Thanks, my suspicion is that considering the price differential of a mint and a used/non mint and that all start life in standard packaging, the buyer is perhaps (repeat only perhaps)  trying to pass of some of his non-mint inventory as the one I sent to him. And he's a volum player with his shop.

Short of the OTT option of opeing the return package with gloves in a forensic lab & having the item dusted for my sons & my own prints - I may never know.

I'm waiting for the proof of damage photos to be sent back to me.

Will be interesting event. One of lifes little lessons