After nearly 200 transactions on eBay (mostly purchase) it finally happens that I haven't received my item AND (!!!) the time to open a dispute is coming to an end.

I do not believe it's a seller's fault, he got nearly 120,000 transactions on eBay with 99.4% positive feedback, I believe the item got lost in transit but regardless, I haven't got it.

The quoted delivery time was given up to 28 business days, so today is the 28th business day since the purchase date, and i only have until Nov 1st to open the dispute

If there was a problem, please go to the Resolution Centre by 01/11/13.

What would you do? Contact a seller and hope he would re-send the item,

or

Go straight to the resolution center and deal with it through them?

Item isn't very expensive ($20 US) but it's still money and if I miss the Nov 1st deadline, I couldn't complain after that, based on the seller's good feedback, he would probably re-send without me complaining...

I hate these insane 28 days deliveries, they give little room to open the dispute...

What would you do?

Contact the seller.

Contact the shipper.

Contact your local Thai Post (mail) delivery person.

Contact the resolution center; you'll have an extra 12 hours given the time difference but still a few days, right?

IME, in the U.S. anyway, sellers usually just ship a second and even third unit, on smaller items like these.

I would open a dispute to start with whilst you still can.

Is there any penalties to the seller if the dispute is opened? That's what I want to avoid.

If no, then I'll contact the seller and notify him that I will also take it to the resolution center?

Shipping was free (means cheap) so no tracking number.

You can open a dispute with no repercussions to the seller, if you 2 can resolve the matter then simply close the dispute.

Just open a dispute and send the seller a message saying "Hi, I haven't received the item"

Communication is the best way to get it resolved.

Sounds good!. Will do that... and wait 28 business days more... :/

Interestingly I just had the exact same issue with an item from Hong Kong (free postage), first time I've ever had a no-show

Opened a dispute the day before the time expired, got a rapid response from the seller offering a refund, I actually said I'd wait a few more days (he actually has 28 days to respond) but he gave me a full refund immediately.

Apparently there is a new requirement in HK for all outgoing mail to be x-rayed and this is causing significant shipping delays

Interestingly I just had the exact same issue with an item from Hong Kong (free postage), first time I've ever had a no-show

Opened a dispute the day before the time expired, got a rapid response from the seller offering a refund, I actually said I'd wait a few more days (he actually has 28 days to respond) but he gave me a full refund immediately.

Apparently there is a new requirement in HK for all outgoing mail to be x-rayed and this is causing significant shipping delays

Well, the item I bought is coming from HK as well! That's interesting...

If they are just the delays, it means the item can still arrive, just very late? How long ago has it been Crossy?

Well, I went to open the dispute and it's sending me to a PayPal?

Because you paid with PayPal, you may be eligible for coverage by PayPal Buyer Protection. See eligibility

This dispute will be opened on the PayPal website. Therefore for any inquiry related to this, please contact PayPal customer service.

Here's what to do next:

• Click Continue to PayPal.
• Log in to your PayPal account.
• Click the Resolution Centre tab.
• Click the Resolution Centre link.
• Communicate with the seller on PayPal.
• If the case can't be resolved, you can file a buyer protection claim on PayPal.

I thought you're supposed to resolve it through eBay 1st, no? Or is it something new? Never had to use it so I don't know.

I've had a couple of people contact me via ebay to say things haven't arrived. I don't know exactly how they've done it (I've never had to do that myself), but it wasn't a paypal dispute. That's a different kettle of fish altogether.

I just received an ebay message from them. One I gave a refund to, the other waited a few more days and the item arrived.

I Don't think it was a 'contact the seller' message, it was definitely some kind of open case, maybe 'dispute' is the wrong term?

I don't see any options on eBay to open another sort of dispute, maybe I don't know where to look, but I'm sure I checked everywhere.

I clicked the link on the 'my purchases' page where it was reminding me to open a dispute before whatever date followed by the 'contact seller' link that appeared. This reminder appeared after about 5 weeks from the auction end.

It certainly opened an Ebay case, I don't recall going in to Paypal itself but since the two are quite tightly integrated I may well have.

Of course all these links have now gone as the case is resolved, so I cannot confirm anything.

Remembaer PayPal is ebay so if you paid by PayPal that is the avenue to use.

If your item has batteries, then that could be the problem. I am having trouble getting an item from Hong Kong at the moment due to it containing batteries. My sender has told me they are now going to send it via Sweden.

My sender has told me they are now going to send it via Sweden.

Sounds dodgy.

Batteries are not a problem if they are declared and of allowable type.

If your item has batteries, then that could be the problem. I am having trouble getting an item from Hong Kong at the moment due to it containing batteries. My sender has told me they are now going to send it via Sweden.

My item didn't, but an acquaintance had issues getting a laptop battery shipped via AliExpress, ended up coming via Swedish Post too.

He and I were both a bit suspicious, but it arrived just fine.

Yes it was rechargeable CR123 batteries and a charger.

Anyone knows if I can get rechargeable CR123 batteries locally?

Thanks to everyone who replied.

By the way, is it only happening with Hong-Kong? If I get a refund and buy from a Chinese seller, will it make any difference?

I had an Amazon order that didn't arrive once, and they sent me a replacement. I got the original two months late.

It could be sat in a post office gathering dust.

First thing contact the seller and make sure you have all the shipping details (are they trackable?).

If you don't get any satisfaction, open the dispute.

eBay is a business, not a social club.

No question open a eBay dispute then you are covered. Although this does not apply to you in your particular circumstances be warned that not everything you purchase is covered by the eBay money back guarantee despite it saying so on the listing. I have just found this out to my cost after sending my laptop base back to the UK for a motherboard repair on eBay. I was told in a email from them after I was conned out of 52 pound "eBay Money Back Guarantee doesn't cover intangible goods, services etc."

Just don't the let the time period past which Ebay/PayPal provides your the protection/refund period which is 45 calendar days from date of purchase. You should contact the seller via Ebay first if you have the time; if not go directly to the Resolution process. During the resolution process the first thing that happens is Ebay/PayPal will ask if you have contacted the seller yet, and if not, you will basically enter an email/explanation of the problem which will be sent to the seller via the Resolution process. Between the wife and I, we have over 200 Ebay buys and I think only three times items have not showed up, I contacted the seller at about the 35 day point and two times were resolved by the seller giving a refund or replacment...both were from Mainland China. There was a third time where the item was defective, I tried to contact the seller but he never responded...I started the resolution process where Ebay/PayPal basically tried to contact him....he never responded...Ebay/PayPal gave me a refund. First contact the seller if you have the time before the 45 days expires; if you a close to that 45 days then go straight to the resolution process.

First try to avoid the resolution process if possible/if feeling comfortable/having the time with the seller because Ebay/PayPal does keep track of the resolutions you have submitted...apparently some people do abuse the system by indeed receiving the item in good working order but ten say the didn't and the file a resolution/refund request. After X-amount of such requests Ebay/PayPal takes a harder look at you and can be more inclined to side with the seller in a dispute/refund/replacement request...and Ebay/PayPal is then less likely to provide you a "courtesy refund" in those cases where they consider the both seller and the buyer have good points in the dispute, Ebay/PayPal don't won't to piss either off, and Ebay/PayPal just issues a courtesy refund out of their own pocket without pulling funds from the seller.

Additionally, I have found items shipped from mainland China or Hong Kong can vary greatly in shipping times even when the same shipment method is made....here in Bangkok I've got one in 6 days...some in 10-14 days....most in 3 to 4 weeks....a few around 35 days....one around 45 days. Most of the stuff is identified as Air Parcel when it arrives but I think the only place it went airborne was when throwing it on the slow boat.

Yes it's worth noting that the Dispute process should be the last resort. If you open a dispute without any evidence that you've contacted the seller, you will only be advised to go back and do it.

Yes I sent him the message today, I still have 3+ days to open the dispute, will wait for a reply a day and a half, then go from there.

As I asked earlier, has there been similar issues with batteries/battery containing device shipping out of China? If it's just a Hong-Kong. I'll ask for a refund and order the same thing from China then.

Thanks for all the replies.

I ordered a laptop lithium ion in Jan 13 from mainland China and NICAD batteries from Hong Kong in Aug 13...both orders arrived my Bangkok home in well under a month...in fact, I think the laptop battery arrived in less than 2 weeks. I've never had any batteries orders blocked/go MIA.

Any other more recent purchases? Not sure when the problem with batteries started but it must be a recent one, I've bought some batteries and devices with batteries before, never had a problem...

Large Lithium Ion batteries can be a problem, since they can used as a minor explosive. Technically they are all suppose to be sent by ground, smart sellers will declare them as nickel cadmium.

Seeing positive feedback does in no way indicate that that seller is trustworthy. When a transaction is disputed and you have given bad feedback. Ebay has a form the seller can send you to change your feedback, once a resolution has been settled.

I have been sent feedback change request 3 times.

I received this from HobbyKing in HK:

URGENT UPDATE

Our International Warehouse based in Hong Kong has been affected by changes in Hong Kong Customs policy. The new Customs Department policy is to inspect ALL parcels leaving Hong Kong (not just HobbyKing) and are refusing to accept shipments containing certain items. This has caused two major issues that I wish to address:

Issue One
All orders containing lithium-based batteries that were placed between the 23rd of September and 2nd of October have been refused by customs and are being returned to our shipping dock in Hong Kong. Some orders not containing these items could also have been affected. This has also caused further delays to orders containing these items due to the backlog.
To remedy this, we at HobbyKing are upgrading all returned shipped items to a premium courier provider that will deliver your parcels to you shortly.

Issue Two
Due to the above issue, our Customer Service channel has been overwhelmed. This means that unfortunately all customers will have difficulty contacting Customer Service and for this we sincerely apologise.
If you are trying to contact customer service, please know that we WILL get back to you as soon as possible. To improve efficiency and improve response time, we request that you create just ONE support ticket. Your help on this matter is greatly appreciated.

I received this from HobbyKing in HK:

URGENT UPDATE

Our International Warehouse based in Hong Kong has been affected by changes in Hong Kong Customs policy. The new Customs Department policy is to inspect ALL parcels leaving Hong Kong (not just HobbyKing) and are refusing to accept shipments containing certain items. This has caused two major issues that I wish to address:

Issue One

All orders containing lithium-based batteries that were placed between the 23rd of September and 2nd of October have been refused by customs and are being returned to our shipping dock in Hong Kong. Some orders not containing these items could also have been affected. This has also caused further delays to orders containing these items due to the backlog.

To remedy this, we at HobbyKing are upgrading all returned shipped items to a premium courier provider that will deliver your parcels to you shortly.

Issue Two

Due to the above issue, our Customer Service channel has been overwhelmed. This means that unfortunately all customers will have difficulty contacting Customer Service and for this we sincerely apologise.

If you are trying to contact customer service, please know that we WILL get back to you as soon as possible. To improve efficiency and improve response time, we request that you create just ONE support ticket. Your help on this matter is greatly appreciated.

Sounds a decent firm to deal with.

Sounds a decent firm to deal with.

Indeed

I have two further items that appear to be caught up in this new HK policy

Two more coming from the Mainland.

All were ordered on the same date, none contain batteries, we shall see what happens.

Is there any penalties to the seller if the dispute is opened? That's what I want to avoid.

If no, then I'll contact the seller and notify him that I will also take it to the resolution center?

Shipping was free (means cheap) so no tracking number.

As long as seller solves the missing item in disputes center within the given time no problems

Your feedback in disputes center and feedback on sellers eBay page can always be left as positive or negative with a decryption of sellers willingness to resolve the situation they run a business treat them like that

If payed by PayPal sellers can lose the paypal account as a seller if they don't solve the issue in given time

Only once had to do a dispute as the items sent some 500$ Worth where not originals but mass produced unlike the eBay description on sellers page I recived a 50% discount within days

Positive feedback sent but with a description of what is really being sold