Sometimes being in control is not always within your grasp.
He's wrong, he was probably in a rush and having you check is wasted time for him. When you sign it you're signing to say that you've accepted delivery and the items were in good order. We used to sign everything to say they were unchecked but even that's not good enough now.
You're well within your rights to open the package and check the contents before signing for it. It's at that point you sign it as normal, damaged but accept and then contact the vendor or refuse it and mark it as damaged. If you receive a parcel that is damaged visibly never ever sign for it before opening it and checking it, and even then sign for it as damaged in case the product doesn't work when you come to power it on/use it.
Your biggest fail was using ebay in the first place imo. My dislike of it is fairly well documented on this forum but honestly the sooner they fail and go under the better. Ebay used to be great, but in recent years its a breeding ground for dishonesty, people expecting the moon on a stick and people who are too thick to understand the difference between "used" and "new". If ebay had some sort of vetting process to weed out the rotten ones they'd be so much better but that'd mean less revenue and we all know you cant have that.
I was just about to post an eBay thread
I've just bought an item a few days ago I wish I hadn't
It's 1k and I think the seller is stupid or trying a scam
!
What did you buy and has it come yet ?
Sorry didn't read any dates.
Im very nosey