I purchased a used bag on eBay last week. I received the item last Monday (03/08/2010) and noticed a small ink stain on the front of the (white) bag. The listing states that the item must be returned within 7 days after the buyer receives it and a refund will be given as money back. I contacted the seller about a return Tuesday and requested her address. The seller responded late Wednesday with her work address. She then writes me again the next morning offering me a small partial refund ($30) if I agreed to keep the bag. I emailed her back and countered with a $40 refund. I also said that if she preferred I would gladly send the bag back for a full refund. I have not heard from her since.
Because Monday is the last day to receive a refund under her policy I want to mail this bag out tomorrow but I am unsure if the address she provided is the "confirmed" address with Paypal. I called eBay to ask for their advice and the only option they were able to provide me was to file a dispute with the seller. When I asked if they could at least confirm that the address she provided me was the one they had on file for her they told me the only information they could give me was the seller's phone number. They then said that if I wanted more information that I would have to speak to Paypal. When I called Paypal I was told that due to privacy rules they were not able to provide me with the seller's confirmed address unless the seller gives them permission first. They called the seller but no one picked up. I was then told to keep calling the seller until I spoke with her and then encourage her to call Paypal and agree to let them release the address information to me. *sigh*
So now I feel stuck. I want to return the bag but I am afraid that her work address is not the true "confirmed" address and I could be out both the bag and the money. I intend on shipping the bag with full insurance and signature confirmation but if I ship to the wrong address can't the seller just claim that she never received it? I really don't want to file a dispute unless it's absolutely necessary but I don't know if I have any other options.
Any ideas on how to obtain the seller's confirmed address? Or ideas on how else I should approach this situation? TIA for your help!
Because Monday is the last day to receive a refund under her policy I want to mail this bag out tomorrow but I am unsure if the address she provided is the "confirmed" address with Paypal. I called eBay to ask for their advice and the only option they were able to provide me was to file a dispute with the seller. When I asked if they could at least confirm that the address she provided me was the one they had on file for her they told me the only information they could give me was the seller's phone number. They then said that if I wanted more information that I would have to speak to Paypal. When I called Paypal I was told that due to privacy rules they were not able to provide me with the seller's confirmed address unless the seller gives them permission first. They called the seller but no one picked up. I was then told to keep calling the seller until I spoke with her and then encourage her to call Paypal and agree to let them release the address information to me. *sigh*
So now I feel stuck. I want to return the bag but I am afraid that her work address is not the true "confirmed" address and I could be out both the bag and the money. I intend on shipping the bag with full insurance and signature confirmation but if I ship to the wrong address can't the seller just claim that she never received it? I really don't want to file a dispute unless it's absolutely necessary but I don't know if I have any other options.
Any ideas on how to obtain the seller's confirmed address? Or ideas on how else I should approach this situation? TIA for your help!