Autospec, sorry about your situation, but it could be possible that the seller himself didn't know how the inside of this unit looked, only that it powered up and seemed to perform properly.
As a buyer I know just how much both ebay and paypal side with protecting the buyer. About a year ago I bought a set of speakers from a seller in CA; I closed the sale on paypal and chose to drive out, several hundred miles, to pick up the speakers. on my way out I received a call from the seller asking if I could bring cash as he was informed by paypal that funds would be held up to 20 days. I explained that I couldn't do that as the money had already been pulled from my account but that I would contact paypal as the buyer as soon as we met and I picked up the speakers and was satisfied they were as described. The speakers looked very good and the seller seemed like s good and sincere person so I called paypal service and spoke to a rep who explained that payment could be expedited as soon as I returned, was satisfied with the sale and confirmed receipt and satisfaction with ebay. That satisfied the seller so I returned home with the speakers, set them up and they performed very well as promised. I promptly posted a confirmation with ebay and left positive feed back thinking the sellers funds would promptly be available - Wrong! I got a call from seller 3 days later telling me that funds were still being held. After me calling paypal, confirming
my account and letting them know I was completely satisfied with the purchase and had confirmed receipt and left positive feedback with ebay, it still took another 10 days and two more calls to paypal for a very good seller to get his funds, even though they had been held from my account instantly on first day of sale.
Jim
As a buyer I know just how much both ebay and paypal side with protecting the buyer. About a year ago I bought a set of speakers from a seller in CA; I closed the sale on paypal and chose to drive out, several hundred miles, to pick up the speakers. on my way out I received a call from the seller asking if I could bring cash as he was informed by paypal that funds would be held up to 20 days. I explained that I couldn't do that as the money had already been pulled from my account but that I would contact paypal as the buyer as soon as we met and I picked up the speakers and was satisfied they were as described. The speakers looked very good and the seller seemed like s good and sincere person so I called paypal service and spoke to a rep who explained that payment could be expedited as soon as I returned, was satisfied with the sale and confirmed receipt and satisfaction with ebay. That satisfied the seller so I returned home with the speakers, set them up and they performed very well as promised. I promptly posted a confirmation with ebay and left positive feed back thinking the sellers funds would promptly be available - Wrong! I got a call from seller 3 days later telling me that funds were still being held. After me calling paypal, confirming
my account and letting them know I was completely satisfied with the purchase and had confirmed receipt and left positive feedback with ebay, it still took another 10 days and two more calls to paypal for a very good seller to get his funds, even though they had been held from my account instantly on first day of sale.
Jim