I just got an item that was listed "New" but the buyer mentioned that the box had been opened. When I got the item, one side of the box had been cut off with a utility knife (even though there was a tab opposite so it could just be opened) and then reattached with packing tape, and the styrofoam inside was pretty torn up with some pieces missing. The item itself is fine, but it was listed as "New" and it clearly is less than that, so I opened a case requesting a replacement or a partial refund.
I got a print not too long ago, and it arrived with creases (due to poor packaging), and I ended up getting essentially all my money back and I kept the print.
I got another print even earlier with similar damage and with that I also got a partial refund for and kept.
Recently I got a case from a person on HardForum and it got damaged in shipping. The guy opened an insurance claim and I got a full refund and I got to keep the case. In that situation really nobody was out anything but a little time and trouble, so it was a win/win.
In these other situations though, there really isn't a win/win scenario. It's usually art that can't be repaired, salvaged, or replaced, and in general I go for the best case lose/lose compromise. In most cases I calculate the shipping cost to them (since they'll be responsible for it) and request that I keep the item and get a refund minus that amount. Since the item is essentially worthless to them I know they'll probably take the offer and I'll just have to live with the damaged print until another one comes up on eBay.
I've been searching for some of these prints for years, and I can't tell you how decimating it is to think I've purchased one of them only for it to arrive with creases from damage in transit.
So, am I bad for offering what I think is the best deal for me? Sometimes I feel weird, like this somehow happens more often to me than others, but at the same time I really don't want to keep or pay the price I offered on an item that isn't the same as the one that was represented. Anyone else have similar situations?