Asking eBay to Refund Your Fees

After an Unpaid Item Dispute has been filed, eBay sends a message to the bidder requesting that the two of you work things out. (It’s not a very strong message, in my humble opinion, but it’s what it is.) You then have to wait 7 days before you can request a refund of your final value fee. You have to make the request no later than 60 days after the end of your auction, and your claim has to meet one of the following criteria:

• The high bidder did not respond to your emails or backed out and did not buy the item.

• The high bidder’s check bounced or a stop payment was placed on it.

• The high bidder returned the item and you issued a refund.

• The high bidder backed out, but you sold the item to another bidder at a lower price.

• One or more of the bidders in a Dutch auction backed out of the sale.

eBay’s policy is to not refund insertion feesalthough if you have a really special circumstance, there’s no harm in asking. (And, besides, if you relist the item, eBay won’t charge you for the relisting insertion fee.)

If your situation fits, you’re entitled to a full refund of eBay’s final value feebut you must request it. To request a refund, go to your My eBay page, click the My Account link, and then click the Dispute Console link. When the Dispute Console page appears, click through to the item in dispute and select the I No Longer Wish to Communicate With or Wait For the Buyer option. eBay then issues a final value fee credit, and your item is eligible for relisting.