Why do I have to give a refund 3 days after date stated on posting arrival date for items not arrive

[red_magpie]

Because that's one of the changes you accepted in the recent revision of the user agreement.

The response time for sellers used to be 8 days. EBay has reduced it to 3 working days.

By comparison, Royal Mail does not accept that an item is lost for 11 days (1st class post) or 14 days (2nd class). If the buyer is refunded, and then also keeps the item when it arrives, eBay does nothing to require them to return one or the other to the seller.

Another change is that if an item is even a day late, the buyer can treat it as though it was not as described, and return it for a full refund under eBay's money back guarantee. The seller must send a prepaid return label, or eBay will enforce the refund and not require the buyer to return the item.

Isn't it fun, selling on eBay!

[john1297576]

Because buyer can open a Not received Case once an item has not arrived by the estimated delivery date. Once opened you have 3 days to refund, your only defence is TRACKED proof of delivery. If you don't refund buyer can escalate to ebay, they refund at your expense and you get a defect and no refund of the selling fee.

Suggest you read the Money Back Guarantee.