I bought an item, it arrived broken but the seller said it is my fault.

[WeAreEternal]

I bought a new screen for my DP's Iphone which he broke. (my DBRO knows how to replace them)

The new screen arrived two weeks ago, but Dbro had been busy so I didn't open it I just gave it to him, at the weekend (2w1d since receiving) he opened the screen planning to replace it, but when he removed the screen protector on the new screen he found that it had two cracks across the screen.

We assume that it happened in the post, as it was only wrapped in a small amount of bubble wrap in an envelope.

So I contacted the seller, I explained the situation, he basically said 'you received the screen two weeks ago, you've obviously broken it since then, thats your problem not mine'
I explained that it hadn't been opened until sunday as DBro wasn't able to fix it until then, but the seller didn't accept that, he just accused me of lying.

I know I'm going to have to file a dispute, which I told the seller I was willing to do, but he just said "You don't have a case, paypal won't refund someone who received the item TWO WEEKS ago and just 'discovered' that it was broken, they are not stupid."

I am happy to return, I would rather have a replacement than a refund, I still need the new screen.

Any advice?

you have 45 days to complain so the seller is wrong

open the dispute, mark the box other and write in next to it refund, then you should be given a refund without the need for a return

then shop elsewhere is my advice

and of course leave appropriate feedback and stars - your seller is rubbish I reckon

Thanks Fergoose, I can sort of see his point, it is unusual to receive an item and wait two weeks to open/use it. However, the cracks were only visible once the plastic screen protector type thing had been removed, so even if I had inspected it as soon as I received it DBro said the cracks may have not been seen.

and the inadequate packaging would suggest it is the sellers fault