Annihilated in transit sent item and immediate case closed

[violetpangs]

Hi

I sent a technics 1210 via tracked 48. The item was annihilated in transit despite more than comprehensive packaging, the buyer rightly requested a refund which he immediately got. The case was closed immediately by ebay meaning that I can't get any compensation despite not being at any fault at all. My item is ruined and i have to collect it from the other side of the country off my own back? Surely this is not protocol? Thanks

[**peaseblossom**]

It looks like you used eBay's Simple Delivery, in which case, if buyer used "item damaged in delivery" as the reason for return eBay will have issued the refund themselves and you keep the payment.   Item does not have to be sent back.   

Did that not happen?   Or did you not use SD?

[violetpangs]

Thank you.

Yeah I think this is correct, does this mean there's no recourse for any follow up then?

Cheers

[tobiasd4]

You haven't lost anything, you still have your money.

So no different to item being delivered intact to buyer.

[violetpangs]

The item was worth £650 and was severely damaged during transit so I've lost the value of the item I was selling with no way to claim any compensation.

[tobiasd4]

How have you lost the value?

You sold item, you got paid, ebay refunded buyer, you keep money.

If you want item back,that is between you and buyer,ebay won't get involved now.

[violetpangs]

No the money was never released to me. I received nothing.

[papso22]

The payment is most likely on hold but will be released.  The sale was only 2 weeks ago and you are an infrequent seller.

When the buyer opened the case did ebay send you a message saying the buyer had reached out and as it was simple delivery they would deal with it?

When the refund was made what message did ebay send you?

What reason did the buyer use for the case?

If the buyer did not use 'damaged in transit' or something like that, as the reason, then the case would not have been closed by ebay with an immediate refund of your money, that's simply not how the money back guarantee works.

[violetpangs]

Yeah they received an immediate refund and the case was closed by ebay. I presumed that meant that I wouldn't get the money since it'd been refunded. I just checked and I do have £650 in my ebay balance but they have stopped withdrawals and my account is now under review. I really thought I was getting nothing so this is great news.

[papso22]

OK, so if it is in your balance that means ebay made the refund not you.  Your account being under review is probably separate, have they asked you for any information?

[violetpangs]

No they haven't reached out for info yet. 

Just sent this

[red_magpie]

It's understandable that eBay may want their security team to run background checks.

Their money back guarantee is wide open to abuse, and a magnet for fraudsters. For all eBay knows, you might have colluded with the buyer to deliver a previoiusly damaged item so that the buyer could claim a £650 refund and share it with you.

You have to accept these realities when buying and selling here. The pity is that eBay never seems to run checks of this sort when it's the seller who has to pay for the refund. Sellers often complain that eBay has decided cases in the buyer's favour within minutes, and with no meaningful  investigation.