amen!!!!!!!
I'd say you have a stalemate.
You have a buyer who doesn't trust the seller --- give his track record and normal recurring behavior.
You have a seller who...for no reason doesn't trust the buyer to give back a cue that he doesn't want and/or has no use for.
As a person who doesn't have a horse in this race--
--- I'd have to think that the only reasonable option is to use Escrow, and split the fees 50/50...allowing both of you to keep your losses at a minimum, and I still think the seller should pay for the return freight.
Now I know it shouldn't cost the buyer anything...but I think at this point he should cut his losses, before he gets stuck with a cue that he doesn't want.
You are dealing with a greedy person...who is apparently going to hold your money hostage until he makes sure that he doesn't loose a penny within the equation, even though the controversy is completely due to his negligence.
Not a very sound business tactic...but non the less, it what it is.
And I think all who read this post, should heed the writing on the wall.
Good Luck to both of you, I hope reasonable and rational though processes are deployed at all times so that everyone walks away as happy as reasonably can be expected.
This is just my 2 cents...
Happy Trails to all.