eBay Refund Policy
Last verified: 2026-03-19
www.ebay.com/help/selling/managing-returns-refunds/refunding-buyers
Video Guides
How to Get a Refund — Step by Step
- 1Start a return request from your Purchases in My eBay
- 2Wait for the seller to respond within 3 business days
- 3If the seller does not respond or resolve the issue, ask eBay to step in for help
- 4If the item is returned and no refund is received after 3 business days, ask eBay to step in
When You Can Get a Refund
- Refunds must be processed through an open request or case if one exists
- Buyers can return an item that doesn't match the listing description, even if the seller specifies 'no returns accepted'
- Sellers may deduct from a refund if the returned item is used, damaged, missing parts, or was improperly packaged for return shipping
- If free shipping was offered, the original shipping cost cannot be deducted from the refund
All Refund Methods
- Original or selected payment method
- eBay gift card (for some orders)
Partial Refunds
- Full or partial refunds can be issued
- Partial refunds for an order are split proportionally across each item in the order
Dispute Process
- If a seller doesn't respond to a return request or issue a refund within 3 business days, a buyer can ask eBay to step in
- To ask eBay to step in, go to Seller Hub (Orders, then Returns or Requests and disputes tab) or My eBay Sold, select 'See details' or 'View return details' for the request
- Select 'Report problem' and follow instructions to involve eBay
- eBay will review the case and aim to resolve it within 48 hours, though it may take longer for more information
Additional Notes
- Buyers receive email confirmation when a refund is initiated and completed, and the refunded amount appears in order details
- Sellers may be eligible for fee credits when issuing a refund without eBay intervention
- Sellers must state their return policy in listings, including whether returns are accepted and under what conditions
What Redditors Are Saying
eBay Seller Who awas Refunded Wants Product Back
Location: NY Purchased an item off eBay from someone in MA. the product was missing a component that was not disclosed and I submitted a return request. After some back and forth the guy approved the return but then said he'd send me the missing piece, which he did. In that time the piece was shippi
Facing a moral dilemma about an ebay dispute? Looking for perspective...
I've been active on eBay as both a buyer and a seller for 23+ years. I'm facing a situation that is leaving me feeling conflicted and not sure what the best course of action is at this point... About five weeks ago I purchased some dishes on ebay. It was a large set. The dishes themselves were only
USPS couldn't deliver item because buyer did not include unit number in eBay. Item got lost in the system coming back to me. Buyer filed a charge back dispute. I filed a claim with USPS. Buyer lost dispute. I received a check from USPS. How do I get this money back to the buyer?
It's been more than 90 days since purchase. eBay system has just now closed the dispute in my favor. I received my money back from USPS in the middle of the dispute, but the eBay system said I had to wait until their process completed. I was not able to change anything or issue a refund to the buyer
Got Refunded, Seller Shipped Anyway, eBay Thinks I'm Trying to Get Unbanned (I'm Not), PayPal Says Talk to eBay - I'm in Customer Service Hell
So here's my ridiculous situation, and I genuinely need advice because both eBay and PayPal are playing hot potato with my problem. **September 3rd:** Won an auction for a used Apple Watch SE for $74. Excited! **September 4th:** eBay bans my account. No reason. Appeal denied with generic copy-paste