Seller has refunded me, but I still want the item

[Numanoid]

Firstly, I know the seller can't get the item to me in this case, but I'm unsure what to do now.

I bought an item from a business seller last night, and not long ago received a Paypal refund, along with a message saying they were sorry, but the option I selected is out of stock, and here is the refund. The option was obviously available to select at time of purchase, and is still showing as available, so I guess the seller hasn't changed it.

The problem is - what do I do now? The seller hasn't contacted me through eBay, just a message with my Paypal refund. Do I have to cancel the transaction? Does it void itself? And finally, do I leave feedback?

I'm quite disappointed as I paid extra postage to have the item by the weekend, as ideally I need it for then (and it's too expensive/not exactly the item I need from other sellers), but on the other hand I understand these things happen.

they may send a cancellation request to get fees back and you can refuse that if you wish. You can still neg and leave low stars and you can also report to eBay as a non performing seller.

I've never left negative feedback though, as I feel bad doing it. I know it's warranted in some situations, but I'm not sure if it is this time. I would at least leave neutral feedback, saying I never got the item but was refunded, and leave low stars with that.

If it's still showing as available and you still want it then I'd be tempted to contact the seller to find out what's going on as you still want it. COuld you try to buy it again?

why would you feel bad leaving a neg - what exactly would count as a negative experience if not receiving your item doesn't? Neutral has no impact and is pretty pointless.

I know, but I don't want to impact their business. I guess it just takes a lot to make me complain, and it could have been an innocent oversight on the seller's part. I am disappointed, but it's not the end of the world.
They did tell me soon after, and refunded straight away. I would probably be happy with leaving low stars!

Bought the same item from a different seller 2 days ago, and they have just emailed to say sorry but it's out of stock. Won't be getting it for tomorrow after all, I guess. :(

I'm more tempted to leave negative feedback this time, as the latest seller promised to post it out yesterday so it would arrive tomorrow, but only emailed me late at night (I was already in bed) to say it wasn't available, so surely they can't have been intending to send it on time if they hadn't checked stock til later on...

Neg them both - that is the whole point of feedback.

I will now, was just a bit inconvenienced at first, now I'm thinking they shouldn't be selling on eBay if they don't actually have the stock and can't be bothered checking til it's too late.

I know, but I don't want to impact their business.

Their "business" is selling items that they display as for sale on their site.

If they are offering items for sale and can't deliver the goods, literally, you are perfectly within your rights to "impact their business" with negative feedback, both for your own satisfaction/peace of mind and to warn off others potentially in the same situation.

Neutral has no impact and is pretty pointless.

Neutral does have an impact now thanks to Ebay's wonderful new defects system.

Leaving 3 stars is also very damaging, even though some people leave 3 stars as they think that this is the norm i.e. 5 is for going above and beyond, whereas Ebay assume 5 is Normal

One seller was very polite, although that was the one whose message came well after they were supposedly going to dispatch the item, so I might just leave them a neutral. The other I guess will have to get negative feedback! I have to wait though as I got a message saying I need to wait 5 days until after the auction ended last time I tried.

Although I managed to get the item I wanted on the day (from a shop), by a stroke of luck.

I didn't realise 5 stars were normal either, I'll need to remember that. I usually give 4 if everything was fine, or 5 if the seller updated when the item was dispatched and sent it extremely quickly.