Yeah... cases like that you need to take pictures BEFORE you open the box, and then every step along the way. Make a nice little timeline, then ask the seller politely to start a shipping claim for you. If they don't come back with a response, then you start a dispute, stating unresponsive seller and item not as described.
Do NOT accept any solution that involves sending the item back; then they can claim the damage was YOUR fault. Also, because you shouldn't have to pay to return something you didn't fuck up.
You can get a substantial portion of your money back if you play it calm and patient and document the damage TO DEATH.
Cheers,
mnem
*building a cargo carrier*