The ebay window has closed. You only get 30 days from the estimated arrival date in which to open a claim with them.

Yes, try paypal. That has 180 days.

Keep the claim simple-item not as described, you have been in contact seller with seller since Dec but problem has not been resolved. Follow through with this claim.

In an ad, the item location is always easy to see & in your case it said Moorabbin.

You'll need to click on the seller's name and feedback score though and go to a new page to look at the 'about' section on the seller. That will show where the seller is registered.

Paypal may ask you to return the item to the seller. If the seller gave an address in China though, refuse and point out the item was located in Moorabbin and you will only return to Moorabbin or similar.

With ebay, a seller with items located in Aust would need to provide a postage label to you for a return (at their own cost). I am not sure how it works with paypal but find out.

The seller has only a few days in which to reply. If he doesn't reply at all, you may get a refund without having to return it. In fact, depending on how long you have been with paypal, you may get an automatic refund on the spot, if you have never asked for one before.

But whatever happens, hold out for a refund, do not accept any offer of a replacement.

Warranties on ebay are usually worthless. I don't think most buyers realise that, but as you are seeing, after 30 days a seller can pretty well ignore you and neither ebay nor paypal cover warranty issues.

That is why you need to keep your claim simple and state that the item was faulty from the start.