How easy/difficult to send refund through PayPal? **UPDATE POST #9**

[It'sWDW4me]

I'm not a huge eBayer. I've bought a few things over the past few years but I've never sold anything. I do have a PayPal account and pay for everything through PayPal.

A few weeks ago, I won an auction for a collector's item - a Boy Scout knife. The knife was sold along with a nice, wooden display box. When the package was delivered (via USPS), I opened it to find the box was in pretty bad shape - the lid is cracked, the front panel is completely busted off, 2 of the feet are broken off, and, because the knife was open and not secured inside the box, the one inside panel is chipped and gouged from the knife poking into it during travel. All of this damage, I attribute to his packaging (or lack, thereof). He pretty much just threw it into a very thin bubble wrap sleeve, slapped a few pieces of thin (think just thicker than a cereal box side) cardboard around the item, and wrapped the whole shebang in brown paper. THAT was supposed to protect the collectible box from the USPS.

I immediately emailed the seller and he sent an email back stating he'd refund my money. Well, he must have had second thoughts because he later sent another email stating he'd refund my money plus return shipping if I sent the knife back (I have no problem with this) and if I gave him my PayPal account. My email back stated that I would send it back but I'd need to know whom to send it to (he just had his address, not name, on the package and his email - Joe.Blow - doesn't match his PayPal description - Jason.Blow) plus, I have no idea what info he needs for PayPal.

He's now incommunicado. I got the package last Monday (1/31) and he last emailed me on 2/1. I sent him an email on 2/1 as well as 2/4. Wouldn't he be able to send a refund via the original payment? What info does he need to send my refund? Since he's not responding to my emails, should I open a claim with eBay or wait a little bit?

 

[roscoepc1]

Open a claim. Now.

 

[IdesOmarch]

I HATE HATE paypal. I do have to use it because I do ebay and of course they are in together and make you use paypal. They may be waiting for the item to be returned. When I refund money I just send them a check. I avoid using paypal whenever possible. I would send the item back (USING A DELIVERY CONFIRMATION OR TRACKING NUMBER) then wait, and still if no communication open a claim at that point. But I am definitely no total expert on ebay, I do know a little, so this is probably not the best way to go about it.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Open a claim. Now.

I was thinking this but I didn't want to jump the gun. But he's not responding now so I don't know that he's leaving me much choice.

I HATE HATE paypal. I do have to use it because I do ebay and of course they are in together and make you use paypal. They may be waiting for the item to be returned. When I refund money I just send them a check. I avoid using paypal whenever possible. I would send the item back (USING A DELIVERY CONFIRMATION OR TRACKING NUMBER) then wait, and still if no communication open a claim at that point. But I am definitely no total expert on ebay, I do know a little, so this is probably not the best way to go about it.

This thought did cross my mind but I don't want to be out $150 AND the knife.

Darn! I was so hoping I could avoid being one of those stories you hear about. For some reason I just had a bbbaaaaaadddd feeling about this transaction even when I first won the auction.

 

[DMickey28]

Eventually you will not be out the $150 and the knife if you can prove delivery confirmation that you sent it back.

I had to do a refund through ebay before and it was a fairly easy process. It took about 10 days because they requested I attempt one more try, then they gave the seller 7 days to respond THEN they refunded my money. I did not however recieve the item at all.

 

[disney_mommy]

He can refund a transaction very easily (I have done this as a seller), but has chosen not to. Because he has not responded to you within the last few days, I would go ahead and start a claim. That should get the ball rolling.

 

[lynxstch]

at least that's what I got out of your post!..file a claim with paypal..include copies of ALL correspondance from the seller..he can ask you to send back the item..do so with PROOF that you sent it and that he got it (such as delivery confimation or return receipt requested), and insure the pkg..paypal will attempt to recover your money from the sellers funds..if the seller doesn't have the money in his account..you may have to do a chargeback thru your credit card (assuming again that you used one to pay him!)..start a claim NOW..he's had enough time to respond to your requests..and we aren't talking about a $5 item here!..good luck!

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Thanks for the replies. I just opened a case with eBay. I guess it gets escalated if there's no response from the seller within 7 days. At that point, I'll get PayPal and my credit card involved. Thank goodness I didn't use my bank debit card this time but, like I had posted a little earlier, I just had that bad feeling in the pit of my stomach and figured it may offer a little more protection. I hoped I was being silly and there wouldn't be a hitch but now I'm glad I followed my gut.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

OK, now I feel bad.

I opened a case with eBay yesterday because I didn't get a reply to my emails to the seller. I was more than happy to send the knife & box back - I just wanted my $150 back.

The last email that I had received from the seller was on 2/1. He asked that I send my PayPal info or send him a money request. Well, I'm not very savvy with PayPal - I just know enough to get the payment through. I did email the seller on 2/1 that I didn't know what info to send him regarding PayPal and that I also needed his complete address to send the knife back to him. I also sent follow up emails on 2/4 and 2/7 (early afternoon) but I didn't hear back from him. I have since learned that he does NOT need any of my PayPal info in order to refund my money as he already has it since I paid him through PayPal.

So I opened a claim late yesterday afternoon.

He responded today with: "I asked you to send me your paypal info or if you would send me a money request from paypal I would gladly send you a refund. I will try to send you a refund through paypal with the address you sent it with. If this don't work please send me a money request thanks"

And then I got an email from eBay stating my money has been successfully refunded. Now I kind of feel bad because I STILL don't know how to address the package to return the knife.

To me, $150 is not chump change and I don't want to screw anyone out of $150 either. Do I send the knife back addressed to "To whom it may concern" (I do have the street address and city info)? Do I keep it?