What is fair to ask for refund?

[PooseGimples]

I won an item earlier this week and as a postage option was not offered, arranged for a courier to collect it and deliver it to me which was fine with the seller. It's a large item and this cost £40. When I received he item it's not what was advertised- it's similar but has substantial differences. I've pointed this out and the seller is in agreement with me so has asked what I would like to do, but hasn't suggested anything. The item only cost just over £30 so asking for a refund of delivery charges seems silly- but I wouldn't have bought the item at all if it had been correctly listed. And it will cost another £40 to return to get a refund :( What's fair in this instance?

I thinki it's entirely fair to ask for a refund! They should also refund your courier charge and THEY should pay to get their item returned to them.

I agree they should pay all costs.

I once took issue with someone who sold me a faux suede Primark bag with a broken zip as an 'unbranded suede used once'.

The seller initially tried to tell me I'd still had a bargain as I'd won it for 99p despite their mistake but I stood my ground and got a full refund plus postage costs both ways.

The point is, as you say, you'd never have bid on the item had it been properly described. They should pay for the mistake they made.

If you ask for a refund you lose two lots of postage the initial courier charge and the return charge, find out how much the actual item you have sells for on eBay via Advanced Search and offer that less a fiver for your troubles, you can always relist.