How does eBay refund a buyer?

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I'll try and keep this short and would appreciate any clarity on this.

I sold some unworn Uggs on eBay last week, they went for £165.

Seller wanted them quickly so asked for them to be sent first class instead of second class signed for, which I stupidly did.

Now they have not arrived.

I know the rules and regs and see that ultimately I will have to refund if they don't appear. I read that eBay just refunds if a case is opened and am really worried that £165 is going to go out of my bank account with no warning. Is this how it works? I have never had to refund before.

Thank you to anyone who can help.

your paypal will go into debt to repay them and you will need to repay paypal.

you sent £165 item with no online proof of delivery? You have no recourse with royal mail either, well only £20. Should have sent special delivery or courier to be fully protected. Sadly I think your buyer has scammed you and you have lost your item and your money.

Yes I know I am an idiot. I was sending it signed for, but she messaged and she said send them first class as she wanted them quickly but she did not want to pay extra for signed for.

I do realise how silly it sounds reading it back. I am really upset and my DH will be furious with me.

Sorry I meant to say thank you for replying and clarifying Sandy.

Sorry me again, meant to say I had proof of postage but that's all.

yep - proof of postage is for you to claim for the loss, but that is only £20 now with standard 1st class, with recorded it would only have been £50 so still not enough. You would have needed Special Delivery for that. Sadly I think your buyer has stitched you up, I am sure they have your boots and didn't want to pay for the signature as they wanted free boots. The proof of delivery is for your protection, not theirs.

You will just have to hope they are honest, and are just delayed, but 1st class is normally next day delivery, so I would think they have them by now.

It may be worth you contacting their sorting office to see if parcel sat there, they don't always leave a card if nobody home. I don't hold out much hope sadly.

yep, exactly what Sandy said - if you have any money in your paypal account they will take that, if not it will go into a negative balance and you will get constant emails etc saying you need to add funds and you won't be able to do anything with your paypal account until you do as far as I remember. I learned this the hard way with £80

I really really hope they are just delayed. I had to return a jacket I had bought from eBay (which was first class signed for) a week or two ago and it took five days to get there. The seller got really irate but it got there in the end.

Thank you for your replies both of you and for not being too hard on me! I will never send normal post again

Collect + and MyHermes are both good for items under 2kg - just over £4 and online proof of delivery. No need to pay extra for signature, you still get proof item has arrived safely which is all you need for ebay/paypal.

Thank you, I will use them another time.

I even refunded the buyer £1.40 postage! I really hope she turns out to be honest and just RM being slow!

Just to update, I can't believe it but I had an email from buyer. She has the boots. When she messaged me and said 'it has not arrived' she did not mean the parcel, she meant the £1.40 postage refund!!

Massively relieved and lesson learned! Thank you to everyone who replied.

oh my goodness - what a relief!

I know I can hardly believe it.

Best bit of miscommunication I've ever had!!