Curious outcome of a INAD

[Anonymous]

I recently bought a movie and the seller sent me a different version of the movie than what they described and what was pictured.  I messaged them about it along with some photos.  They accepted that the wrong item had been sent and they would send the correct one.  A week later still no replacement so open an INAD request.  They immediate reply its no longer available, send the original back and they will refund.  I replied as its a INAD they should pay return postage.  They immediately escalate it to a case.  eBay steps in resolves it in my favour.

Now for the bit that I find odd.   eBay state that they will (and have) pay the return postage cost.  Why?? seller was clearly in the wrong. The seller is large but not huge, so if you sell a 100 items a month eBay pays the return postage?

Item was NOT eBayplus and neither am I.. 

[digital*ghost]

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@Anonymous wrote:

will they get a ding as well for asking eBay to step in?

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Yes, this is called a case closed without seller resolution, even if they actually come good afterwards, and is quite a serious defect - because of that, as a general rule, the first time a seller asks eBay to step in, is the last time they do (unless their case is 100% rock solid, but even then most sellers with any experience with the MBG will call eBay rather than leave it to the [largely] automated system), so my guess is the seller is not particularly experienced with transaction issues. Either that, or they are deliberately sabotaging themselves.