Seller in hospital?

[MrFluffy]

I put in quite a large order for personalised items with a seller recently and noted that her items took up to 28 days to receive due to being handmade which was fine.

31 days have now passed and I hadn't heard anything so sent her a quick message asking how the items were coming on and when I should expect to receive them. She sent a message back some time later apologising for the delay and explaining that she has been in hospital so was running behind, should have let me know earlier and will be posting the items after the weekend.

I have no reason to doubt her, feel a bit bad for doing so in fact as I contacted her quite frequently while placing the order and she was always friendly and pleasant and has lots of excellent feedback. But I seem to have been burned a lot by people not posting when they say they will, items taking weeks to arrive etc lately and I am worried that if I wait until after the weekend it will be middle/end of next week before the items arrive and should they not, my 40 days to put in a case will be over.

Would I have any comeback through Paypal after the 40 days if the items don't turn up? Thanks for reading this essay.

You could ask her to refund your payment, and then re-place the order - this would give you another 40 days from now? If she's genuine, she'd accept that I think...

No you have no comeback after 45 days with paypal - you may do with your credit or bank card but I wouldn't accept that

I wouldn't risk that is what I meant. Could you buy elsewhere. As per paypal rules the seller does have to dispatch within 7 days, so making you wait 28 days is wrong anyway

Thanks for that Fergoose I didn't realise there was a seven day limit. They are Save the Dates for my brother's wedding which I know his fiancée will love and I'm really excited to give them to her so will be disappointed if I have to find others now .

I suppose I could open a case on the 40th day and tell her I will be doing so,just in order to protect myself, which would give us another seven days to resolve and hopefully receive the items.

Otherwise I think I'll go with Flounce's idea. I can't see her having a problem with that, sounds like the best thing for both of us tbh.

That sounds a bit presumptuous! If I point out that I'm their bridesmaid and they accepted my offer to order their stationery, does that make it any better?!

I think if things are handmade to order it can be different as I do know someone vaguely who does handmade garden furniture/ sheds etc and his time is 28 days so i think in some cases it is allowed but maybe seller needs to clear with ebay

More emails and phone calls back and forth...

She has told me she has been ill again. Has completed half of the order and posted last Wed/Thurs. I still haven't received anything (today is Thursday) although this could at a stretch be due to the bank holidays just gone I suppose.

She also promised to complete and send out the other half of the order after the bh weekend but I have had no confirmation that this has been done and so have opened a case.

Really disappointed as I don't want my money back and would so much rather receive the items but I just don't believe she is being honest with me. If she was unable to fulfil the order and had contacted me to explain then I would have been understanding but this is beyond a joke.