Faulty, heavy item. Straight to Paypal case for a refund?

[TheHouseCleaner]

I've just bought a heavy (used) item from a private seller. It was delivered by courier and as soon as I took it from the box I realised it was faulty. It's an electric stove type fire which has nothing but tiny bits of protruding plastic where the operating switches should be.

The seller accepts returns (not that he could argue under these circumstances) but when I tried to follow ebay procedure for contacting the buyer wrt a faulty item I was given the options of asking for a partial refund, saying I still wanted the item or asking to return the item for a full refund.

A full refund is what I want but I don't want to have to pay ££s to return the thing to the seller. Overall I don't trust them - they surely should have checked the heater over before sending it out. They also said it would be cleaned up prior to dispatch but it's still dirty and sticky with some form of oily substance on the side (although I could deal with that if the thing worked)!

Would I be better off sidestepping contacting the seller and going straight to Paypal to open a not as described case and emphasise cost of returning the item?

if you contact the seller through the not as described option a case is automatically opened, and you have to tick one of the boxes saying what you want. I doubt you will get a refund without returning it tbh. You should talk to the seller though and give them option to resolve. You can't escalate for 8 days anyway.

Thank you.

And oh god. Oh Lordy!

I've just contacted the seller to complain.

Two minutes later I discovered the switches to the fire. They're not, as the instructions appear to indicate, on the back of it but to the side of the unit. What the odd pieces of plastic sticking out of the back are I have no idea but they're not switches!

I've since messaged the seller a second time to tell him what a complete muppet I am.