Alibaba order partially delivered, parcel returned to sender, PayPal dispute fail

I need some advice because I feel completely stuck between Alibaba, PayPal and DPD.

Several months ago, I purchased goods from a Chinese supplier through Alibaba. The order was shipped in two separate parcels.

The shipment experienced major delays and both of the parcels became stuck in Germany for several months (february to june 2026). According to the seller, DPD Germany stopped responding to both them and their logistics provider. Of course DPD germany answered me telling I’m not the right person who can talk about these package.

Eventually, both parcels arrived in France and were scheduled for delivery on the same day.

One parcel was successfully delivered.

The second parcel was never delivered.

I immediately contacted DPD France. They told me they would reschedule the delivery a few days later.

Nothing happened.

I called again and was given another delivery date.

Again, nothing happened.

I called once more and was told the parcel would be delivered on a new date.

Once again, nothing happened.

When I contacted DPD again, a representative informed me that no delivery request had actually been registered for the dates previously communicated to me. In other words, the information provided by previous customer service agents appears to have been inaccurate.

I have now been informed that the parcel has been returned to Germany and is on its way back to the sender, despite the fact that:

I repeatedly contacted DPD asking for delivery.

My phone number was on the parcel.

I never received a phone call.

I never refused delivery.

I was never informed that the parcel was about to be returned.

I opened a PayPal dispute within PayPal’s 180-day deadline.

PayPal rejected the claim because the seller provided tracking information showing delivery.

However, only one of the two parcels was actually delivered.

The second parcel was never delivered and is now apparently being returned to the sender.

I then contacted PayPal again, but I am now being told that more than 180 days have passed since the payment, so I cannot open a new dispute.

The seller acknowledges there is a problem with DPD and has stated in writing that DPD Germany has not been responding to inquiries.

At this point I am trying to understand:

Can PayPal refuse to review the original dispute even though it was opened within the 180-day period?

Is the seller still responsible since one of the two parcels was never delivered?

Has anyone experienced DPD returning a parcel without contacting the recipient despite multiple delivery rescheduling requests?

What would you do next in my situation?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated because I feel like I am being bounced between PayPal, DPD and the seller, while the parcel was never actually delivered.

Thank you.