Buyer claiming not to have recieved refund.

kobrakai

Hi all.

First time poster, long time lurker here. Be gentle with me!

I sold a load of stuff on eBay last week and yesterday after getting home from work, I had a message from one of my buyers saying that one of the items was misdescribed, which I admit was totally my fault, and that they wanted a refund.

I replied and told them to send me it back and I'd refund the original costs plus the excess postage. Buyer was not happy with this and outright refused to send the item back unless I refunded her first. I replied saying that I would cover the additional cost once she'd sent it back - but I stipulated that it'd have to be before Saturday as I go away for the week and wouldn't be able to sort anything until next week when I get back.

To cut a long story short, I got fed up of arguing with her and not wanting to come back from my holiday to negative feedback, I issued the refund for the original amount, plus extra for postage. I know I should have waited until I'd got the item back before I did anything, but that's a lesson learnt for next time.

Now, I've had a message this evening saying she hasn't got the money back yet, even though it's showing as cleared from my account as of 22:46 last night. I'm not sure what else to do here, the money isn't in my account and I'm not keen on sending another fiver to the buyer. I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm being completely taken for a ride here.

Don't know if it's worth adding that she also bought another item off me, the order total came to £4.97 inc postage, which is the amount I've refunded. So in effect, she's had the second item for free.

Could any of you nice eBay people give me some advice on what I should do? I don't want to send more money, I'm thinking I'll just take the negative feedback instead. It's much easier! Thanks in advance.

building_with_lego

I issued a partial refund the other week the day after having transferred all my money out of Paypal. It took almost a week for the buyer to get her money as it had to come out of my linked bank account. Was there enough in your paypal to cover the refund? If not maybe it's in progress...

kobrakai

Nope, there was about £16 in my account and from reading up, that should've gone straight back into their account. Which is why I'm confused and thinking I've been had!

No_Eye_Deer

I think it could also depend on how they paid as well. If they paid buy card then I believe that it will be returned to their card.
They may need to find the original transaction and view any associated transactions to see where it has gone.

vax2002

I would send an e.mail./... listen, just keep the fiver and fu$% off

Crowqueen

wrote:

That's the most likely situation. People who aren't sellers aren't usually likely to have money in their Paypal account - so anything that comes off a card would take time to go back there as a refund. Don't get too snotty with her for something that, in her situation, I think you would be anxious about too.

I hope she sends it back though.

EDIT - lost the quote - posting in response to the bit about refunds returning to payment source rather than to the Paypal account in question.

TheSteeeeels

i got a partial refund recently and even though it took about a week to go into my card, the day they refunded it showed up in my paypal account saying "£* refunded, pending until june 20th" so it's not like she'd be in the dark.

No_Eye_Deer

TheSteeeeels wrote: »

i got a partial refund recently and even though it took about a week to go into my card, the day they refunded it showed up in my paypal account saying "£* refunded, pending until june 20th" so it's not like she'd be in the dark.

Did it show as a separate transaction, or was it under the details of the original payment?
If it was under the original, then I suspect that they just haven't looked there and are waiting for their PayPal account to rise by X amount.

prowla

Did you do a refund, or make them a payment for the amount? (There is a difference.)

mikey72

As you admit it was your fault, for £4.97, you should have just agreed a mutual, got your fees back, and saved the return postage.

Oliver14

mikey72 wrote: »

As you admit it was your fault, for £4.97, you should have just agreed a mutual, got your fees back, and saved the return postage.

Totally agree with the return postage it really isnt worth your while. Also as a seller it makes you look good if you refund and they keep the item. They are less likely to slam your DSRs as hard on description.