Do you fight negative feedback?
By newtalent
@newtalent (1112)
United States
April 25, 2010 6:54pm CST
I am curious as to what you guys do when someone threatens to leave negative feedback or gives you the option of refunding the money paid instead and still risk negative feedback? We just ran across this situation where a buyer lied, and stated the the seller refused to refund when that was not the case, filed a claim within minutes of asking for refund. Would you let the buyer intimidate you so they could get a refund or would let eBay's resolution department make a decision? In this case, eBay told the buyer to return the merchandise for a refund. After all this drama, the buyer opened a can of worms for herself as well, because she got caught in her lie and they are checking her transactions. I think it was worth it to put them on notice. Plus there are other places to sell items.
What would you do or not do? This one sided crap is wrong and someone should start a class action suit against their policy that is well educated to do so.
2 people like this
5 responses
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
26 Apr 10
Hi newtalent. I have been both a buyer and seller for many years on ebay and one thing I would never give into is feedback blackmail. The feedback system now is a bit of a joke as it is just one sided. Ebay has just become a buyers heaven right now with all the new polices they have brought in. I still use ebay a lot but I tend to buy more than I sell these days. Even so when situations like this occur it is best let ebay resolve the problem rather than to give into the demands of a dishonest buyer. They usually end up the loser in the end.
@newtalent (1112)
• United States
26 Apr 10
I understand completely, but I am glad as how this happened because even though there is negative feedback, big deal. She has to return the item in question, which she will not do so, no refund. So who one? Once a claim is made I am done dealing with a buyer, I actually escalated the claim for her and had it resolved in my favor of her returning the item, which she was not happy to do. No return , no refund. With her continuous harassment , it now has caused her to be investigated of buying and selling habits to see if she has multiple accounts or has done before since most sellers will refund the money with no other action. Something happened because they never tell you this. They also said that they are looking to change their policy because this is happening way to much. Maybe if she been more cordial and I would of told her how to return the item so I could get credit without it costing anything.. Live and learn.
@thezone (9394)
• Ireland
26 Apr 10
It is a shame that there are still many problems like this on ebay. The way I see it ebay has always been about trust on both the buyers and sellers part. If the buyer had have been up front you of course you would have been more helpful but in this case I agree with you and you did the right thing and chose the right course of action.
I really do hope ebay do look into some of their policy changes as it would be of benefit to us all especially small sellers that rely on their feedback
@newtalent (1112)
• United States
26 Apr 10
I normally do craiglist or sometimes sell through yahoo groups. i thought i would expand, lol. Yeah I expanded all right , straight to harassment, lol. I was warned and should of listened. Take care.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
28 Apr 10
I think that the resolution department should be consulted in every case where there are disputes between buyers and sellers. I don't really sell on ebay anymore because I don't like the changes that they've made in feedback and in buyer relationships.
I agree with you that there should be a class action lawsuit filed against them for the changes that they've made in the past couple of years. The changes that they've made to ebay are not good for anyone in my opinion.
@newtalent (1112)
• United States
28 Apr 10
Well I just found out that the person filed it with PayPal too,and they closed it out as well agreeing with eBay, but it is wrong that you cannot leave negative feedback for a buyer that is lying. This is will be the last for me with eBay, I was warned and should of listened. No biggie, I can still sell elsewhere.
I would just let ebay figure out what is going on,I would not be intimidated by a threat of negative feedback.I do know that sometimes you run up against cruel people who just want to be mean.I hope you have a great day.@newtalent (1112)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Oh I am good, I wanted others opinion just to make sure I was making a good decision.
I do not depend on selling eBay, like some people do, lol. I was trying it get rid of some stuff that I did not need anymore.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
26 Apr 10
hi that is precisely why I do not any longer do business with Ebay as they have some weird policy and the postage always eats up any savings you make on anything you buy. so I do not have anything to do with EBay as they have some wrong policies for sure.
@newtalent (1112)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Hi Hatley, you definitely warned me about their policy and tactics. I should of listened. Yeah I am going to take this approach here to. I make less on eBay then when I go elsewhere. I am easy to deal with. I mean I put the wrong picture on an item and I accepted responsibility for that. I refunded the whole item and told the buyer she could have it for the inconvenience. It happens, I am only human. I have never had a person not wanting to return an item and file a false claim to get a refund before. Well she accomplished just that and she has to provide a tracking number as well to eBay before a refund could be issued. I know she did not bargain for that. So who really won? She keeps her product that she paid for or she returns it to get a refund. She cannot keep it and get a refund. I was told they are looking to change the policy again since they know it is one sided.
@emma2020 (8)
•
26 Apr 10
As cruel as it sounds the buyer is always going to have the upper hand on ebay. I have recently stopped using ebay because of that very reason. It wasnt because i was a bad ebayer/ seller, just because you bend over backwards trying to help and they still leave feedback which is bad.
:(
@newtalent (1112)
• United States
26 Apr 10
Yes, I am a persistent little what ever you want to call it. I read the emails and went head in with escalating it because I knew I wanted the item back and that they would agree to her sending it back in order to get a refund. The buyer did not bargain for that. Yeah it is ridiculous.I know I have been in business for a long time and can pretty much tell when something is not kosher.
