I've bought an item not as described (ie broken)

[Disappointedbuyer]

but I don't know what to do. I like the item and I could pay to have it repaired, but it was clearly broken before it was sent - it was not the sort of damage that would have occurred in the post.

The item was described as in "excellent condition". I would have been happy with the price I paid had it been in excellent condition, but it isn't. I don't know whether to ask for a refund as I do like the item. I could easily have it repaired, but the repair would detract from the appearance of the item. The item is currently unusable. I have never left negative feedback before. When I have on the odd occasion bought something that wasn't exactly as described I have just not left any feedback. I have not bought loads on ebay and I am about to start selling on there so I am mindful that I want good feedback. I don't think sellers can leave negative feedback for buyers any more, can they? I just don't like the stressy exchanges you read when a buyer leaves negative feedback. I paid immediately. The seller had 100% positive feedback.

I am very annoyed because the seller is taking the piss. I don't know whether to suck it up and get it repaired or ask for a refund. I suppose the real issue is that I would not have paid that price had I know it was damaged, but I can't ask for a partial refund, can I? I also fully expect the seller to say it was fine when she posted it, but I don't see how it can have been.

WWYD?

BTW, I am a regular but have namechanged.

I haven't contacted them yet - the item has just arrived. I am just posting here to get advice before I do anything. Thank you - I didn't know you could get a partial refund.

I would politely email the seller explaining that the item has arrived damaged and offer to send them a photo of the damage. You could say that you like the item, but if you were to keep it you would have to get it repaired and so could you have a partial refund, if not you will return the item for a full refund, and see what they reply.

If they do not reply in a satisfactory manner (and if it was something I'd sold I'd be falling over myself to apologise and make you happy) then you can open an item not as desrcibed case through ebay.

Thanks, I will take a photo and try to compose an email. I feel so uncomfortable about this sort of thing!

I bend over backwards to help sellers out & refund them if something arrives broken.

We had a film camera we used for years which the buyer found had a crack in the casing. It must have been like that much of the time we used it, but we never noticed since it worked fine for us.

I sent something off intact (part of a techno gizmo) but it arrived in pieces in spite of no damage to packaging. Buyer was very shirty, left me neutral f/back even though I refunded him as soon as he sent a picture. Thing is, I found other part of that gizmo soon afterwards that was also inexplicably in pieces: I think the rubber just up and expired without warning, causing the different parts to disintegrate! Very strange. Of course i wouldn't have sold it intentionally in such a state. But it's a risk when selling one's old "stuff".