If you up the anti to escalate it through PayPal it should include ALL the payments made. When you escalate the claim I believe you enter the figures. If he then wants it back when the claim is settled, he will have to pay you. It would be much easier if he just agreed to refund and added on return postage. Maybe email him and say that you feel as the fault is his in a misleading description you want refunding in full and an addition for return postage as is dictated under Distance Selling Regulations. That might put the frighteners up him. Have you also pointed out that the photo is not of the item you have received as the damage is not visible?

Other solutions to think over: Will he refund part of the cost so you pay the right price for a marked programme? Or will you agree to cover half the return postage and then technically you both pay a little (and you have to put that down to experience)? A final one is one that I use when I bid on duplicate items in the hope of winning one and typical win both! I sell one back on eBay.

(The first one is a good one - I sold some items on eBay and mixed up inches and centimetres! Doh! The buyer was quite upset but was soon happy when I offered a full refund OR I would refund half the price to settle the problem - he took the half refund and kept the items and the matter was closed amicably).

From a sellers point of view, we consider ourselves a business on eBay (tax return each year) so we adopt the rules of running a business. Obviously when you buy off someone selling his odds and ends you do run the risk of this happening BUT eBay rules clearly state that an item MUST be described correctly so you ought to have the upper hand. To be honest, if you list 'with slight water marks' or whatever, stuff still sells and you get no complaints. I will not buy off anyone that states they will not accept returns.

On the opposing point of view when we get anyone emailing with a problem we do ask for the item to be returned for inspection, offering a FULL refund and the cost of return postage WHEN we get the item back. Two reasons for this: 99.99% of problems are caused in the post so we can claim, but we need to see the item first. This also stops dead the cronies trying it on, and you do get them (I know you do not fall into that category but they are about).

See what he says and then escalate it when you can if the matter is not sorted. If you agree a deal where you return the item then use Recorded Delivery as you have a method of proving postage AND delivery.