Item not as described. Now seller wants to cancel transaction

[amistillsexy]

I bought an old (as in, back catalogue, used) playmobil set for my Ds. It was described as being in the box, and had the product code quoted. The description said it was 'in nice condition with nothing broken....comes with all you can see in the picture'.
The picture showed a whole load of bits, as it's one of the 'add-on' sets with lots of little pieces .
When it came, it was not in the box, and 2 crucial bits were missing, meaning that the main part of the set didn't work.
In one of the 2 pictures the figures had been placed so that it looked as though this part could be built to be free standing, but on closer inspection it can be seen that they'd used the figures to make the part stand up.
The main photo does not show the missing pieces as being there, but the description doesn't say specifically that pieces are missing, IYSWIM.
I have written to playmobil and am hopeful that I will be able to order the missing bits from their back catalogue.
Rather than leave neg feedback straight away, I wrote to the seller saying I was disappointed that the pieces were missing, and that I thought he had not been honest in his listing. I said I was in contact with Playmo to order the pieces, and it was going to cost me probably the same as I'd paid for the set too get the bits. I didn't ask for anything from him, but expected an apology (or even 'Oh, I've found those bits, i'll send them on'!). He sells alot of Playmo, and seems to be doing it as a business, not just privately.
Anyway, he has now sent me a 'seller has cancelled the transaction' notice from ebay, with no message or explaination (reason: 'other'). Does this mean I have to send the Playmo back? I don't want to, as he has a policy of not paying postage for returns (he says on his ebay pages), and the postage both ways is morethan the item cost.
I'm confused. I just wanted an apology and now I don't know what I'm supposed to do.
Any advice gratefully recieved!

Wow! I have never heard of cancelling the transaction, so I am no help at all. On the 'items you have won' list is there an icon that says he has issued a refund?

I wonder if it is a loophole that means that he can't be left negative feedback by you.

How cheeky to do that to you but not tell you if he was going to give you the money back!

If you want to keep the stuff I would ignore it I think. I would leave negative feedback as he has left you in a right pickle and the whole point of the feedback system is so warn others.

cancelling a transaction is something that is done before payment and posting - he has got this wrong so don't click the agree button. Cancelling will get him his fees back.
I'd send another message saying he seems to have made an error as he has sent a cancellation request by mistake instead of sending a partial refund.

If you do want a full refund then you will get the full amount you paid (inc p&p) it doesn't matter what he says on his listing. You would need to return by trackable means and unfortunately it is up to him whether he refunds the return postage.

maybe ask him which he would prefer to do? issue a partial refund to cover the cost of the missing bits or issue a full refund including return postage. If it comes to it you could point out that as he is obviously trading as a business you are entitled to full return postage costs

You can cancel it whenever, as long as the buyer has not gone for a refund through paypal. You can also still leave neg feedback. tbh if he hasn't even contacted you, i think hes is trying to make you believe you cant leave him feedback.

I think you will find he has issued you with a full refund, through paypal (check your account), and has issued a cancelled transaction to recover his fees, in conjunction with not wanting you to send it back.

It is what I would do, although I would follow it up with an apologetic email telling you how sorry I was and to keep the original item.

Thanks everyone, for your help on this. In fact, the seller did just what you said, hohumhohum, and e-mailed me telling me he'd made a mistake and he'd give me a refund but to keep the item. He's now refunded the money and I've cancelled the transaction.