QR code repurchase tracking issue

[pgbo2821]

Wrong item sent, refund initiated by buyer, QR label repurchased to ship replacement, USPS shipping receipt for replacement shows correct date time buyer city state and original tracking number.  Original shipment was delivered 2 days prior is the last info update obviously. New label now shows updated track as far as ebay is concerned and label says status is pre-ship awaiting drop off at post office. Now ebay expects me to refund buyer since according to them he sent item back with no replacement sent. Unless the buyer is honest about delivery i have no way to know it was received.  Is it possible to bypass refund or even partial refund at at point in the return process? Im hoping maybe the post office can help since they printed and placed the label maybe they can find transaction history/status...wishful thinking but what about ebay insists refund sent?

[comics-scifi-collectibles]

@pgbo2821   eBay return labels do not have insurance for lost or damaged items. 

You should have got the item back, refunded the buyer, then the buyer buys the new item.

OR refund the buyer if you don't want the item back, then the buyer buys the new item.

Now the buyer is going to receive a replacement item AND a refund.  

Hopefully they are an honest buyer and will pay you back for the item they receive.  

[pgbo2821]

Im not sure it was a lost or return label. I clicked the label drop menu, manage shipping, purchase label again. On the return details it doesn't show the second label purchase. I can only see it in my payments list and then if i go into orders, label, and all that the same way i found it. ...but i guess since the post office has it the same tracking number and new label still waiting to ship.. .why didn't it offer

-send replacement-instead of offer refund like the help page mentions as possible? Did i get anorher label some backwards way besides just not waiting for return package then start from the beginning? I was hoping to avoid the refund since my ebay funds wouldn't cover it. The original item was already shipped with the return label i sent him. The help page makes it seem more options are possible then you get stuck having to follow the prompts with only refund possible.. Thanks for responding. Not able to get to the information i was needing one way or another was getting bothersome. Its coming together, either way im screwed even if hes honest and says he received it because ebay is pretty insistent on the refund and no way to speak to anyone besides here?