Seller wants to send replacement instead of return

[centennialofthreads]

I received damage goods that I requested to return through the proper channels. I sent photos of damaged item. This is how the seller replied...

Hello, dear buyer, I am very sorry, can you try to open the package to help us check what products are damaged? If the products are damaged, can you take some photos to show us the damaged products and the white shipping label on the package? We need to file a claim with the logistics company. We hope you can help us.
If we check the pictures to make sure it is damaged , you don't have to return it to us, we can resend you a new one, so can you help us to open the package and check all the products?
Thank you very much.

I had already sent photos of the visible damage. The boxes were pretty much destroyed, but held together with 2 straps and a load of tape (I'm wondering if these had not already been a return because of all the tape.) I don't want to further open this package if I can keep from it. I do not want a replacement, I do not want to keep the damaged items (solar panels) they may still work, I don't know, I don't care. It will take a lot on my part to connect and see. The boxes are a very inferior cardboard. The control panel had no packing around it and was just flopping loose in the box. I do not want to further deal with this seller.  There is no way to know if the next ones would arrive ok, but seeing these with next to no protective padding I don't want to deal with it. I kinda feel like the seller is brushing my return request off. At first I contacted him directly to let him know there was a damage problem. Then I went through proper channels for a return right after that. I've never requested a return before so it's all new to me! Does his request for me to open these boxes further sound reasonable when it's already obvious there is damage without doing so?

[dqdistribution]

Ignore the seller, wait for your return to be open for 3 days and then ask ebay to step in. EBay will tell them to provide a label or they will refund and you can keep.

You don't have to do anything to return other than send it back once he provides a return label.

https://www.ebay.com/help/buying/default/ask-ebay-to-step-in?id=4701

[albertabrightalberta]

@centennialofthreads 

Without knowing the listing, item or seller, based on the seller's message, I'm going to guess that the seller is in a certain Asian country that starts with "C" and you will never get the replacement or a refund if you let him drag the request past 30 days. 

If you haven't opened an official return request, do so and if the seller doesn't issue a refund or a prepaid shipping label for the return, request that ebay step in.

[centennialofthreads]

"C", would be correct, lol.

I have opened a return request. He instead wants me to jump through a bunch of hoops. Nope, just want my money back. I can open a case on the 13th if he doesn't come through with a shipping label.

[centennialofthreads]

After once again requesting I open the packages and see if the panels work, I told him I want a shipping label, I'm sending them back. He finally responded with the label and the request that I package them carefully so no more damage is done and nothing becomes missing. If I had opened those packages, I have the feeling he would have claimed he received them with parts missing, or poor packing on my part further damaged them.  If anything is missing, I did not do it. Going to take them to a professional shipping service that I'm willing to pay for, just so he can't claim further damage or missing parts. Return goes to New Jersey??!! 

[stainlessenginecovers]

Taking them to 'anyone' proves nothing. Just ship them back as you got them. You can also tell the seller that you are doing just that; you are not opening them any further and you are not 'repacking' anything as that is not your job. Obviously if they are 'hanging out' of the package, you will want to secure them ONLY from falling out. 

[pargran3]

Do not use anything to ship those back except the label provided by the seller!

Believe it or not, it will never be inspected by the seller. It will show as returned by the tracking. Ta da.

[pargran3]

I made an assumption that the label was issued through eBay. Was it?

[dqdistribution]

Even if the seller does inspect, and tries to get out of a refund, it makes no difference.

You just let eBay know, state 'Seller provided label' 'tracking shows delivered' and like you said ta da.

This buyer is a little more paranoid, probably because the seller has been saying so much.

This is why I refuse to communicate with sellers. If they send me a message, I just repy 'Please approve return and provide a return shipping label'.

I will repeat that over and over if they continue to send messages and until eBay allows me to ask for them to step in.

[ms.rodriguez*]

IGNORE the seller.   He is trying to string you along.  Ask for a refund and tell the seller after you get your refund, you will re-buy the item. Of course, do NOT do that.  Buy from someone else.