Return request approved, but seller asks not to send item back until after official return window..

[monkeytod]

Bought something quite expensive, and it did not work. Requested return and seller agreed. However, s/he said they are not home to receive the item until a week after eBay's official return deadline...

Should I just post the item to seller according to eBay timeline? Or wait in good will until i miss the return deadline, and be told I cannot get refunded? 😞  please help. 

[plpmr]

if you are dealing with matters through an eBay case you MUST follow eBay's timeline, otherwise you stand to lose.

If you have not opened an eBay case, do so now to protect yourself.

[tobiasd4]

To add. 

Delivery only has to show attempted delivery. 

As said, you have to return within ebay's time line.

[monkeytod]

Thank you for writing back.

I am not sure how to open a 'case'. eBay help says it's in the 'More
Actions', but it's not in there when 8 looked, photos attached. Please can
you show me how?

[I want to do the right thing, worry if the item gets lost and seller loses
out, but at the same time, concerned with my own buyer's protection too.]

[jckl1957]

If you have started a return through Ebay, that is opening a case.

[monkeytod]

Thank you for taking the time to write back. How do I "ask eBay to step in"? I cannot seem to find it anywhere.

Or that is a step too far at this stage? 

  

[jckl1957]

You can't ask Ebay to step in.

The next move is yours.  You have to return the item in the timeframe you have been given.

Once tracking shows it has been delivered to the seller, the seller has exactly 48 hours to refund you.

If they don't, then you can ask Ebay to step in.

[monkeytod]

Understood.

So, despite seller saying "I am not home, don't send it back to me". I should still return by deadline, which is set by eBay. I will probably do that on Monday! 

Thank you all for your kind help!! This is the first time I experienced the Community Help; it provided swift and direct help. Thank you!

[red_magpie · Accepted solution]

despite seller saying "I am not home, don't send it back to me".

You sometime have to ignore what sellers say.

Your seller may genuinely not understand that you have to comply with eBay's timescales, not theirs.

But all too often we hear from buyers whose sellers have talked them into missing eBay's deadline. If you fall for it, the case is automatically closed, and eBay will not allow it to be reopened. This is usually the last the buyer hears from the seller, who is laughing because yet another buyer has been conned into throwing away their right to a refund.

eBay is a jungle. Sadly, there is little room for trust here.

[monkeytod]

This is really helpful. Thank you!!!