eBay have refunded my buyer, but the buyer has not returned the goods and now eBay are chasing me

[brokenpast]

Hi all

I sold a drone for over £2000 on eBay, it was mint, and confirmed by a friend before I sent it, however the buyer weeks later complained and demanded a refund, eBay found in their favour even though I sent photos of it before I sent it to show it was mint, and they refunded him.

Now they are demanding over £2000 from me, even though the buyer has never returned the goods, I have nothing!

Now we have a debt collection company chasing me, and I cannot contact eBay for love nor money to stop this.

HELP!

[tobiasd4]

If buyer claims not as described, you issue returns label and refund on return. 

As you found,  if you refuse, buyer keeps item and you repay ebay. 

Ebay never see item, but believe buyer.

You should have got item back, then tried to appeal.

Do not ignore collection agents, they won't give up.

[*guinevere*]

Once your buyer opens an "Item not as Described" case it is crucial for the seller to accept the case and make arrangements to get the item back. Ebay don't get involved in who is right and who is wrong as cases are automated, ebay does not see the item so they go with the buyer and tell them to send the item back using a tracked return label provided by the seller, and once the tracking shows returned the seller refunds.

Once the item is returned if there is something wrong, or there is a discrepancy and it's a different item returned or any problem, the seller deals with it by reporting to ebay.

If the seller doesn't do any of these things the buyer can escalate their case after three days and ebay will step in and refund the buyer, telling the buyer the seller doesn't want it returned because they haven't sent a label. At this point they will refund the buyer from your funds and then chase you for the money.

So you see, if you don't follow ebay policies and the rules of the ebay MBG you can end up in your position.

You can send your buyer a label and  ask the them to send the drone back to you but you can't force them and ebay will not help you to get it back. As far as ebay is concerned the case is closed.

[red_magpie]

the buyer has never returned the goods

But did you send them a prepaid return label as eBay requires if you want the item to be returned?

When eBay supports a buyer's money back guarantee case the seller is responsible for arranging and paying for the return. To do this, eBay enables them to buy and send the buyer  a prepaid return label. No refund will be made until the item has been returned.

You have to remember that buyer is entitled to their refund. If you don't initiate the return procedure eBay will simply enforce the buyer's refund without the item having to be returned. You accepted this in the user agreement.

I'm sorry that it's not better news, but all you can do now is to contact the buyer and hope that they will still return the drone if you pay the cost. Good luck anyway.