Thank you for your support and kind words.  After much thought and discussion with my husband (and ebay buddy!) we have decided the simplest thing is to just refund the purchase cost of the item to the buyer.  While it isnt fair,  I think its better to carry the loss at this stage than have the grief and angst of a dispute and negative feedback.  I can chalk this one up to experience and try and recoup the losses by selling the parts of the set that are undamaged. I have learned a lot about the process from this and by the time we resell the bits that are OK will probably be only $20 out of pocket. I dont feel like fighting this guy over $20. Maybe I'm a sucker 😛

I have sent the following email to the buyer today:

"Dear xxxx

We have received the Ranleigh tea set and I am very disappointed to say it has been damaged. The sugar bowl and teapot both have a very large split/crack down the side which was not there when I sent the items to you. While you returned the items in the same box, you did not take care to wrap and pack them as well as I sent them to you, they were quite loose and shabbily wrapped. I do not know if they were damaged by you when you received them or by Australia Post but either way the set is badly damaged, unusable and I will not be able to resell it.

I have sought advice as to my best course of action now. For a PayPal dispute you are required to send returned items back via registered post - both for insurance protection and so you have a record that you sent the item. You did not do this and as such neither you or I are protected by insurance and you cannot even prove that you sent it or that it even arrived. Because of this, there is no way for me to claim for the damaged items. I have been advised NOT to provide you with any refund as you have not followed the process or returned my items in the condition they were sent.

As you are new to eBay, I have decided to take pity on you and refund your money. There is no need for me to do so. I have refunded $45 via PayPal today, which is the purchacost of your items. I will attempt to resell the unbroken items to try and regain some of my losses.

Can I offer you some advice for your future bidding on ebay?

• Be very careful before you bid on an item as many sellers will not allow you to send the item back if you change your mind.


• If you do need to return an item, clearly communicate the problem to the seller, pack the item well and send it back via registered post so you have proof of post. I would even suggest taking photos before you send the item.


• Finally, many other sellers advised me to not refund anything to you - I am being kind as you are a new buyer, but another seller may not be so generous.Consider this a learning experience.
  

Good luck"

And, of course, I have put him on my blocked bidders list!

I will absolutely spit chips if you gives me negative feedback after this though!!!! :^O

Thanks everyone

Lyndal