Advice on Trade gone bad - kind of.

[perezfan]

I never assume anything when it comes to shipping vintage Nodders. Regardless of the seller's level of experience, I always spell out exactly how to package and protect them. If they fail to pad the area between the neck and the head ridge, it will almost always turn out bad. These things are so damn fragile, and it kills me to see one that survived nearly 60 years get damaged due to carelessness. Enough to make a grown man cry...

That said, it is not incumbent on you to have to tell him how to package it. I do it simply to avoid disaster, but I'm sure 90% of sellers would consider me a pain in the ass. He should know better....

Ample padding inside and around the head rim
Then plenty of bubble wrap surrounding the entire doll
Then boxed up with peanuts or "filler" in the air space, to keep the doll from moving around in the box
Then double-boxed... so you have a box within a box

Sounds like he failed to do this, and also failed to file the Insurance Claim. You took decisive action, paid for the insurance, and owe him nothing. He got his item in return for what was promised, and is not entitled to anything further.