Cases type and reasons

Let’s first understand what are cases and when does a request become a case

Cases are a way to communicate and resolve a dispute between buyer and seller when they have a problem with a transaction. This may include, for example, situations when the buyer has not paid for the items or has not received them.

It is important to distinguish between a request and a case. When a buyer (or a seller) notifies the second member of the transaction through the Conflict Resolution Center that there is a problem, a request is opened. A request becomes a case when a member (seller or buyer) asks eBay to step in and help.

Let’s first understand what are cases and when does a request become a case

Cases are a way to communicate and resolve a dispute between buyer and seller when they have a problem with a transaction. This may include, for example, situations when the buyer has not paid for the items or has not received them.

It is important to distinguish between a request and a case. When a buyer (or a seller) notifies the second member of the transaction through the Conflict Resolution Center that there is a problem, a request is opened. A request becomes a case when a member (seller or buyer) asks eBay to step in and help.

There are situations where both the seller and the buyer can open a request

A buyer can open a request if

  • He or she hasn’t received item yet
  • He or she has received an item that does not match the seller’s description

A seller can open a request if

A buyer can open a request if

  • He or she hasn’t received item yet
  • He or she has received an item that does not match the seller’s description

A seller can open a request if

Always remember that the first and most important thing in any type of dispute is to communicate with your transacting partner and see how the issue can be solved without eBay’s intervention.  Communication with the buyer before he or she asks eBay to open a case is the best way to try to resolve the issue. So keep an eye out for messages from your buyers and respond promptly.

1. Go to resolution center

2. Login to the eBay account with your eBay credentials

3. On the next page, you would be able to see two sections:

  • Actions for sellers: Here you would be able to cancel an order or manage your buyer’s requests and disputes
  • Actions for buyers: This section is for buyers to report an issue in the transaction such as item hasn’t arrived, start a return, or view their past requests next to their orders in Purchase History. 
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02.

Login to the eBay account with your eBay credentials

03.

On the next page, you would be able to see two sections:

  • Actions for sellers: Here you would be able to cancel an order or manage your buyer’s requests and disputes
  • Actions for buyers: This section is for buyers to report an issue in the transaction such as item hasn’t arrived, start a return, or view their past requests next to their orders in Purchase History. 

How does the case Resolution work?

STEP 1

Transaction Happens

STEP 2

Issue with the Transaction

STEP 3

Case Opened

STEP 4

Connect with Transacting Partner

STEP 5

Case Resolution

Remember  – The actions to cancel an order or manage your buyer’s requests disputes is available under “Seller Hub” under the “Orders” tab.

How does the case Resolution work?

STEP 1

Transaction Happens

STEP 2

Issue with the Transaction

STEP 3

Case Opened

STEP 4

Connect with Transacting Partner

STEP 5

Case Resolution

Remember  – The actions to cancel an order or manage your buyer’s requests disputes is available under “Seller Hub” under the “Orders” tab.

Dispute/Case Types & Reasons

Cancel an order

After you’ve made a sale on eBay, it’s usually a smooth process to complete the transaction with the buyer, but sometimes you might find yourself in a situation where the buyer hasn’t yet paid for the item they bought. If that happens, you can cancel the order 4 calendar days after the listing ended and your item will be relisted automatically unless you choose not to relist.

Reasons for non-payment by a buyer can be any of the following

  • The buyer has forgotten about the transaction
  • The buyer is not aware of the payment process
  • Buyer is simply no longer interested in completing the transaction

Reasons for you as a seller to cancel the transaction can be any of the following

  • Item is out of stock or damaged
  • There’s a problem with the buyer’s address
  • Buyer has communicated that he no longer wants the item
  • Buyer’s account is suspended
  • Seller and buyer have mutually agreed to not complete the transaction
  • The order is cancelled for a return/refund

Now, let’s move to a quick overview on the different case types and their reasons.

Dispute/Case Types & Reasons

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Cancel an order

After you’ve made a sale on eBay, it’s usually a smooth process to complete the transaction with the buyer, but sometimes you might find yourself in a situation where the buyer hasn’t yet paid for the item they bought. If that happens, you can cancel the order 4 calendar days after the listing ended and your item will be relisted automatically unless you choose not to relist.

Reasons for non-payment by a buyer can be any of the following

  • The buyer has forgotten about the transaction
  • The buyer is not aware of the payment process
  • Buyer is simply no longer interested in completing the transaction

Reasons for you as a seller to cancel the transaction can be any of the following

  • Item is out of stock or damaged
  • There’s a problem with the buyer’s address
  • Buyer has communicated that he no longer wants the item
  • Buyer’s account is suspended
  • Seller and buyer have mutually agreed to not complete the transaction
  • The order is cancelled for a return/refund
Reasons For Account Suspensions/restrictions/holds -eBay

Item Not Received 

An Item Not Received case is filed by the buyer against the seller after the buyer has paid for the item but has not yet received the item

This can happen for any of the following reasons:

  • Item was not delivered to the buyer within the estimated delivery date (“EDD”) 
  • Seller could not provide a valid delivery proof
  • Item was lost during transit
  • Seller has not entered the shipping details within the specified handling time

Item Not As Described 

An Item Not As Described case is filed by the buyer against the seller when the item is received but it is not as per the description provided by the seller

An Item Not As Described can happen for any of the following reasons:

  • Item doesn’t work or is defective
  • Doesn’t match the description or photos or specifics
  • Wrong item delivered
  • Item is missing parts or pieces
  • Item is delivered in damaged condition
  • Item doesn’t seem authentic 

Item Not Received

An Item Not Received case is filed by the buyer against the seller after the buyer has paid for the item but has not yet received the item

This can happen for any of the following reasons:

  • Item was not delivered to the buyer within the estimated delivery date (“EDD”) 
  • Seller could not provide a valid delivery proof
  • Item was lost during transit
  • Seller has not entered the shipping details within the specified handling time

Item Not As Described 

An Item Not As Described case is filed by the buyer against the seller when the item is received but it is not as per the description provided by the seller

An Item Not As Described can happen for any of the following reasons:

  • Item doesn’t work or is defective
  • Doesn’t match the description or photos or specifics
  • Wrong item delivered
  • Item is missing parts or pieces
  • Item is delivered in damaged condition
  • Item doesn’t seem authentic 

Please note that when a buyer opens an Item Not Received or Item Not As Described case, you have 3 business days to completely solve the issue with the buyer. This is called the ‘Seller Make It Right’ (“SMIR”) period. 

Once the SMIR period is over, the buyer has the option to go ahead and escalate the case to eBay. Remember, this is the time when the request will become a case. Once eBay steps in, you will not be given any additional time to resolve the issue. If the case is closed in favor of the buyer (known as “Cases Closed Without Seller Resolution” (“CCWSR”)), you may face a loss and impact on your Seller Performance. This case would also count towards your “Defects” count.

Please note that when a buyer opens an Item Not Received or Item Not As Described case, you have 3 business days to completely solve the issue with the buyer. This is called the ‘Seller Make It Right’ (“SMIR”) period. 

Once the SMIR period is over, the buyer has the option to go ahead and escalate the case to eBay. Remember, this is the time when the request will become a case. Once eBay steps in, you will not be given any additional time to resolve the issue. If the case is closed in favor of the buyer (known as “Cases Closed Without Seller Resolution” (“CCWSR”)), you may face a loss and impact on your Seller Performance. This case would also count towards your “Defects” count.

Remorse Returns

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A remorse return usually takes place when the buyer opens a case to return an item because they don’t like it or no longer want it.

Remorse reasons can be any of the following:

  • The correct size of item was sent but the item did not fit
  • The buyer changed their mind
  • The buyer found a better price elsewhere
  • The buyer just did not like the item
  • The buyer ordered the item by mistake

Remorse Returns

A remorse return usually takes place when the buyer opens a case to return an item because they don’t like it or no longer want it.

Remorse reasons can be any of the following:

The correct size of item was sent but the item did not fit

The buyer found a better price elsewhere

The buyer just did not like the item

The buyer changed their mind

The buyer ordered the item by mistake