If I was the one that bought the earphone, I would prefer to go through the distributor instead of seller.

Tough luck for getting a damaged unit. Not everything is 100% functional on arrival. That's the risk of purchasing stuff online, you don't get to test on the spot before purchase.

Still I do not see the reason of making a big hoo-haa out of this.

I would just email/call the distro and proceed with the RMA once I obtain more information required and also explain the situation to them. Normally, once this is done, there will be some RMA# given and to be attached on the faulty unit.

Just like how you RMA a Seagate HDD. You want to wait 3 months by going through shop/reseller and bear more postage cost of sending/return the unit, or you want to wait less than a month with complimentary postage back to you?

Ultimately, it is up to how buyer want to push this issue though.

There is some situation that you have to consider. If it was imported unit, then yes it is preferred that seller get it back. I still can't see why you are not able to send it back to distro. Does not make sense. If you have so much time to waste on seller, why don't waste that effort of simpler step of A,B,C?

Of course if distro does not accept direct dealing with end-user, then yes, seller must take responsibility.

Your attitude pretty much shown that you simply blaming everything 100% on seller, not on the product.

This is my 2 cent la as it is my experience of handling electronics stuff for very long time, and of course not only some IT gadgets. Besides, I do not see any RMA issue from my side before as far as I done my business. In fact, even after-warranty services are provided by me as long as it is within my power to help.

If distributor do the sales, I would go directly to them too, for sure the price will be much cheaper without the 3rd party. Too bad it doesn't work that way unless you have the $$$ to buy in huge quantity.

If one-to-one exchange is allowed, then of course I agree you have to push it back to seller.

Since you highlighted that the product he received is different, then most probably I have to agree that seller have to take responsibility.

Still, Davis so far has rejected the idea that the product he sent was different, no?