Not for damaged items, much easier for lost (or in the case of eBay buyers, "lost") ones.

ebay will not give a refund on a damaged item until it is proved to be returned to you.

For damage in transit, the buyer has to sign for the parcel as damaged to prove that. If they didn't then it's their fault.

Oh. I was told by another seller that if eBay found against me I'd lose both my money and the iPod. Is that not correct?

You got told wrong.

The case system (that you should be communicating through) states that if it's found in the buyers favour then they have to return the goods & when you receive it then the refund is given (then you appeal and get their paypal account frozen)

Bugger, I've pressed the "have buyer return item for refund" button now. I'll have to remember that for next time.

In the mean time, I'm looking forward to filing county court papers.

Why didn't you fight it? The guy took 3 weeks before he reckons something was wrong.

The thing is what would be the point of court papers now? You've already accepted responsibility by giving a refund.

If this was 4chan, a group of us would have gone down and got you your refund!

Because from my Googling, it seemed very likely that I would have lost anyway, and another seller advised me that if the buyer escalated the case and I lost, I'd lose both the money and the item. It's only now Saspro has advised otherwise that I can see sticking with it might have been the better option.

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Because unlike eBay, I can submit photos into court, which would show the difference in condition, thus suggesting the buyer caused the damage.

Do you have to confirm the return before a refund is given?

They're supposed to provide eBay with a tracking number, I'm not sure what happens if they send me a blank envelope*

*in terms of eBay, that is. My first action will be to call the Police...

Photograph package received as the tracking code will be visible on it?

Some people have been returned a brick or similar. Very hard to prove that with photos, unless the courier is willing to be a video witness as you open it. That's not going to happen.

There's a real problem with the law - when it's nothing more than one person's word against another, there's simply no case to be had. Even photographic evidence is worthless. Many people have pictures of goods in perfect condition which could later be used when the goods were broken. EXIF data can be changed, and is usually wrong anyway because no bugger ever sets the camera's date.

TBH I would expect even ebay would eventually ask the question of the buyer 'why did you wait 3 weeks if it was damaged when it arrived?'.

I got the iPod back today,

Here's before I sent it:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Here's after:


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

(!)

To me it looks like they've dropped it.

Anyhoo, I have filed my papers at the County Court today. Here's hoping I win!

Can't see your pics at work but I'll have a look tonight.

Fingers crossed that you get compensation for this.

I really can't stand dodgy little tw*ts like this guy obviously is.