I'm looking for some opinions or advice on how to deal with a dodgy buyer please, I recently sold them a collectible figure which is plastic based in material, following the purchase the buyer was very chatty on messages within eBay and it felt like they were being too familiar, this triggered my suspicions that there would be complications once the figure was received.
Upon receiving the figure, I was contacted 3 days afterwards advising the figure smelt of smoke (only the figure though not the box or internal packaging), the figure itself has been in storage for 4 years+ in my loft, I've never smoked or vaped or used scented candles, so there was zero chance of this was possible and I would have noticed the odour when taking pictures of the figure.
During all the post-sale conversations with the buyer I have offered to take the item back and process a full reimbursement upon its return, although it’s taken them 5 days to finally decide and open a return case, likely stalling hoping for a partial refund offer first.
As the claim is intangible in nature as opposed to a normal breakage of a figure, it's difficult for me as a seller to disprove the buyer is lying. And whilst I'm 99% positive the buyer is lying, I know eBay side with buyers so it's easier for me just to accept the situation.
I've processed the return through eBay, even paid for the return postage label, the buyer advised they will post it within two to three working days once they're back from work. Now my question, if the figure is not returned and the buyer claims it was lost in the post (UK Royal Mail), will I get any form of protection from eBay as I've followed all their processes for the return of the item?
All my instincts tell me this buyer is a scammer and the figure is unlikely to arrive back with me.
