Buyer requested return

[BeauticianNotMagician81]

Hi I wonder if anyone can help. I have been an eBay member for 11 years with great feedback.

Last week I sold a camera. I only bought the camera on 11th July but decided I wanted a higher spec one as this was just a point and shoot. I only used it once or twice. I checked it over. Removed my memory card and packaged it up. The buyer is stating that when he unpackaged it the battery compartment was hanging open. I clarified this not just open but hanging open and that when he closed it a bit came away and now it won't close.

I haven't issued a refund as something doesn't sit right. It's clearly pictured in the listing with the camera compartment closed and I took a pic of it packaged and you can see that the battery compartment isn't open as it's flush around the camera. Also he stated it came away when he closed it not that it had already come away. I'm sure it's just buyers remorse as he was quite funny about the postage even though I paid £2 more postage than I charged him and he bought on a Sunday before the bank holiday so I couldn't post it until the Wednesday which I told him.

Is there anything I can do? I'm so annoyed that eBay seem to side with the buyer and I'm going to be left without the money or an item

Yes unfortunately ebay do tend to side with the buyer but You won't be left without the money or the item, as long as you don't ignore this.

Has the buyer opened an official return request yet? If no, get him to do so and refund in full once you get it back then block the buyer.

I wish I could offer more positive advice that that, but that's the best thing you can do in this situation. Ignoring or fighting the return request will just end in disaster (well a defect on your account and the risk of negative feedback)

It's so annoying that I will now receive back a faulty item 😡. I don't know whether to just take the risk and see what EBay say and then cancel my eBay account if I receive a default

It's much easier to just pawn stuff than eBay and a lot less hassle.

fight it if you want, but there's not much point, you won't win. Frustrating I know but that's the way ebay works.
However one defect isn't worth closing your account down?

If you've been an eBay user for 11 years and this is the first time you've had a problem then you're doing pretty well!