Seller wants to refund partial payment after return was started

[7raindrops]

I purchased a BIN item in camera and photos for $2000+, it included 2 slr cameras and a couple of lenses.

When I received the package, I realized that the main camera which usually goes for around $850 camera only on eBay, was incorrectly described in the auction. It had 100k shutter count instead of the 30k the seller had mentioned. The extra shutter count usually drops the price of the camera by $150 on eBay.

I messaged the seller about the high shutter count (not mentioning anything about money or refunds) and he said it was a typo and that he had purchased the camera on eBay a couple of months ago with 52k shutter count.

So I looked at his feedback and sure enough, I found the auction where he had purchased the camera in February 2017 (serial number matched with what I received). That particular auction clearly mentioned that the shutter count is 98k.

I messaged him this info and after a couple of back and forth he admitted "ok i may have make a mistake , i regret". And he said I can return it.

So I initiated a return. He accepted the return and I was also sent a return label.

After this, he messaged me if I wanted to return all the items or just the camera with the high shutter count. And I replied how can that happen?

Then he replied that he can do a partial refund of $500 and I can keep everything, including the camera with the high shutter count.

Now my question is, is he trying to get me to close the return process? He hasn't told me to do that yet, but I'm guessing he won't give me a partial refund unless I cancel the return.

Is he trying to cheat me? I would have agreed to a $150 partial payment initially but I never asked and he never offered, until I opened the return item case.

Any suggestions?

[nicgola-0]

If he is offering you a $500 refund AND keeping the lot of items, if you're cool with that, take it.
I don't see where he would be trying to screw you, if anything you would have more power in the situation to screw him ( not that I am implying you would)
He can give you the $500 and then you close the case, all is good in the universe and everyone is happy.

[7raindrops]

Can you take a look at my reply 3 messages above?

[7raindrops]

Thanks

[tarpedge]

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@*eponymous* wrote:

open a PayPal dispute, immediately escalate it to a claim

ship it back. If you don't get a refund in 10 days, escalate the case to eBay.

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Um.

[missjen831]

@*eponymous* You've said this several times lately and I believe it is incorrect. PayPal doesn't just reimburse return shipping. They have a return shipping program that you MUST enroll in. They don't automatically cover return shipping. Also a US paypal account is required. And there is NO requirement that you pay retail at the counter. PayPal reimburses up to $30. https://www.paypal.com/us/webapps/mpp/returns/terms

[*eponymous*]

@missjen831  I speak from my own experience (remrose return, which may be different if the buyer says the postage was deducted from a refund?).  No, you do not have to "enroll".  As soon as you click the link on a payment to get a refund for return shipping, you are "enrolled".

I again speak from experience in saying the postage has to be purchased at retail.

[missjen831]

You have to enroll in the program @*eponymous* and clearly you are already enrolled. That's the only way PayPal covers return shipping. And speaking from my own experience, you do NOT have to pay retail at the post office. I bought my return labels through PayPal and got reimbursed. I linked the T&Cs. 

[*eponymous*]

@missjen831 Feel free to pm me.

I posted a copy of the actual screen that comes up when you request a return.  There is nowhere on the form to get a refund for an elabel. Your issue appears to be with PayPal.

"Enrolling"  consists of clicking a link.

[missjen831]

@*eponymous* my issue isn't with PayPal. as you know, when you buy a label from PayPal the transaction shows the postal service as the merchant and you simply upload that receipt as your proof. My main point is that one does

not have to purchase retail postage at the post office in order to get reimbursed. PayPal will reimburse up to $30 whether you paid retail at the PO, bought a discounted label online. In fact you don't have to ship through the PO, you can use any carrier. 

[7raindrops]

I told the seller that I'm going to return all the gear. Now he replied "OK AS YOU WISH, NOW IF I SEE ANY SCRATCH. ON ANY OF MY EQUIPMENT, ANY DAMAGES ON THE CAMERAS I WILL. BE DOING A DEDUCTION OF YOU RETURN MONEY" Can he claim damage on equipment if there is none or if it was already there? The camera is more than 5 years old and has plenty of nicks on the bottom of it already. But that is how I received it. One of the lenses had a rattle that I had mentioned to him in the first message after I opened the package. What should I do? take pics of everything I send? Or take a video?

[tarpedge]

eBay doesn't watch videos.

Now that you've declined the $500 on the table, quickly get the label on its way back to the seller before the deadline, and you will get a refund within 6 business days, or if not, ask a bot to step in.

[d-k_treasures]

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@*eponymous* wrote:

@missjen831 Feel free to pm me.

I posted a copy of the actual screen that comes up when you request a return.  There is nowhere on the form to get a refund for an elabel. Your issue appears to be with PayPal.

"Enrolling"  consists of clicking a link.

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All it says on your screenshot is "I paid the post office or a package delivery service".

It doesn't ask you HOW you paid for it ...

[lintbrush*]

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@7raindrops wrote:

I told the seller that I'm going to return all the gear. Now he replied "OK AS YOU WISH, NOW IF I SEE ANY SCRATCH. ON ANY OF MY EQUIPMENT, ANY DAMAGES ON THE CAMERAS I WILL. BE DOING A DEDUCTION OF YOU RETURN MONEY" Can he claim damage on equipment if there is none or if it was already there? The camera is more than 5 years old and has plenty of nicks on the bottom of it already. But that is how I received it. One of the lenses had a rattle that I had mentioned to him in the first message after I opened the package. What should I do? take pics of everything I send? Or take a video?

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The seller is just blowing smoke.  If you did everything through the eBay Return Process (sounds like you did), then the seller cannot withhold payment once the item has been returned.  If he tries, you "ask eBay to step in," and they'll force the full refund.

You have 5 business days to get it in the mailstream.  I'd write down the tracking number and probably take a pic of the label just in case eBay asks you to submit tracking/delivery proof even though they provided the label (yes, it happens)

Seller will have 6 business days to issue a full refund.

[ezziee]

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@7raindrops wrote:

What should I do? take pics of everything I send? Or take a video?

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Yes, take 'photos' to show you are returning in same condition as rec'd. If ebay asks for you to upload photos, they will compare your photos to the ones in the listing.  Also take photos at the same angle as the ones in the listing. Put a date reference on the photos.