So I can't find a proper answer on Google, but recently I bought a secondhand laptop over eBay for an extra backup. The seller took their own sweet time shipping it and it missed the expected delivery date. I waited over a month after paying and only received it yesterday.

But when I turned it on for the very first time, the computer had an error while booting up and wouldn't load. idk if it happened during shipping or if the seller did it themselves before sending it, but the package was carefully bubble-wrapped, so I don't think it happened because of the post office.

Anyway, the seller chose to go with the "I don't know what you're talking about, it was working fine before" excuse - but its clearly their responsibility right?!

I don't want to return the laptop because it has all the specs I require, plus I waited a MONTH to get the damn thing, but I'm afraid if I contact eBay all they will do is offer me a refund upon shipping back to the seller. I don't want to do that (I got a good price on it, and I think it can be fixed) but I think the seller should offer some sort of refund for the cost of fixing it.

Is there any solution other than the return/refund option?

You can't have your cake and eat it too. You should always give sellers the benefit of the doubt. It's quite rude to assume they tampered with it before shipment. Return it for a full refund and order a different one. Simple as that.

LOL the only person who is "having their cake and eating it too" is the person who took my money, skipped out on shipping it for 2 weeks against eBay policies and provided me with a faulty product upon startup. You bet your ass I'm going to complain, and that bitch should just be glad I haven't opened up a dispute on eBay against her. Best believe her seller star rating is going down after this.