eBay how long would you wait?

[Stressedmummyof4]

Hi, bought a buy it now dress on eBay on 18th March, postage stated was Royal Mail 1st Class. Total including postage was penny's off £17. I still haven't received it, the item also hasn't been marked as dispatched either. I dropped a quick message on eBay yesterday just to ask politely if it had been posted and have had no response.

It's not yet been 24 hours since I messaged, will be at 6pm. So I'm giving it benefit of the doubt the girl could have possibly been on a night out or something.

I have also just popped into her feedback and it's actually terrible people saying that they never received the item. That the item was sold elsewhere and then not deleted in eBay. And most saying they've had to open cases to get refunds.

So my question is how long would you wait before escalating with EBay?

Thanks

Based on her other feedback I’d do it now.

How did you pay and was there an estimated delivery date? I've bought items where the estimated date was several weeks after the auction closed. (Hand made, from abroad etc.)

Generally I try to give people a couple of weeks as I know life gets in the way sometimes.

Given that her other feedback is terrible, though, I'd just open a case now because if she doesn't respond to eBay it'll take a while to get your money back.

Hi, not handmade, it's a pre-worn dress, I can't find where it gives you an estimated delivery just that it was first class. I'll give her to Monday, then ask eBay that way she's had ten days, incase she's been on holiday. Fingers crossed as my daughter loved the dress!

I gave up with eBay after something I bought ended for less than the seller wanted so they claimed it had been stolen.
As I’d already paid the asked them for the crime reference number. I was soundly ignored from them on.

If they do try reselling it though my negative feedback reads “what a shame DISTINCTIVE ITEM IN DISTINCTIVE COLOUR was STOLEN before I could collect it”

Full of con artists and messers these days.

I've both bought it now and bid on items from people who clearly don't check their sales very often.
I've regularly had to chase refunds from people who haven't posted and later turn up to tell me they'd sold the items weeks ago elsewhere and are usually arsey with me for asking where the item is.
I'd open a case now, chances are they'll ignore it for 5 days or whatever the current case wait times are and ebay will have to force the refund.
It is disappointing when it's an item you really want.

As PP said.
I've also had many "item is stained/ripped/missing" for it to be relisted again within the week for the same start bid (just up the price if you want more for it!).

I'd open a case if ebay let you. I let people have a week to mark it as dispatched or let me know what's up. Then assume its not coming and open a case as soon as ebay let me.

When this happened to me I think I gave the seller 2 days to reply to my polite message asking if the item had been sent. Then I initiated the eBay process - they also give the seller a couple of days to respond before you can escalate the case. If it hasn't been marked as dispatched (as mine hasn't) and the seller isn't replying, you should get a refund as soon as you escalate the case.

Weirdly, I had this exact same scenario today with something I'd bought on the same day. My item cost hundreds. I emailed earlier in the week and got no response so I raised it with eBay this morning and got an immediate refund.