Seller refuses to help

I bought a violin case from janco420 over 45 days ago. It was a gift for my daughter. I bought it well ahead of her birthday. Gave it to her for her birthday on March 25 and after only using it a few times found it to be defective. Seller says they will exchange, but I have to pay shipping back to them. I honestly think they should pay shipping charges since they sold me a defective item. Since the transaction is over 45 days Ebay won't help and PayPal won't help. Guess I'm stuck with a defetive item. I always stand behind what I sell. I think this is very unethical of the seller. I even sent pictures to prove that the case is defective and they still won't refund any money or send a new case so that I can return this one. Any ideas? Item # is 160403320377|||It is not unethical. You had it for over a month and a half - plenty of time to check it over. The seller has no idea what might have happened to it in that time, and has every right to refuse to pay the return shipping. He is well within his rights to refuse the return completely. He is being nice about this, you should shoulder some of the responsibility. If you had checked this over as soon as you received it, I would be much more sympathetic to your side of the issue.|||Even if you had filed within the 45 day window ebay/pp would not have made the seller pay your return shipping.And you would not be refunded unless you returned it on your dime w online viewable trackingIt may not be your fault but it is your responsibility Silver rule "do not do to others what you would not like to be done to you"|||"...and after only using it a few times found it to be defective." Maybe expounding on that statement will gather you more sympathy or advice...? Defective how?|||You've had the item for quite some time. What is the defect? I think your seller is being generous with you in agreeing to exchange the item. Take 'yes' for answer, count your blessings and pay to return the item in exchange for a replacement.|||Both eBay and PayPal would have required you to return on your dime to get a refund under buyer protection policy. Yes, the seller should pay for return shipping but you can't make him and you are cutting your nose off despite your face to stick to your guns and not return it. Get a replacement and then leave appropriate feedback and stars.||||||Yes, the seller should pay for return shipping but you can't make him Why should the seller pay for return shipping when the case could have been damaged any time within the 45 days the buyer had it in his/her possession?|||biffee, The seller states right in their description, their return policy. The policy is in line with ebay/paypal policies as well. It is the same policy many online retailers have as well. If you decide to return the case for an exchange, you do not have to use the fastest or most expensive shipping method. All you need do is is get delivery confirmation. You will not be charged for the seller shipping a new item, so what are you out?~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I did not sell you my opinion||||||IF the seller has excellent feedback, ship it back to them for an exchange. You could probably get cheaper shipping through Fedex than USPS.Need a website fast?|||The question was asked, why was it defective. The outer lining started to rip. I took pictures to prove this to the seller. Also, one of the clips that you use to carry the case was broken from the start. Why so much time? I bought it early as a gift to give to my daughter for her birthday. It sat in the original box, untouched for most of that time. I gave her the case on March 25. We then went on vacation for a week, she used the case two times the week after we got back and that is when it started to rip. We noticed the broken clip immediately. I was not going to say anything about the clip, but after the case started to rip, I also mentioned that. To me, it's all about customer service. I own a business and if something arrives wrong I fix it at my expense if I am in the wrong. I also received an email from this seller saying that by law they do not have to refund me at all after 30 days. I've never heard of such a law and would love to be enlightened on that one. So, after an email like that....I don't even know if they would exchange. Sounds more like they will take the defective case and I'm out the complete amount - and have no case. I've already spent more than I can afford on the case to begin with. That is why I can't afford to ship it back on my dime. I feel like I've been taken advantage of because I shopped early for something and allowed it to sit in a closet for a long period of time. Bottom line. I did not damage the case, my daughter did not damage the case. It was a defective case that started to rip. I've learned my lesson. I had already left them positive feedback...they know that and that is why they are unwilling to help.||||||Well, after the emails I've received from them with all the lies...I don't trust them to refund any money or send a new case if I were to send the case back. I've never had to say anything bad about a seller like this one and I've been on Ebay for more years than I can count. Even though my numbers may not be as high as others, I'm not a novice, I know what I'm doing and I know how other sellers have handled the same kind of situations. All have had excellent customer service and I have not had to leave any kind of negative feedback whatsoever. The worst I've had to leave was a neutral one time. Even when I had one sell me pirated software they refunded my shipping...I shipped the software back and they then gave me a full refund. Interesting how I seem to be the one who looks bad when I've done everything in my power to do the right thing. I NICELY asked them for a new case. I NICELY asked them to refund shipping because the case was defective. As case should not start to rip when it's brand new. Of course I checked it over when it was shipped in, but at that time there was no rip. The rip started as soon as she started to use the case. It was nothing she or I did. It was because the stitching was not done correctly. Thankfully, I am a seamstress and I will take the time to fix this for my daughter. The seller got my postive feedback and that was all they wanted. Customer service has gone out the window. Sad, very sad.|||"Also, one of the clips that you use to carry the case was broken from the start." If you knew that one of the clips was "broken from the start," that was when you should have returned for an exchange. Why so much time? I bought it early as a gift to give to my daughter for her birthday. It sat in the original box, untouched for most of that time. I gave her the case on March 25. We then went on vacation for a week, she used the case two times the week after we got back and that is when it started to rip. We noticed the broken clip immediately. I was not going to say anything about the clip, but after the case started to rip, I also mentioned that. Again, should have been returned immediately for an exchange. You left FB on 3/2/10, but because the item was used after given for a gift, started to notice the ripping, then and only then you decide that you should return it?? You should not compare yourself to what others do. Yes if there is a problem, any seller should try and fix it, but to wait out for as long as you did, you should be glad that the seller will exchange it. Shipping should be at your expense, and not the sellers. FedEx Ground would be beneficial. BBL To me, it's all about customer service. I own a business and if something arrives wrong I fix it at my expense if I am in the wrong. I also received an email from this seller saying that by law they do not have to refund me at all after 30 days. I've never heard of such a law and would love to be enlightened on that one. So, after an email like that....I don't even know if they would exchange. Sounds more like they will take the defective case and I'm out the complete amount - and have no case. I've already spent more than I can afford on the case to begin with. That is why I can't afford to ship it back on my dime. I feel like I've been taken advantage of because I shopped early for something and allowed it to sit in a closet for a long period of time. Bottom line. I did not damage the case, my daughter did not damage the case. It was a defective case that started to rip. I've learned my lesson. I had already left them positive feedback...they know that and that is why they are unwilling to help.[/quote] dvgvintage