Bought 4 items from one seller but 2 are not as described...

[Earlytorise]

even though I emailed and asked about the items before bidding. I paid additional postage costs for the extra items too. I didn't want to open a case against the seller even though they should have known the info they gave to me about the two items was inaccurate (they were smaller and not made of the same materials as the correct two) as I wanted to give them a chance to rectify the matter.

I'm now thinking I should open a case as they seem reluctant to give me a refund for the items. Am I better protected by ebay if I do? i.e. if the seller asks me to send the items back in order to get a refund do they pay for return postage? what if the seller then says they didn't receive the items back and refuse to give a refund? Would I be better off going through Paypal?

Help! I don't think I trust this seller now

[nickstmoritz]

Have you explained to the seller that 2 of the items aren't what you expected? Give them time to resolve matter first but after 48hrs if you have not heard back then open a not as described case.

Might just have been away at the weekend?

Check previous feedback. If it is good then it could be a genuine error and they will refund. If a mistake has been made in the listing it is the usual thing for seller to pay returns but they are not obliged to. Return signed for / tracked if you want to be sure (or if items were costly) but obviously that costs a bit more for you (or seller).

[Earlytorise]

nick I did explain they were not as expected the very day I received them, and have heard back from the seller but instead of registering my complaint about the products it was an excuse as to why she deduced the info that she had supplied to me 'oh because it wasn't X I thought it was Y kinda thing'. I was then forced into the position of emailing asking for a refund.

I chose to email the seller using the ebay email rather than opening a case to do exactly that, give the seller a chance but I'd still like to know just in case if using ebay/Paypal gives the buyer (and seller) more protection when sorting out a resolution. Can someone tell me how Paypal protection is different /better?

[Butterflyspring]

whether you open a case or not you need to return tracked - Hermes may be cheaper than RM. A good seller will give return costs too but ebay will not force the seller to pay those costs too. And if seller is unco-operative and you want to leave 2 negs leave them 8 days apart then they will count as 2.

Opening a case with paypal is the same protection wise - makes no difference to you as a buyer.

[Earlytorise]

Oh they have now replied saying they will refund as long as I return the items and that "Return postage is at buyers cost"

[Butterflyspring]

it will cost you £2.98 to send via Hermes if under 1kg in weight.

[Earlytorise]

Thanks Butterfly really useful information and advice. I know making me pay for return postage is the sellers way of making me keep the items (by making it not worth my time or energy to do so) as the amount I will be refunded is a mere 3. 98 .

In all my time using ebay (6 years) I've never experienced anything as petty as this . It's really annoying when most sellers (Maybe partly luck but I've never had any real problems) seem to do their uppermost to list and pack the items well only to come across one like this...

[Butterflyspring]

please do neg and leave low stars too - but not at the same time. Warn other buyers how rubbish the seller is.

[Earlytorise]

I definately will on this occasion Butterfly , though I feel I need to open a case in order to give feedback to ebay itself now because I'm not happy with this policy (via their questionnaire after cases?)

I have no doubt they would find for me on the basis of 'not as described' but if they don't find for me because of this postage issue (ie the seller is seemingly 'willing' to take the items back if I send them at my cost) could the seller make the neg feedback I leave look better?

[Butterflyspring]

ebay may give you a free prepaid return label or a no fault refund - write in the case you are not happy to incur costs returning not as described items.

Do they send a questionnaire out after cases?

[Earlytorise]

I think I remember something like this after not receiving an item from a seller and no communication from the seller at all even after I had to open a case but this was years ago.

Big thanks for taking the time Butterfly, shall update with how I get on.

[Earlytorise]

Hi Butterfly so I opened a case but it only seems to be dealing with the one item instead of the two (I put details of the other item within the case) do I need to open another case for the second item?

The seller is sticking to what he said through email and is offering a strange sum of 1.94 so I will wait to escalate the case on July 22nd for Ebay to look at.

I left the first neg today so will leave the second on the 21st. Thanks again

[mindyourown1]

you need to open a case for the other item on its own yes.

[Earlytorise]

mindyour thank you, I've just done it

[Earlytorise]

Can someone tell me, when ebay look at a case that's been opened do they only review the buyer and seller emails within the case or the ones between them prior to the case opening also (I really want them to see what this seller is like) Thanks