How long to wait before claiming money back from paypal please?

[Ponders]

I won something on Dec 17, paid by paypal on Dec 18, it was supposed to be sent 1st class recorded & should have arrived before Christmas.

Allowing for the snow & bank holidays it isn't very late I suppose, but I emailed the seller last Wed (30th) & have had no reply.

What do I do now? How long do I give her?

and I've just checked out her feedback, someone who won something on Dec 22 to be sent 2nd class recorded has apparently received it already.

If she isn't responding to you then open a dispute now

Thanks, 6lm - I have had a reply now, but only to say she did send it by recorded post.

I've asked if she tracked it, because it didn't get here - that was sent Sunday evening, still no reply to that.

???

I nudged her yesterday & she now says she posted it on Dec 19th but although she "asked for recorded delivery" there's no tracking number on it - so it didn't go recorded, did it? You get a sticker with a number on if it's recorded?

What do I do now?

ask her for a refund. if she has proof of postage she can claim from royal mail (but that bit isn't your problem)
if she ignors you or refuses to refund then open a dispute

I've just asked for a refund this morning, 6lm. Will let you know how I get on!

She has replied now, saying that she won't refund me until after she has claimed from the PO, but that she can't do that until 15 working days have passed (later this week) - is she entitled to make me wait for it?

The amount I paid was £44.30, & I think a standard packet is only insured for £39 - I should get the full amount back from her, shouldn't I??? I paid her on Dec 18, the 45-day paypal deadline is up in early Feb, if she still hasn't repaid me by the end of Jan should a start a Paypal dispute?

I've been using ebay for 5-6 years now - in all that time I've only once had a problem (also with a phone, where I was refunded, though not for my own p&p for returning it); now I've had 2 problems within a week - this one, & another phone which wasn't as described (my kids get through a lot of phones one way & another )

Or should I start a Paypal dispute anyway? (She's been OK about it but between the 2 phones I've shelled out nearly £80 & got nothing useful to show for it )