Damaged item being returned to buyer

I sold a glass bowl and it arrived damaged at the destination (it was a bowl but only the base broke in pieces). The buyer berated my poor packaging skills as the reason why it was damaged. If I want the buyer to send it back to me, would they be responsible if further damage occurs to the item (for example if the bowl part shatters too) if they also package it poorly? I’m trying to find an answer on eBay but I am not having much luck.
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Damaged item being returned to buyer

You have my sympathy for sure! Nice bowl. If it's the Murano bowl ($250 BIN price) you're at the mercy of your method. 

   Assuming you packed it professionally you have no control over the return of the item. An item like that would require complex packing and you can't expect the buyer to know what they are doing. 

 

 One of the methods I might use would be;

 

*fill the bowl compactly with foam to resist crushing (like wine glasses when bought new) 

 *a  foam backer rod to wrap the joint of the bowl where it meets the base to resist flexing

*the object wrapped in paper

*the object sealed in plastic bag so that nothing sticks to it,

 *the object completey wrapped  in bubblewrap with 1.5 to 2 inches of protection, 

 *the bubble wrapped item seated firmly inside a qualilty strong "chemically hardened" thin wall box (or a double wall chinese style lighter box).

*That box would be suspended inside a quality outer 2 ply box with a minimum of 2 inches of soft suspension type foam packing material surrounding all 6 sides of the inner box.  (not sure about CP but UPS insurance requires 2 inches of clearance) . Some couriers have issues with "peanuts". 

 

  All packages need to be free of any internal shake and  strong enough to drop to the cement from a 2nd story. Unless you get really really lucky like  your buyer has something to do with shipping collectibles or they saved your system of packaging I doubt they will return it in this fashion.

 

Then there's insurance. As it's broken it won't have the value it had when shipped so may not be covered for a return trip. 

 

If you haven't already got the buyer to send you pictures of the broken bowl AND THE packaging if possible. You need photos to  know for sure it actually is broken and for an insurance claim.  Then contact your method of shipping to file a breakage claim. If you receive compensation from the courier leave the item with the buyer. If they see any value in it they may allow you to keep the cost of the shipping and refund the rest. 

 

I ship delicates but not often glassware. I shipped a delicate thin plastic illuminated sign to the USA. It had a fairly high value and arrived broken. The buyer was very cooperative. I posted a repair video on my YT channel and they kept the item. All was well and they became repeat buyers. Things sometimes work out.

 

Lots of folks on here will have some great input for sure! I haven't had much experience with claims but others here will likely give you some great advice. 

 

Good luck with it! If nothing else it's a good learning experience, (expensive but good)

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