@dexterb-41
you can file the claim and provide pictures of the damage and the associated damage on the box
take photos of the outside of the box and the lens inside the box with the packing material
be sure to show any crushed part of the box or any puncture holes or tears. Also the damage on the lens.
In almost any case they are not going to need or request you hand over the lens.
you can do it all online.
provide a copy of the ebay sales receipt either as a photo or a pdf, your photos of the box and lens damage
then provide a written statement somewhere along the lines of "the lens was packaged very carefully with more than 2" of protection on all sides, this item should never have been damaged if it was handled properly, please do better!"
the rest is just providing any other data, like make/type/etc
once you have submitted everything, then you just have to wait it's not a overnight process if you do not get any updates after 7-10 days, then call them and provide the claim number and ask what is the status of the claim. If they say they are denying the claim inquire why and question it (be courteous and calm, don't start cussing and screaming that is not going to help), if need be ask for a claims supervisor, don't take no for an answer, the more you squeak the more they are going to bend if the denial was something they pulled out of thin air, if it is not automatically approved then they may still pay out and say something to the effect of a "one time courtesy" which is fine but it's **bleep**
As long as your not a person filling claims all the time then they start looking harder at everything.
**as a fail safe though retain the lens and packaging (as-is) until you get paid out, then you can proceed as desired
