Received item not working

[GameofPhones]

I have let the buyer know and she said she will refund me. Should I return the item? She hasn't asked me to, and since the item is a dud there seems no point.

Have you opened an official return request?

No, just contacted the seller, as I understand is the required first step.

Open an official return request via eBay. It’s important to do everything through the correct channels. Then the seller can refund you, and provide a pre paid postage label for you to return the item, if they want it back.

Thankyou for this, I didn't realise Ebay had changed their procedure.

They haven’t. However, it used to be the case that opening a case (Aka return request) would automatically mean a defect for the seller, so it was considered etiquette to try and resolve the issue without opening a case., but unfortunately this leaves buyers open to being scammed as eBay won’t get involved with disputes unless they are logged through their resolution centre. However a few years ago ebay changed their policy so that it’s only an unresolved case that results in a defect. This means there is no point in contacting the seller before hand.