Hi Folks, I've sold a table to a buyer (£420). I drove 140 miles to deliver table. On arrival the Buyer carried table top upstairs. I brought the table legs. I had offered to fit the legs for him in earler correspondence but he declined. However, he now requested I fit legs. During the fitting all was explained including the extending mechanism and the extension leaf which he held in place while I screwed on legs which took 45 mins. After a few minutes he stepped away from the table, allowing the extension leaf to drop, hitting the adjacent wall. He exclaimed it was his fault verbally and later in a text message. Less than an hour after delivery, I received a series of messages and photos saying the table was damaged with paint marks along the table leaf corners and some lacquer damage. This was clearly the result of paint transfer where the leaf hit the wall while under his control. He has now suddenly initiated the infamous eBay Return Request which requires me to pay for the table collection and refund his money. He highlighted the reason as Item Not As Described, including photos of the marks. He did not mention that he had actually caused the damage! Naturally eBay have quoted policy verbatum so I'm now forced to drive 140 miles to collect the table. I'm told I then have two days to lodge an eBay appeal,during which time the £420 remains suspended in Managed Payments. I can foresee a situation where I have a unsellable table damaged by the Buyer and he gets a full refund. Disgusting! I don't have any faith that eBay will even allow an appeal, given their well known bias against Sellers. I have however raised a fraudulent claim case with eBay as the Buyer did not mention he caused damage that prompted his Return Request. If it all goes sideways I intend to take him to Small Claims Court. Would appreciate any advice for the way forward. Thanks in anticipation John
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