Hey all. Looking for some advice on how to handle this recent situation as a Buyer. Don’t want to screw over the Seller but also feel like the they didn’t disclose some damage..
I purchased a 30 year old vintage plush still in its original packaging/cardboard base. The photos on the listing had some minor fraying on the edges which was expected and fine by me, because the Seller did accept offers and we negotiated to land on the final price.
When the item arrived, there was a scratch or crack in the glossy colored finish of the cardboard on the backside, which was not in the photo of the backside in the listing. The item was carefully packed and the box was not damaged in shipping. The way this is damaged, it could not have happened in shipping because it was packed well.
I contacted the Seller and they are adamant it happened in shipping and to submit a return. Here’s the thing… which I have no way of proving… the item has been listed for roughly 2 years and I believe it was damaged in storage at some point, and the photos were just never updated. The way it was packed for shipping, there’s really no way this damage could have happened because it was packed well (I thanked the Seller for this). I want to keep the item realistically, but feel like I would have negotiated a little more firm/lower if I knew about this damage.
I guess my general question or what I need advice on is this:
Thinking about submitting a return request as INAD, in hopes the Seller throws me $5 or $10 back as a partial refund to not have to eat the return label. If the Seller doesn’t do a partial return and only allows a full return, can I cancel/close the return request at any time? Even if the Seller provides a shipping label, as long as I don’t actually scan/ship the item?
I do want to keep it, but feel it would have been more fair to disclose the damage for negotiation on price. So if I can’t get the partial refund, I’ll just cut my losses. Also want to avoid negative feedback from the Seller, as I honestly intend on just leaving them neutral feedback at this point to avoid further tension.