Tricked by a seller badly

[xxdziugasxx]

Hello. I have bought Apple Airpods from one seller on eBay. The description of the item was that the box isn’t opened, the seller gave me a serial number when I asked. I’ve made a transaction on eBay system, but the seller demanded me to make it on PayPal system, because he kept saying that eBay is holding those money that I sent and he couldn’t pay for the shipping. So, he sent me an invoice on PayPal. After sending him the money for the second time, he said, that he can’t accept the money and asked me to send him that again, but now select an option to send it as a friend. So, I did that. 

After I received my AirPods, I saw that it was completely different than he mentioned in description and in private messages. The serial number is different, the box was opened and not the same as original. Now he keeps ignoring me and doesn’t respond to any of my messages. I tried to dispute the payment on your system, selected one and only option “An unauthorized activity”, but I got denied, even though I have wrote every single detail of the buying. What shall I do now? I can give earbuds back to the seller for my refund. What email should I address to PayPal for more details and message screenshots?

[kernowlass]

@xxdziugasxx 

A friends / family (or gift payment) is intended as a transfer of funds from family or friends to one another. For this reason, there is no processing fee when payment is made with bank or PayPal balance.
However as it is a gift payment, there is also no Buyer protection as no goods or services should have been exchanged.

If he was not a close mate or family member you should never use that option as it enables the seller to evade paying his paypal fees and negates your buyer protection at the same time.

You would also not be able to open a dispute apart from one citing an unauthorised transaction but that would be automatically closed as you did authorise the initial payment.

Be careful as using that option for purchasing goods is against Paypal rules and can lead to account limitation.

If you funded your paypal payment via a credit card then contact your card issuer and see if they will help you but unfortunately they may decline as well as it was a gift payment.