OK, the long and short of it:

I sold an iPod on eBay. Over 3 weeks later (23 days don't you know), buyer contacts me requesting refund, item not as described. Buyer states dent in iPod and artefacts on screen. I examine listing & photos, no dents, screen displaying perfect picture.

I refuse refund. Buyer opens eBay buyer protection case, stating item not as described.

What do I do now?

I've posted a spiel in the box, stating my side of the case, but TBH knowing eBay they're going to side with the buyer anyway. Which means I'm £150 down and get a now-damaged iPod.

What do I do? Threaten county court action against the buyer for their fraudulent claim?

Did you have photos of the item before you sold it? They could strengthen your case considerably. Chances are they might have damaged it during use and now see getting a refund as the only option. Check your listing and see if there are any mentioning of faults.

Looks like a lost cause....

A lot of Googling and advice from other sellers seem to indicate that:

- eBay/Paypal will not look at photos. Apparently they also disregard photos in the listing as they "may" be a different item or photos from before when you (the seller) damaged the item.
- if I let the buyer escalate the case, I will be forced to issue a refund AND eBay will let the buyer keep the item.

So I've opted for the buyer returning the item for a refund. If they've crippled it I'll be taking them to court to make up for its decreased value. At the very least I want the experience of being served court papers to scare the [LIFTED] out of them.

I don't envy you. While I appreciate the "buyer protection" of eBay, this is exactly why I've never sold any high value goods on there. My only sales were for 99p.

I'll be interested in how this turns out. It often sounds like eBay really don't give a stuff about the people that pay their wages.

PayPal and eBay only ever seem to side with the scammers, whether they are buyers or sellers...

The equivalent of PC Pro's "Shark Fishing" coilumn here seems to have a case every other issue of an eBay user being shafted by eBay/PayPal and their scammer buddies.

One of the reasons why I've never used eBay...

I'm amazed that ebay might side with a buyer complaining an item is damaged after 3 weeks of ownership. I'd have stood my ground.

If he wants a refund, doesn't he have to send it back first?
If he does, check the serial number and make sure it's the one you sold. He may have switched it with a knackered one.

I've had a couple of these recently.

All you have to do is keep contacting the buyer asking questions and looking like you're going to help.

If they didn't raise a case for a dent until after 3 weeks of ownership then ebay will side with you.

The cases are looked at by real people so providing it looks like you have put in a big effort to resolve it then ebay won't always steal your money.

I'd fight it if it was me

This.

And even if it does get to the point where they're going to send it back say that you'll obviously have to check the secret individual code that you mark all your sales with to confirm it's the same item as sent... Then see if it turns up.

I refuse to use EBay or PayPal any more after I sold a phone to someone for £250.

He left feedback to say he had received the phone but then later phoned his credit card company and paypal to say that he never authorised the payment.

A few weeks later I was down £250 and had no phone.

No matter what proof I had PayPal didn't listen and gave the guy the money back anyway.

It's this sort of crap that keeps me from using e-bay and Paypal. (Some folks have had their Steam accounts disabled due to Paypal)

Yes, I was going to fight it but was put off by the prospect that there was a very good chance I would lose both my money and the iPod.

My plan now is this - get the item back, check serial number, issue refund if it checks out. Sell the iPod on, sue the twat in the county court for the difference in value.

Didn't the item have postage insurance? If so, could be worth claiming on that - you've got photographic proof that the item left you in perfect condition, the buyer needs to supply you with photos of the "damage" (or get them to send it back) and put an insurance claim in. Anything over £20 or £30 and I would insist on postal insurance to protect both sides.

I've tried that route before, Royal Mail always insist on inspecting the original packaging, which the buyer has almost always discarded.

Ah right, so essentially postage insurance isn't worth the paper it's written on then? That's good to know for future reference.