Since there are so many long time EBay buyers and sellers here I would like to get advice:

About 6 weeks ago I won an auction on EBay. The total was about $100.

I paid immediately and within a few days the seller shipped the item.

For the next 5 weeks, tracking the package it was ‘stuck’ in the sellers post office in New Jersey. ‘USPS is in possession of item’. For 5 weeks there was no movement.

The seller and I both agreed that the package was ‘lost’ and after 5 weeks the refund was issued.

Then just days after I received the refund, the package showed movement again and is heading to California and is expected to arrive this week after it was shipped 6 weeks ago.

How do I make this right with the seller and EBay?

After the package arrives should I 1) tell the seller to make an ersatz EBay auction and I will buy it now for the price I paid and then make the payment?

Or, 2) do I just message the seller and ask for his PayPal account and pay him direct not through EBay?

Or 3) do I not tell the seller, I am sure he has no idea the package is on its way, and just enjoy the chips gratis and consider the last 6 weeks my ‘pain and suffering’ and not pay for the item?

I am leaning towards 2. but is there any way EBay would find out about this and possibly put restrictions on my, and possibly the sellers, EBay account for conducting an EBay payment transaction away from EBay?

I have been buying and selling on EBay for close to 20 years and never had this situation before.

Thanks for any input..