Just had a bad experience using EBay claims.
Bought a limited edition 3DS from Japan. The seller packed the console in one of those plasticy coated paper shopping bags! and a very lose wrap of bubble wrap. So of course the some of the corners of the box got dented in postage. Slight but enough to notice and devalue the item. I checked the console and there were 2 marks on the case. Console was supposed to be new!
I lodged a claim. Seller agreed to pay return postage. I then posted and told them the cost . $32. Seller said would deposit the money in paypal.
Seller than received the console, claimed there was no box damage and hence would not pay return postage!
I have contacted Ebay, and they said the most they can do is contact the seller and reason with them! Their email service was useless, the person didnt even read the messages and and said seller didnt agree to it. On the phone at least the he read the emails and said we will contact them. However the claim closes automatically when the seller refunds the original amount too…which makes claiming return postage almost impossible too!!! He said to wait 10 working days for outcome.
If I had lodged this in Paypal, this would have been actioned a lot faster and paypal would have covered the return postage (up to $40 i think??) without questions.
So at this point I see absolutely no benefit in using EBay claims over Paypal claims
If you would have opened eBay significantly not as described the seller would have need to pay the return postage.
I'm afraid it is a bit too late now but at least if you get your money now back consider yourself lucky :)