[starboard]

This is a bit long long winded, thanks in advance for reading...

I bought a pair of shoes on eBay from an overseas seller in the middle of January. The seller had 100% rating and great feedback so bought the shoes and paid immediately with Paypal.
Within 2 days the shoes had been marked as shipped with a tracking number. Three weeks later, no shoes arrive so I check the tracking number with Australia Post and it is marked as a "no events recorded".
I email the seller through eBay and get a reply saying so sorry but the shoes are out of stock with the supplier. He was very apologetic and offered me a refund or another pair of shoes in another style or colour. He didn't say why he had marked the item as shipped when it hadn't been though. So I reply to him and say that I will have a pair of shoes in another style and give him the order details. Get a reply back, yes, all good, in stock and will get them shipped out.

So as of yesterday ( 2 weeks later), still no shoes have arrived. I email the seller to ask what is happening. He replies that the shoes ( the new style, my second choice) are also out of stock but will get them shipped to me as soon as he gets them in from the supplier. Again, he was very apologetic and very nice about it but I'm getting a bit ticked off now.

I looked into what to do if item is not received and an option is opening a dispute with Paypal. I have until 3rd March to open a dispute.

Would you open a dispute ( just to protect your money should the second pair of shoes never come)?
Would you report the guy to eBay for selling stuff he hasn't actually got( the original shoes and the second choice are still for sale on his eBay store)?
Would you just say to him "forget it and refund my money to Paypal asap please"?

The other thing I notice from his feedback is that he appears to be selling shoes to several different buyers in large amounts. Not just the odd pair to a buyer like me. I get the feeling I'm put on a back burner so he can supply the big buyers. I could be wrong.

Gahhhh and such lovely shoes too!

[laridae]

I would be opening a dispute before it expires, otherwise you will lose the protection.

[Mary Whether]

I would.

[libbylu]

I would be asking him to return your money by the 3rd of march or you will open a dispute.
Although it is clearly wrong to communicate that items have been shipped (twice) he has at least been communicative and apologetic and has offered to return your money.
I would take that offer of money back, but give him the deadline by which you expect to receive it, so you are not put on the backburner again!

[wallofdodo]

Open a dispute, and let them know, if they ask.

This is the problem when international purchases go wrong, the time frame allowed by eBay is not long enough.

[purplekitty]

I would be opening a dispute before it expires, otherwise you will lose the protection.

Yes,open a dispute before the Paypal protection expires.
I was caught out in a similar situation.

[House.of.blue]

I was recently in a similar situation I purchased a bracelet for $100 from a seller with 100% positive feedback. Apparently item was shipped 24.12.12 but by mid Jan I still hadn't received when I checked the tracking number that she gave me it said "lodged by customer" nothing else when I called aus post they informed me to open a dispute as the customer didn't put the parcel in the right bag to start with and that the parcel is in "limbo" and I may never receive it and most likely it was returned to sender for whatever reason.

I lodged with paypal and 30 days later they gave me a refund, seller sent me a msg abusing me but I didn't care I just wanted either my money or product and since she wasn't willing to help I went further.

Make sure you lodge before your time is up you can cancel dispute if you recieve item.

This post has been edited by House.of.blue: 21/02/2013, 07:48 PM

[trishalishous]

Id open the dispute, if you want the shoes badly.
Otherwise Id get a refund (and if any issues with that, then open a dispute)

[CallMeProtart]

Definitely don't miss the dispute opening deadline. Put a marker in your calendar for the day before so you don't miss it.

As for the shoes - he sounds dodgy, I'd actually just ask for a refund. But if you really want them, then keep trying, but still open the dispute so that you are protected!

[starboard]

Thank you for your replies everyone.

I have opened a dispute, as I can always withdraw it if the shoes arrive which I actually doubt they will. I mean, he's been nice about it but he's had my money for 6 weeks now and nothing has been shipped. Luckily I'm not in any great need for the shoes, they were for work, nothing special but oh, so nice.

This post has been edited by starboard: 21/02/2013, 09:12 PM