Scenario looking like a scammer who knows how to manipulate PayPal system

[ozjohnd]

Purchase $US112.98 31st July 2020

Delivery 17th September 2020 (note date such that chargeback via credit card now impossible due to 30+ days)

Product delivered absolutely not what was purchased but a cheap, illegal Lego copy

PayPal notified 18th September 2020 including reference to the sales website and photograph of the poor knock-off product delivered.

Timeline stretched to maximum then seller made an "offer" of a refund of $22.59

Refund offer refuse immediately, 1st October 2020

Resolution and decision timeline stretched to maximum (I thought PayPal was going to make a decision by the 14th ... pfft "decision" was just to force me to return to an address I cannot use) and now forced by PayPal to return product with tracking within 10 days.

Return address provided by the seller is in Chinese characters that local postal services cannot process due to a non-English language address and Customs regulations (can't tell me the seller did not already know this)

PayPal Customer service via Twitter (I cannot put anything else into Resolution Centre because I am locked into only being able to enter tracking number of return) who recommended I contact the seller for an English language address.  I have done so by not hopeful they will respond in time for the Resolution timeline.

I am simply stunned PayPal resolution has permitted this to drag on.

I dread losing my money because of an automatic closure of my claim for a refund because I cannot enter a Tracking number into the Resolution Centre system (because I cannot get one without an English language address for a Customs declaration)

argh!!

caveat emptor .. I was naive enough to think PayPal would protect me.

I have a long association with a PayPal account that in the past was used as an active seller (no longer a seller)

( no personal details included in this post to ensure it is not deleted by moderators )

TLDR - I am most distressed feeling let down by PayPal

[ozjohnd]

Update ... I am a little more hopeful.   Despite this information not being available via the online Resolution Centre, I just checked my PayPal emails and the email notification somehow has translated the Chinese characters address into English language.   I posted with tracking today and updated my Dispute page.   I have had further communication with Customer Service via Twitter messaging and they have been friendly, supportive and somewhat helpful.  They did offer an escalation to a specialist but I will now await (yet another indeterminate period of time) for a possible full refund.

[ozjohnd · Accepted solution]

for closure, PayPal did provide an accurate return address, honored the tracking and receipt and provided me with a full refund and an additional refund of the return postage costs.

For this I am most grateful despite the long process.

My faith in PayPal has been restored.