Apple iPhone xsMax refund

So basically first time ever trying to refund Apple I get my iPhone XS Max had somebody trying to do the refund got the confirmation email that they were just going to do a reshipment I'm guessing he said that the box was empty 2 days later they cancel the order and I haven't heard anything from them talk to the refunder he said they basically denied it so after thinking about it I thought maybe I would try to go through PayPal and them actually get the refund or replacement has anybody else been through this and do you think this was a good idea to try to go through PayPal??

Just call and ask for refund expect replacement?

Well obviously the refund failed. You cannot tell that the package was empty. They always weight the packages.

The other same thread is on the first page. You could've read that instead.

You have to say that the package only had the charger/cables etc in it. So that the package still has some wait. Then you return the package with the charger/cables but keep the phone.