eBay buyer cheated me

[Ambar]

hi everyone, i´m a bit disappointed in the past experiences I've had on ebay, Maree first made me lose time waiting for her and her friend to paid a couple of customs. Now is a new swindler called Jennifer, but in this case helped by the poor service of the postal offices in Mexico and USA.
First, she bid in my custom Geraldine around february 11, i sent it the next day and give her the track, but she answered the 17 with a rude comment
"was wondering when you planned on actually shipping my pony? tracking number you provided still shows no activity. thank you"
i sent her proofs of shipping , the scanned ticket from the postal office and a screen print  from the  website that confirms that the  package was in the Mexican post i also explained that the system was undergoing a renovation which delayed tracking, processing and passing through customs packages and that could be the problem, then she wrote on march 6
"i am really starting to worry.the delivery date is in 3 days and i need this for a birthday present for the 10th..please advise"
i tracked the package but there wasn´t any information yet...
then in march 9
"today is the 9th and still my pony is not here.this is a birthday present which is in 4 days..the 13th..please contact someone as i need it fast.i can not order another one now and have it in time and i ordered this in the alloted time for the birthday party"

i answered:

Dear jenntom2014,

as i told you before i opened a case about the package in my local postal service, i´ts this the number 2015-0306211727 i still waiting response, because in this country postal service don´t works the weekends and they need to make the research
i´m very optimistic that will come in a couple of days, but it will be once the customs office apply all the processes, because the destination country is putting many requirements and revisions to let pass the mail especially by the Mexican side.
Unfortunately that's not something that a seller can control, because if it were the package would already be in your hands
I´m very sorry and really i pray for this package arrive very soon

i also spoke directly to the central office and the official numbers, and they asked me to wait for results, this situation make me very upset because this never happened to me before with the USA shipments. but if you decide that you want a refund i´ll only ask that you return the custom when it arrives, because it will arrive

- ambar_jul

the answer:
Dear ambar_jul,

i just spent what i had for a present..if u return money and i receive i will pay u with no problem at all...all in good faith..check my feedback as everyone is happy with me

- jenntom2014

She did not wait even a reply and opened a case for  not received item, I immediately returned the money because actually i suggested it,

and guess what!!! the custom arrived in april, and she didn´t tell me anything, i checked the status in both postal services and appeared as delivered

i wrote her a couple o weeks later (because i was in my honeymoon when the package arrived)
De: ambar_jul
A: jenntom2014
Asunto: ambar_jul envió un mensaje
Fecha de envío: Apr-22-15 11:22:57 PDT

Estimado(a) jenntom2014:

hello, just confirmed that the package arrived many days ago by my local post office and in your country;so i was wondering if you need that i send you my paypal address or prefer to return the package to me. (the item is a mlp cutom) thanks

- ambar_jul

the answer:
From: jenntom2014
To: ambar_jul
Subject: Re: ambar_jul envió un mensaje
Sent Date: Apr-22-15 11:26:22 PDT

Estimado(a) ambar_jul:

yes send me paypal address.i am glad u contacted me cause i could not find it

- jenntom2014

and since april 22 i still waiting her payment, where good faith is? I feel really stolen and I am very disappointed that a custom made by me is in the hands of a person with no parole

I don´t know what is next... i don´t think she will pay and once again i hate eBay with all their policies that protect fraudsters, sellers are at a great disadvantage and never win :/


[moving to TS ~ Kiwi]

[Cool.Breeze]

I'm so sorry it's not a fun lesson to learn but you should NEVER send back money if the item is in transit to your buyer. Even if the item arrives to them and they still want a refund, next time go through the process of a proper refund on eBay and make sure the item is on it's way back to you. Never let an impatient buyer bully you out of what's rightfully yours!

[Rhubarbpie]

Do you have her paypal address? Can you try and send her an invoice for the custom?

[Ringlets]

    how awful! unfortunately this person does seem to have scammed you. If you had let them open a case on ebay , ebay would have sided with you and not made you refund her since you have proof of postage/tracking - and now there is proof she has received the item.
You could try contacting ebay about the situation - explain what happened and that the buyer has now confirmed she has the item and that she will send your money back , but she still has not done this. Ebay can check all of the messages and see what she wrote to you. They can also check the tracking information. It is better to talk to someone from ebay on the phone if possible, if not then email them for some advice. You have been treated very unfairly and it was not your fault that the item was delayed in the post in the first place

[ladygodiva]

Cool.Breeze is right.You never return the money to recover the goods. But I feel very bad that even you has not returned the money. You've done your part. 
Sorry, my English is not good