When you say "not to your house" do you actually know where it was delivered, or only that it wasn't to your house?

It's hard to second-guess how eBay will decide "item not received" cases, but all to often they will just go by the tracking record if it states that the item was successfully delivered.

eBay's money back guarantee policy states that "If the seller can't provide proof of delivery to the address in the Order details or proof you collected your order, we'll issue a refund". Remember this in case you need to refere to it, as in practice eBay has often treated delivery to a neigbour - or any address in the same postcode area - as being successfully delivered. 

This is what eBay's Marco said on 17 March 2026, re. an item that was recorded as delivered but not found anywhere: "I am sorry to hear about this, you can try filing an item not received case here. However, if the tracking information confirms delivery, the case will probably be closed on the seller's favor, but if the tracking information says it was delivered to a different address, then it would be closed in your favour".

Not exactly what it says in the money back guarantee policy, is it? As always, eBay puts a spin on things to make them sound better than they are.

The reality is thateBay treats the couriers' own tracking record of as proof of correct delivery. According to other sellers, eBay won't even take the buyer's word that the photo was not their own address! There are so many risks involved. Parcels can be and regularly are, stolen from the doorstep. Or delivered to the wrong address.  (I have had one parcel delivered to and signed for at the wrong address, and another was found in the back of the delivery van the next morning. Both were recorded as delivered, so I was lucky I got them back.)

Good luck, but the reality is that delivery issues have become possiblythe biggest risk of buying on eBay. And are the main reason why I would never buy anything of value here.