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@amber-eyed-girl wrote:

 

 

 

 

There used to be a thing where if you opened a Paypal claim, the item has to be as received. So not changed/opened/whatever in any way. I looked at the terms just now and couldn't find it.

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It's still there, but not as explicit (or general) as it maybe used to be - this is what they list as qualifiers for SNAD:

Significantly not as described

S11.1 An item may be considered “significantly not as described” if:

The item is completely different to that represented by the seller at the point of sale;
The condition of the item is significantly different to how it was described;
The item is unusable and was not disclosed as such. (Note, this applies to the item in its received state.);
The item is not authentic and was not disclosed as such; or
The item is missing a major portion or quantity.

Which is basically suggesting that if something stops working after it's been received / used, it doesn't count as SNAD. 

Whether or not PP will consider a watch in a case like this as SNAD is kind of 50/50 (JMHO, which should not be taken as gospel). A jeweller may say there are (seemingly unspecified) "faults", but if the watch looks, and is working, as described, it doesn't seem like it would meet any of the criteria for SNAD, unless the inner workings of the watch were in some way or another described as completely  "fault free". 

That's the one!

With the watch though...opening it will have broken the watertight seals...so could be considered as damaging the item after receipt. If was in fine working order and no need to open it except to look.

That's why I was interested in mechanical/quartz, too. A buyer might open an expensive watch to check that the movement was original, if a mechanical, as it is a considerable proportion of the overall value. If switched for a quartz...then they have a case (not relevant here as a quartz).

Ask them for the written report made by the jeweller. If they refuse then tell them you are not prepared to make a partial refund and that if they want a full refund they must return the watch. Tell them that once you have checked the serial number and hidden security marks to confirm it is the same watch you will refund in full if your jeweller confirms there is a fault, if they say there is no fault then you will either post the watch back to them on receipt of the cost of postage or you will issue a refund of the item price only less all fees.

You should be able to pay using a credit card as a guest via PayPal. When you go to pay and get to the PayPal login screen, there's a link at the bottom to pay as a guest.

As soon as any dispute is opened the amount of the transaction is put on hold by paypal until the dispute is settled.....it has always been that way.

If you win the money is released back to you....if the buyer wins the money goes to them.  If this puts your paypal account into debit you will be asked to pay the money back to payal.