Customer Refund

[vintagevibes81]

I recently sold a large ceramic tea pot to a customer.  I sent it via USPS priority mail with the $100 insurance included.  It arrived broken.  The customer asked me what I could do for them.  In other instances when an item arrives broken, I generally refund them and don't require them to ship the item back.  

Upon submitted a claim with the USPS.  A simple picture of the broken item wasn't enough.  I received a letter in the mail from the USPS stating I would need to bring physical proof to the post office.  I went to my local post office this morning with a printed picture of the broken item (sent to me by the customer).  My post office said that my customer should take the broken item and original packaging to their post office.  

I contacted the buyer and they said that they already threw the item away.  

I just want my $42 back ( cost of the item and shipping).

I aksed Ebay customer service to step in and they told me that I should've opened a case before refunding the customer.  

I guess this was a $42 lesson and time for me to check out other platforms.