Unscrupulous ebay buyers

“No returns” on eBay does not apply if the buyer claims the item isn’t working or described properly.

‘EBay does not inspect items claimed as such and takes the buyers word.  They will immediately allow the buyer to print a return label charged to you.

Essentially, eBay allows any sale to be voided, the seller gets the item back, the buyer gets all of his money back and the seller pays shipping both ways.  It can happen on virtually any sale on eBay.  Kind of “no harm/no foul” only the seller eats shipping and any damage/misuse/etc. to the item.

If you refuse to accept the cartridge back, the buyer will get the cartridge AND all his money back.  You might even get charged a 3rd time for shipping it back.  That would REALLY piss you off!  Take it back and sell it locally to reduce your loss.

‘Despite all this, for me it is rare to have a buyer do this, but it has happened to me.  That’s just part of selling on eBay.  (It works great if you’re a buyer.)  It can get really expensive for items that cost a lot to ship.  So I am not doing those on eBay.

@wolfie62 You are correct that ”I don’t like it” is not the same as “not as described.”  But all the buyer has to say is that it isn’t working properly and he will automatically be given a return authorization.  That apparently is what happened here, because the OP says the item is now marked ‘Returned.’  The OP will be getting it back soon, so there’s not much room left for discussion with eBay.  The buyer will get all of his money back.  eBay is not going to use their money to compensate the OP.  eBay doesn’t have the capacity to evaluate if an item isn’t working right.  THEORETICALLY, a brand new sealed cartridge when opened and used could have a defect - right?  I’m not saying it’s likely or happened in this case, but am just pointing out that eBay doesn’t evaluate that level of detail.

For the purpose of looking at this in another direction - if a seller had a cartridge that looked brand new, but was defective, and sold it on eBay - what happens when the buyer tries out the cartridge?  He has no ability to prove that it was bad when he received it.  So in this sense, eBay always finds in favor of the buyer.  

It can even become worse for sellers.  Such as damaging an item in a way that doesn’t show up on the original photographs.  Hopefully the OP gets it back in good shape.

@ashoka  As far as PayPal, they follow the same system of supporting the buyer.  There’s no interest in delving issues concerning defects, although you might better argue your case where there is VERY CLEAR photographic proof supporting your position.

All of these procedures are automated.  Perhaps very expensive items over a certain amount are handled differently.  But I have never sold those types of products on eBay.

@tony1954 I notice that when I buy used appliance parts on eBay, they are all marked by the seller.  Obviously they have been scammed before where the buyer sends them back their original broken part for a refund.

OP - Boy, if you get back the cartridge, I sure would not send it back to the buyer.  You are headed on a course where you could lose your money and the cartridge.  The system is not under your control, so you can’t force an outcome. Hold on to the cartridge and see how it plays out.  If you arrive at a point where eBay says you are keeping the buyers money, then you can send it back to him.

OP - Here’s another thing to consider - although the buyer sent it back without opening a case, he may still be able to open a case of “did not match description.”  My guess is that if you don’t refund him, he will open one, whether you send it back or not.  Hold on to that cartridge until it’s resolved!