eBay closed claim, issued refund, now seller is asking for item back. What do I do?

[be-like-water]

I purchased an item which sadly arrived damaged due to terrible packaging, but on top of that the item, which was listed as 'in excellent condition' doesn't function at all. After much trouble trying to communicate with the seller (three weeks I tried to contact her and she didn't respond), I opened an eBay claim. The seller finally replied and negotiations began, but the seller only wanted to argue that the item was in perfect condition when's he sent it. Then I received a message from eBay saying that the case had been closed and a refund issued due to the item not matching the seller's description. I assumed it was all sorted but now, a week later, the seller has contacted me asking me to return the item.
What is the best way to handle this? I don't want to cause the seller any grief but this whole situation has been such a stress for weeks now. Am I obligated to send the item back after the case has been closed. I paid a fortune in postage which turned out to be terribly inadequate in protecting the item. I don't want to have to fork out more money after already being put through such a debacle.
How would you handle it?
Thanks a bunch 🙂

[cupcake15]

What? In paypal claims, You suppose to send the item back before you get a full refund.

Guess things are different with ebay claims.

Might as well throw the item in the bin unless the seller pays for the shipping since the seller have no leverage over you anyway.

[kzb888]

You got your refund so now send it back otherwise you have stollen the item from the seller.

[be-like-water]

I didn't get the postage back, though 😞

[bakeandfry]

First of all ebay dont just send you a message closing a case and giving a refund without the case being escalated ( im happy for someone to correct me on that), you got a full refund, therefore that item is not legaly yours, dont follow kuromusha 1 advice, there are actions a seller can follow on, talk to your seller, send them a picture of the item if need be, just follow your instincs....

[be-like-water]

Yes I thought it was strange, too, but assumed that eBay must have had discussions with the seller to reach an agreement. When I received it, I thought that perhaps the batteries just needed replacing but on putting new batteries in, it still didn't work. I'm happy to return it if the seller agrees to pay return post but she is reluctant to offer any olive branch for what has happened. I don't want to be 'stealing' anything but unfortunately kuromusha1 is right about one thing, the item is only good for the bin and I'm still at a loss either way.

[kzb888]

If you didn't get the postage back then that means the seller needs to pay for return postage,so you need to advise the seller that as they still have the money they need to refund it too you so you can then return the item.

[cupcake15]

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@bakeandfry wrote:
First of all ebay dont just send you a message closing a case and giving a refund without the case being escalated ( im happy for someone to correct me on that), you got a full refund, therefore that item is not legaly yours, dont follow kuromusha 1 advice, there are actions a seller can follow on, talk to your seller, send them a picture of the item if need be, just follow your instincs....

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pssf... like what? Stop talking like you're a lawyer, to be convict of anything, you need action and intention. There are no intent nor the act of theft. So it's not theft. 

The buyer have no intention of keeping the broken item, as long as the seller pay for the postage for sending it back, the buyer will postage it back, therefore there is no intention of theft. 

Law knowledge fail. 

Australian consumer law clearly states that consumer are entitle to a full refund and other expenses associated with the goods is not fit. 

So yeah, don't send the item back until you receive postage payment, otherwise you're out the pocket for no fault of your own.

[*sparklz*]

The seller can send a label for you to print out where they pay the postage to return the item.

Contact the seller and ask them to send you the money to return the item if photos is not enough proof of item not as described.

It is wrong that you are refunded without returning the item to the seller.

In the past a buyer had to return the item at their cost to get a refund including the postage cost.

If ebay refunded you then that refund should have also included the postage or did the seller do the refund less the postage?

If the dispute was escalated to a claim and if you had been asked by ebay to return the item then when you can prove the costs to return it ebay will refund you if the seller does not and they then add that cost to the sellers next invoice.

[kzb888]

That law is only if your a business