Return privately or through ebay?

[mywifesbargains]

I bought an Asus zenfone recently. The title was not working for parts but the description said no such thing.
I emailed the seller and was assured this phone will work that he had to title it that way due to not being sealed in box and no ear buds included, I kept this email.

Upon arrival I turned the phone on and it immediately started clicking things all on its own like a virus. 
I restarted and it seemed ok. however after about 5 mins of use it starts again. I did a system reset to factory and again the same issue. After more research of the Asus --it turns out that is one issue they have never fixed the ghost clicking thing. 

I informed the seller and he wants me to send him the item back privately and after he inspects it he may give me a partial refund.

My concern is that he could say I never sent it. How can I return the item and protect myself?
I have not left feedback yet.

Thank you

[corvettestainless]

Open an official Ebay return as 'not as described' (go to my ebay, log in, purchases, little blue 'return' button on the right of that item.)

[fern*wood]

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@mywifesbargains wrote:

I informed the seller and he wants me to send him the item back privately and after he inspects it he may give me a partial refund.

Don't do that.  Go through the normal return process.

[bearswatching]

He “may” give you a partial refund. Will you be happy if he sends you a dollar? Never ever take a transaction off eBay! Partial refunds rarely go well. Open a SNAD (significally not as described) in the resolution center. He will be forced to send you a return label. Follow the timelines for return. Again, keep it all within eBay so you are protected.

[vikingsandpintos]

Sounds like both sides have blame. If it was listed "As is/for parts", then of course you don't have a claim when it doesn't work!

But the seller shouldn't have said in an email that it would work.

Either way, going off Ebay is a bad idea. I believe though if you file a SNAD, you will lose, since it was listed as is.

It's a mess! Hopefully you learn from this that you get what you pay for.   Too many people are looking for "That deal"

Good luck to you!

[1tuna]

when you hit the return button you are the one in control of things,if you were to send it back without doing an actual return it could end up being a problem for you.

stay in control of things and hit the return button,that is how ebay prefers that you do it.

choose not as described and make sure you are sent a free return label,you should be good to go then

[7606dennis]

Did you email the seller or contact them through eBay messages?  If the listing stated that the item was being sold as not working, for parts only, failure of the phone to work would not something that would justify a "not as described return."  That the seller advised you that the phone would work, if made outside of eBay messages, may make things difficult because eBay would not be able to verify what the seller had told you.

My advice, always handle eBay matters through eBay.

[express_commerce]

@mywifesbargains 

As a seller, I never go off eBay for anything.

Don't do an off the book return. You wouldn't know if this seller will honor the agreement. It sounds like he misrepresented the item, so i don't see why you would trust that he would actually refund you.

[mywifesbargains]

Thank you.

I have started the process and got a label right away from ebay.
I have only ever had to return 1 item to ebay. I love shopping ebay for electronics. I dont fault the seller yet lol the issue with the phone stems from the Asus system. I should had stuck with LG lol.

I feel better going through ebay for the return process. Thank you again for reassuring me that that is the right way to go.

[coast_of_maine_antiques]

IF the seller is pulling stuff like this, I doubt (s)he is top rated- so no option for the seller to send a partial refund- assuming the return is all done through eBay