Smooth Sales faulty item wont give return paid as policy states

[kiwikat]

I have purchased an item which is faulty and smoothsales policy states they will offer a return paid method. They have done everything to avoid replacing or returning this item. I have raised this with paypal resolution center stressing they have not provided a return paid method. Paypal are now saying I have to return this at my expense to get a refund even though smoothsales return policy is very clear. How do I take this up. It's obvious no one at paypal actually looked at this. 

Regards

[kernowlass]

@kiwikat 

In the event of a dispute you need to bear in mind possible return trackable costs before you buy from that seller / item / country because....

Paypal state this >>
PayPal is not obliged to reimburse you for any costs that you incur to comply with any of PayPal’s requests for cooperation for the purpose of resolving the problem (including, without limitation, costs that you incur to return a SNAD item to the Payment Recipient or another party as PayPal requests), although sometimes it may reimburse these costs.

Although they will compensate you for some of the cost if you have activated this at some point before you made that transaction.
https://www.paypal.com/us/smarthelp/article/FAQ3544 (or equiv one for your country).

You also have the option to do a chargeback via your card issuer instead of a Paypal dispute if you funded your Paypal payment via a credit card.