Item not as described

[MikeUniformMike]

'Won' something listed as high grade leather on Ebay and collected it. It's not leather.I didn't realise at the time.

I haven't given the transaction code to the seller.

The item is nice but I wanted it in real leather, not in faux leather, and it was intended to replace a similar faux leather item.

I could open an item not as described, but I drove a round trip of 60 miles to collect it.

Any suggestions?

Do you think you'd have much luck selling it on and making your money back?

Otherwise I expect the solutions offered would either be:
Return it for a refund
Accept a partial refund and keep the item

Given that you actually collected it, I'm struggling to see why you picked something up you didn't want. Surely you should have refused it at the door?!

How did you pay? Cash on collection or PayPal?

I paid with Paypal.

I accepted it because it looked like leather until I opened it and it very obviously wasn't. I should have noticed the weight and feel of it but it was warm, and TBH I don't have much sensitivity in one hand. The cost of the journey was probably nearly the same as the item, as would returning it by Royal Mail .

I could try re-selling it and giving bad feedback.

I would open up a case with eBay and see where that gets you. If the item is not as described then you should have a case.

Thanks for the replies.

I think what ebay will say is that I should contact the seller. I feel a bit of a prat. I noticed as soon as I got back to my car and was in two minds as to whether to go back and tell the seller, but I had wasted time and money going there.

It's not so much the money as to having been fooled.

I could raise an item not received case, but I'm not normally dishonest.

@MikeUniformMike the seller messed up to be honest. It’s not advised to take PayPal for collection items as it’s so easy for a buyer to claim it was never received. If you’ve messaged them on eBay about it not being leather then you won’t get very far but if you haven’t you’ll find it easier to get a refund if you claim not received.

Update: I got a partial refund for about 20% of what I paid, which covers the cost of collecting it, and I can re-sell it properly described, so I suppose that's OK.

Another update: Apparently the refund didn't go through.

Have you opened a case with eBay?

Yes. I got a partial money, but it didn't go through. I'll get them to chase it.

I had ebay refund for a refunded item despite me not having received the item. It is at the parcel office, which is on very limited opening hours. Item was fine when I sent it out but apparently was so old it was crumbling in the washing machine.

Both of these were buyer with very little feedback, and I had an issue a few weeks ago with a seller with hardly any feedback.
You need feedback as a buyer, because a seller can't leave bad feedback.

The other issue I have found is a signed for parcel sent to a click and collect. Buyer didn't receive it, and seller (me) had it tracked as delivered. It was at a parcel office.

I’m surprised the partial refund was as little as 20% given the difference In price that leather/faux leather normally commands.

Sorry, my mistake, I meant 80%.
The refund didn't go through.

I think it was more a pride thing. I'd driven all that way to collect an amazing bargain and now there's this large fake leather thing I don't need or want.
It looks quite nice, so I'll probably re-sell it.

It was one of those auctions ending at about 10.30 on a Saturday night, and maybe he was hoping for a few prosecco bids.