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That could very well be but then the 'buyer' should return the goods.

They tried and seller denied the return, against Amazon policy.

When this happens, and you get your money back, do you keep the product?

Once yes, I was sent a "new" hard drive. SMART showed 4000 something power on hours. They let me keep it and refunded me.

Also damn on the downvotes. Guess as someone buying online I should just enjoy getting used shit sent to me at a new price?

No, but you should be a decent human being.

The guy got scammed thousands of dollars and you're "that guy" saying it's probably his fault with no evidence.

Just say, "sorry this happened to you, that sucks" or say nothing.

>>Just say, "sorry this happened to you, that sucks" or say nothing.

Umm, I had you until that line...

That line of unquestioning sympathy may be polite, but it leads us to nowhere. Or more precisely, to insular groups of internally self-validating comments with no sanity check or objective truth.

Tone, hey, sure, maybe OP could've been a bit more reserved.

But I will defend vehemently against attempts to sanction people with questions and wanting to know details before committing their moral outrage one way or another.

> saying it's probably his fault with no evidence

The seller denied the return (against Amazon's policies). The buyer should return the item, but the seller slipped up and the buyer was entitled to open an A-Z Guarantee claim.

No I think it's more your tone and your insinuations against the op that have nothing to do with the actual issue discussed in the op.

Does Amazon not have a "New, open box" option?

Almost. The correct condition would be "Used - Like New" [0]

The reason why this matters is because "New" items are grouped in a separate tab/link on the product detail page.

Frankly speaking, selling anything other than sealed products in perfect conditions as "New" opens you up to misery.

[0] https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=...

I don't know, that page seems a bit ambiguous to me:

> New: Just like it sounds. A brand-new, item. Original manufacturer's warranty, if any, still applies, with warranty details included in the listing comments. Original packaging is present for most New items but certain items like shoes may be re-boxed.

> Used - Like New or Open Box: An item in perfect working condition. Original protective wrapping may be missing, but the original packaging is intact and in good condition with minor damage possible. Instructions are included.

Reading those two descriptions, and considering a brand new, never used item, which has had the box opened and then the items re-packed into it as they originally were (in perfect condition, in their original wrap, unused, no fingerprints, etc.), I would definitely consider that "new", not "used - like new". As a buyer I would also have no problem receiving such an item.

“New” explicitly states “Original packaging”. If he opened the original shrink wrap, it’s used.

There is zero ambiguity in that.

If the box had any kind of shrink wrap, adhesive seal, or anything else that's now missing or broken, it is unambiguously "Used - Like New or Open Box". That's literally what "open box" means.

As I buyer, I would absolutely have a problem buying, say, a new MacBook on Amazon that was missing its original shrink-wrap.

It's simple: is there any detectable difference from how you bought it, or any packaging replaced? If so, then it's not new. Period.

When I bought my Canon camera new from an authorized dealer, it didn't come with a seal nor overwrap. I do agree with you, but not all products are sealed.

> considering a brand new, never used item, which has had the box opened[...], I would definitely consider that "new

I'm not sure how that is ambiguous when used specifically calls out "Open Box".

(and FWIW, the article doesn't actually say whether it was used or not - it says "mint-in-box", which doesn't necessarily mean completely unused)

> which has had the box opened and then the items re-packed into it as they originally were (in perfect condition, in their original wrap, unused, no fingerprints, etc.)

Sounds like a good way to receive products that failed customer QA, and that the customer can't return themselves for some reason.

> I sold a mint-in-box Sony a7R 4

RTA > "To this day, I have no idea what he claimed was “missing” from the package. I even included all the original plastic wrap!"

He opened a factory box and unwrapped the product. How else would he photograph all the parts with the kit?

But "it was pre-opened" and "parts are missing" are not the same complaint, so there's still a bigger problem here.