Item broken in shipping? Buyer didnt buy shipping insurance?

[toolmangreen]

I recently sold a GameCube monitor and battery. I said in my description that the battery was old and I didnt know how well it charged, or if it charged at all. The screen worked perfectly when packaged and shipped and I have pictures to prove that. The buyer is claiming that the item was not described appropriately, stating that the screen was broken and the battery didnt work. This caused me to have to pay for return shipping. I asked the buyer for a reduced refund and he immediately declined it. I am now out $30 in shipping and it sounds like I am receiving a now broken monitor in return. Are there any safety measures for the seller when this happens? Who is to say that the item wasnt damaged in shipping or that the buyer is returning broken screen that they already had in their possession? This doesnt seem to be fair at all. The item is on its way back to me and I will inspect it. If I find that it now doesn t work, what do I do? Is my only option to now deal with a broken screen and having $30 less in my account? Any help would be appreciated. 

[wooden_flower]

Sellers are responsible for the item until delivered in good condition to the buyer.  Insurance is for the seller, not the buyer.  So if you, the seller, did not purchase insurance, then it is your loss. You are the one that packed it for shipment.

You owe the buyer a full refund upon receipt. What you do with the damaged item is up to you.

[toolmangreen]

That totally seems backwards... I remember back in the day it would be the buyers responsibility to buy insurance. I haven't sold anything on Ebay in years so it is my fault for not doing my homework. It just seems that there is too much wiggle room for the buyers anymore. Thank you for responding. 

[wooden_flower]

A decade ago you could ask the buyer to pay a separate charge for insurance, but that is no longer allowed.  You can add a handling charge to your shipping to cover insurance, packaging, etc. The seller always buys the insurance.

[disneyshopper]

If you shipped using USPS Priority, or Fed Ex or UPS, $100 of insurance coverage is automatically included, otherwise you would have to pay extra for insurance if using any other shipping method.