Ripped off my eBay buyer, what can I do?

[Allthepenguins]

I sold an item on eBay which took a while to arrive for whatever reason. I kept telling the seller that I would refund if it hadn’t arrived by the date I could put in a claim with Royal Mail by. She kept messaging, leaving bad feedback etc so I just refunded the money out of my own pocket. Low and behold the item has arrived (thank god we sent it signed for) she’s now refusing to refund me as she said she “waited long enough” so I’m basically the item, the postage and the amount it sold for down.
What can I do?

It’s meant to say ripped off BY eBay buyer by the way!

I had almost exactly the same thing happen to me. Unfortunately eBay never got back to me, sent numerous messages and then gave up. The value was not excessive in my case which is why I cut my losses but would definitely recommend trying to pursue with eBay if you are losing more money

You can leave her negative feedback for starters. What a tealeaf.

@riddles26 She’s just awful. Basically saying its not her fault it took so long and not to contact her. Did you just go through eBay? I’m wondering if my bank would help or if I can claim anything through the post office.

If it was signed for why on earth did you refund her?

@Graciebobcat

You can leave her negative feedback for starters. What a tealeaf.

Sellers can not leave Neg feedback.

@Graciebobcat as I was the seller she’s left me negative feedback! Saying she paid and never received the item and to avoid me. When really she now has the item and the money!

@ZeroFuchsGiven I refunded on the 16th (it was posted on the 31st) and low and behold it arrived today.

Was it a large sum? Roughly how much? If £20 or less I'd write it off but I couldn't not send her a message telling her what I thought... Or if for a decent amount, is there anything legal you could do?

Did you refund her by PayPal?

Do you have her message saying the item had arrived?

Speak to customer services at eBay, if you have proof she now has the item for free.

Well if you are ever in that situation again, do not refund! Tell the buyer to open a case through eBay where you can upload the tracking number and eBay can see this.

@PolloDePrimavera £30 so not a large sum but enough. I’ve sent her a message and she’s told me not to contact her again!

Well, you were a bit silly, but I'd send all.messagea to eBay showing that she has the item but won't return/pay and see what happens

Yes, she opened a case so I refunded it through the link that came up on the case (via PayPal)
I’ve got the messages, the proof of postage and the dates of when I refunded it etc on the case that was opened. Surely there’s a way of getting it back? I wasn’t going to refund until today when I could claim but I’ve got a lot going on at the moment and having mental health issues so my partner just said refund it and it’s forgotten about.

Oh I didn't know that. I've mainly been a buyer on eBay. Sellers used to be able to at least comment on a Buyer's negative feedback, can they not now?

I haven’t read the whole thread so sorry if someone has already said but you should have only dealt with it through eBay and PayPal. I doubt your bank will help, eBay are usually very good for both parties and you had the tracking number so weren’t in the wrong (eBay will also hold the cash until it’s dealt with/ returned etc). Sorry but I doubt you will get your money back x

@Handsoffisback exactly! Can I do that?

I've had various problems with eBay buyers and sellers over the years. 2 things that have worked for me: open a case against them if you can and speak to eBay customer service. (Think they have a call back service)

Just read that you did it through PayPal.... you should be able to open a case against your buyer then.

As a buyer who has been in this position, I contacted the seller and arranged a new invoice, so I think it's really bad that she won't. Although I've had a few sellers who provided false tracking information to eBay, so I guess there are faults on both sides of the system. I think you should complain to eBay if she's agreed now that she has received it and won't pay.

@Hellothere19999 it was all through eBay, she opened a did not receive case on me so I refunded it through that. She was sending me 3 or more messages a day and I’m not in a great place right now so my partner just said refund it to forget it. But it’s now the fact she’s saying she won’t give me it back as she waited long enough? Like she deserves it for free like some kind of compensation.

Hi OP. Sorry you’re having some issues, cretins on eBay deffo don’t help and I’m sorry you’ve encountered one! Deffo open a case against her on eBay and PayPal if possible. You just fill in your info and she won’t be able to provide any proof of returning it obvs so it will be in your favour. Good luck x