I purchased a vintage lens that was described as having signs of wear but in "perfect condition" otherwise. No returns offered. There were sample photos taken with it that looked totally clean from it, as well as slightly blurry photos of the lens itself where no major issues optically could be seen.
Upon receiving the lens, I discovered that it is filled with small dark flecks of debris inside the lens that, by my standards, ruin the lens. I took pictures with the lens to demonstrate this with photos of a blank surface and a more everyday photo so you can see how the many dark spots marr photos taken with the lens, as well as some better pictures of the lens itself showing all the dark, opaque debris inside it. I explained to the seller that the condition is so bad I can't use the lens to take clear photos in this condition, so I believe this doesn't qualify as "perfect condition." And I offered to pay return shipping if needed, since I don't want to put him out.
The seller has replied by refusing my request, saying the lens is okay, and uploaded the blurry photos of the lens as well as some he took with the camera; the blurry photos don't show the defects clearly (it looks much cleaner than in my better quality pics), and you can't see them in the photos he says he took with the camera (perhaps true, if he had totally different settings, aperture, etc.). He did offer me a partial refund, roughly 20% of the purchase price.
His response, while polite and non-confrontational in wording, is in essence calling me a liar and suggesting that my photos demonstrating the lens can't take photos not full of defects are not authentic given his clean, clear photos he took with the lens. My photos of the lens itself are also different enough looking from his that it's a little hard to reconcile, but I suppose lighting and blurriness could account for his looking so much better.
I have about 100 feedback items, he has about 500, both of us 100% positive but his are mostly sales, mine purchases. This feels like his word against mine, and I know I'm being truthful but he has what would be fairly convincing photo evidence to the contrary for somebody at eBay who is not particularly familiar with camera lenses. And I have to imagine there are eBay buyers who do pull things like this dishonestly, so what I don't know is if I will win or not. He has already left me positive feedback for prompt payment.
My question is, should I take his offered 20% refund money and run, or continue pushing for a full refund and return? The 20% refund is enough that I probably could come out of this whole if I resell the unusable lens and buy a new one, though it's obviously going to be a huge amount of trouble to do that.
Thank you for reading, I'd appreciate any insight. I never wanted to make things hard on this seller, and I imagine he is sincere in trying to satisfy me with a partial refund and believing he's in the right, but he sold something described as "perfect condition" that is so bad I can't use it, so I'm not sure what my best option is in this situation.
