Item arrived broken. Advice please

[DonnaRoll]

I purchased an item from an Ebay seller but it has arrived broken. Item was sent via Royal Mail and almost certainly has been broken during the delivery process.
I have been buying and selling for nearly 10 years and this is the first time this has ever happened.
How would I proceed now?
TIA

I'd contact the seller first of all. They may want you to return it (and they should pay return postage) or may ask you for photos.

Keep the packaging as well as they may need it to claim from RM.

Thanks, I have kept the item in the packaging. I only opened part of it and didn't take it out as I was concerned I may cut myself (item is ceramic). I have emailed seller and said I will return or send pictures, they are going to obtain a claim form from RM and contact me tomorrow.

take photos anyway if ceramic to show it in box with bubble wrap and also to show it is clearly broken most sellers will just refund without return for ceramics as broken pottery is no use to anyone,

there is no need to open a case unless seller awkward, just ask if they actually want broken pieces back ( they won't) then they should refund after refund they will probably ask you to agree to cancel transaction which if they are reasonable you should agree to