eBay's buyer protections are eroding as well.

I bought a phone on eBay last month. The seller insured it with USPS. When the phone arrived with a cracked screen (the listing had photos of a not-cracked screen) I photographed the damage and submitted a return request with eBay. The seller then filed an insurance claim with USPS.

USPS sent me a letter, requiring me to present the damaged package (and its contents) to my local postmaster. I documented this to the seller via eBay, but complied with the government authority -- I didn't want the seller to lose his insurance claim because I didn't comply. The postmaster kept the package, saying it was a requirement.

Once the phone was out of my hands, the seller denied the return, keeping my money, while presumably keeping the money from the USPS insurance claim.

I have no recourse with eBay.