chargeback fees vary according to the processor. The average fee is 25.00. Some processors allow 5 free chargebacks per month. Some allow none. The merchant can avoid the fee by refunding the customer and responding to the red letter notice the processor sends out. If they do not respond, they get whacked with the dollar amount fo the sale and the fee. If a company gets a lot of chargeback requests on a frequent basis, they can lose their merchant account. It is in their best interest to just take care of the customers. All these fees and the risk of losing their merchant account is why merchants hate it when customers threaten a chargeback. Keep this in mind when you feel you are being jerked around by any merchant. Use the threat if you feel you are not being taken care of properly as a customer. I'd say give the merchant time to respond and fix the problem, and if they don't respond or refuse a legit refund, then inform them of your intentions to start the chargeback process. Generally this will get the merchant to move. Sometimes it is the only thing that will get them to move.