also, if the listing sold at 5.10pm on the 23rd it is highly unlikely that it would be posted and received by close of business on the 25th, so it must have been picked up.

In that case, the item should have been inspected at time of pickup.  If it wasn’t as described it should not have been taken, especially a $500 item.

My guess, and this is only a guess, the OP got someone else to pick it up for them.  They know their stuff, and wouldn’t have accepted the sticker condition without saying something at pickup (I say this based on the tone of their posts, and the removed feedback).

Regardless of who picked it up, for pickup items you always inspect at pickup and sort out any differences of opinion regarding condition.  If agreement is not met with the seller the buyer should walk away without the item.  Even if they paid by PayPal they can receive a refund of their payment on a pickup item for Item Not Received, and if they took cash with them then don’t hand over the cash.