Issues with 30 days free returns/ buyer manipulation / no seller protection?

[partfinds]

I am a Top Rated Seller Plus accept 30 days free retuns to take advantage of seller protection. I got a buyer with 0 feedback who boughg pricy heavy to ship to FL Item that was fully tested on multiple occasions and I recorded a video at the time of shipping to prove it is as described and operating as it should. Buyer shortly after receiving it opens a case for not as described claiming something is missing and uploading picture of the back of my item That looks  exactly as the one in my listing; meaning nothing is Missing and is different. Buyer send me message with personal phone number and Ebay doesn’t reactnwhen alerted. I replied I don’t communicate outside of Ebay and asked what is wrong. Buyer never responded. To top it off  Ebay made it more complicated by not allowing me to purchase label through ebay and asking me to upload my own (although buye is US buyer and meets all requirements). After contacting  Ebay I was told to wait. Meantime, To my suprise I am finding my item at my doorstep all soggy from all day rain. Buyer didn’t bother letting me know they shipped the item back. I was already on the verge and had enough of this **bleep** so I went to give buyer partial refund as the case was falsely opened and everything was good with my item. To add more, Ebay didn’t give  me the option to refund partially although I am  a TRP SELLER AND OFFERED 30 DAYS FREE RETURNS TO GET PROTECTION ON FALSE CASE LIKE THAT ( in my category it is 90% of those false returns although I accept any) . Any thoughts? Anyone in the same boat recently?I had cases of this sort when I just started and din’t accept returns but what happened now?  I recetly joined managed payments and get a feeling it screwed everything for me including long time multiple holds and transfer delays. Also Covid-19 extended deadlines for returns are such an abuse and lie. Money is on hold for more than 30 days and paypal/ebay hides that so you can’t see it when you go to your on hold tab (You literally have to find transaction to see that they hold your money). Crazy,  such an abuse for sellers! I didn’t close my door for even 1 day During that time and ship the next day.   Also the 

[partfinds]

I also want to mention that I prepay partial refunds That I give  by paying Extra  5% to ebay on every single item as a punishment for all those falsely filed cases. Ebay lies about protecting us sellers during Covid-19 from metrics. Every single case filed is added to my report/list and Every one counts even if it is filed falsely. I am so disgusted already.

[partfinds]

I also want to mention that I prepay partial refunds That I give  by paying Extra  5% to ebay on every single item as a punishment for all those falsely filed cases. Ebay lies about protecting us sellers during Covid-19 from metrics. Every single case filed is added to my report/list and Every one counts even if it is filed falsely. I am so disgusted already.

[stuff_from_dylan]

I'm pretty sure that the buyer just lost his buyer protection by shipping back the item without you officially accepting the return. Now, accept the return and give him a label (you can get this refunded later) and he can't send anything. Therefore, you'll get his money still, I think. Someone check me on this, but I'm pretty sure the OP can do this.

[koinonia215]

All the buyer would need to do is upload the tracking number on the return package. The seller cannot keep the item and all the buyer's money.

Also to the OP, taking a video doesn't protect you with ebay. They won't even consider it. In addition, things can happen during shipping that could cause an item to stop working properly. Have you thoroughly checked it since the return? I wonder if they are not allowing a partial refund due to the tracking number not having been uploaded to the case yet? Just some thoughts.

[tdumonde2014]

When you offer "30 Day Free Returns", the buyer doesn't need a reason to return the item. Should the buyer return the item and there's a problem with the condition of the item, you would be allowed to deduct up to 50%. However, since it was a SNAD return you can't deduct anything. As far as the package being wet, that would not be the buyer's issue,  that would be your issue. You need to provide a safe place for the item to be delivered, safe would include a dry place for it to be left.

[partfinds]

I accepted return. I was not able to buy ebay label. Ebay blocked it. I chatted with reps they said it won’t be taken against me.