Hello 'gmah',
As you've heard, sellers cannot leave negatives for buyers. The situation you describe is one of the reasons why, -- buyers keeping quiet out of fear of retaliation.
You will have to make some decisions of your own about this. If you wish to file an Item not as Described claim, you may be asked to return the item with Delivery Confirmation. That will be expensive. You do not say what the item is or where it came from.
If you follow this link and go down to section 4, you will see that offering a partial refund is perfectly acceptable according to ebay policy:
http://pages.ebay.ca/help/buy/item-not-received.html
'The money is not important, it is the principle', you say. Well, you can report the item, but with only your single report, ebay may do nothing. To do something, there has to be proof. Ebay does not boot a seller every time a disgruntled buyer says so. They will take action only if something could cost them money, get them in legal trouble, or cause them embarrassment, - like a listing for an AN-94 Abakan. Still, no harm in trying.
A lot will depend on your own disposition. If you return it for a refund, you will not likely get your return shipping back. But you might, - if the seller fears a negative otherwise. So if you accept all that money, it would be quite unkind to leave rotten feedback afterward.
Or you can send it back, get the paypal refund, and decline the return shipping fee, - leaving you free to leave whatever feedback you wish.
If you accept a partial refund and form an agreement with the seller, you cannot very well take back your word. You'd be no better than the cheat you are railing against.
Or you can take the moral high ground, keep or return the item, decline the return fees, but air your concerns in feedback as an outstanding beacon to warn other prospective buyers. Feedback comments are generally the most effective in deterring other buyers. Hence, you need to state the facts of the matter as pleasantly as possible, so as to be believed. This avenue, although momentarily satisfying, will do nothing to close that gaping hole in your wallet.
Well, you have 45 days in which to file a claim, if need be, and 60 days in which to leave feedback. Give it a bit of thought, and make your decisions.
