The white elastic was flimsy and cheap.  After a few days I decided to contact the seller about a refund.  This was in May.  The answer I received was polite and promised a refund. 

However, after a couple of weeks I didn't get the refund so I contacted them again.  This has now been going on for weeks.  At point then said the refund would be done if I promised to not post a negative review, and I agreed.  Still no refund.  I have been receiving weak promises of a refund since April, and the last time, (this week) I was told it would be done with 3 days.  I know I should have been more aggressive, but I knew they were probably experiencing problems just like everyone else.  The person who was responding was nice, but kept referring to a "partner" who had to do the refunds.

The 3 days came and went - my last message was that I had waited long enough, and I was going to post a negative review for not only the product but the poor customer service if I didn't get it immediately.  I received a flippant message saying:

"Of course you can, I will commit suicide tomorrow, whatever you want".

This was obviously not from the person who had been so nice, but presumably from the "partner".

I immedately responded back saying I was very disappointed in this unprofessional and immature response, and that I was going to contact eBay, which I should have done a long time ago.  In response I received two messages:

"what a shame ,your order is right,but u are disgusting and gready"

and " Dear friend，I will check it with my partner and record it for you. I will do my best to solve it for u after checking it, ok? It’s really my honor to serve you. Best regards"

At this point, all I want is to leave negative feedback about the product and the customer service, but when I look at the eBay site, there is NO WAY for me to do this becaue the order is outside the date range for doing that. 

Is there anything I can do?

[jessari2527 · Accepted solution]

If something is not as described, press the 'Return' button, then the seller must take the item back and refund your postage too. You probably left it too late on Ebay now. If the 'Return' button is still visible, you can still do it.

Alternatively, file a dispute on Paypal, saying the item is not as described and that you want a refund. Include a picture. As a buyer you always win because you have buyer protection.

[tressygirl · Accepted solution]

If you press a button for a straight return you will be liable for the cost of that fully tracked return postage. You need to open a case for item not as described from the Resolution Centre, that way the case enforces the seller to pay for that fully tracked return postage.  @jessari2527 

[jessari2527 · Accepted solution]

I don't think that's the case @tressygirl, but I have only just experienced my very first case where a buyer wanted to return. I don't think they went to Ebay resolution. They just pressed the return button. Ebay then gave me no option to dispute or ask the buyer to pay postage. The only options available to me were to refuse (which then would go to Ebay resolution), or to refund with me paying the buyer's full postage, or to give the buyer a partial refund and let buyer keep item.

[dlking58 · Accepted solution]

Well, the thing that is different here is that the seller offered to refund the purchase price with no return because i had already used some of the elastic for face masks, which is how I discovered It was cheap and flimsy.

I have opened a case on PayPal as advised by the first responder. Since I’m in the US I should not have posted this question here, so I will close it. Thank you all for your help!

[fargvs]

USA registered/based and this is the UK site where case/dispute procedures may differ and need to be opened within 30 days from receipt of item/s ...

Never get into arguments with sellers ... after the initial contact, just open a case ... never leave it so long without opening a suitable case in your home site Resolution Centre (US links) >

https://resolutioncenter.ebay.com/

https://pages.ebay.com/ebay-money-back-guarantee/

https://community.ebay.com/t5/Groups/ct-p/Groups

Now if needed, open a suitable case with PayPal  ... escalate within 2 to 20 days and continue to completion for a refund in full and buy elsewhere ... do not listen to any Seller pleas or promises ! >

https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/home

[arkwebus]

It is a mistake to contact a seller. All you do - at the time - is open a case in the resolution centre for the faulty item.  The seller sends you a label to return and when you do refunds you. If nothing happens you escalate after 8 days [not 2 months +]

He has now run you well out of time so use Paypal and follwo this link. Escalate after jsut 2 days

https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/refunded-returns

@dlking58 

[john1297576]

You are far too late for feedback, you only have 60 days.

You had 30 days to use the ebay money back guarantee, instead to listened to all the rubbish seller's excuses and and any old reasons to avoid refunding.

They know you are well out of time and that there is nothing at all that you can do. I am surprised that they even bother to reply as they had achieved their objective of getting you out of time to take any proper action. 

[plpmr]

these are the UK boards and you are in USA - log into your home boards  ebay.com