Buyer "accidentally" left negative feedback - honest mistake or trying to force me to accept return?
A buyer bought a clothing item from me and left negative feedback with a contradicting message indicating that they were happy with their purchase. I politely messaged them asking for clarification, and they confirmed that they accidentally left the negative feedback. They also agreed to do a feedback revision, which I sent. Then they opened a return because it didn't fit (they asked nicely before doing so, and I agreed because I accept returns), but they haven't revised their feedback.Â
Now that I think about it, this almost feels like they're holding my feedback "hostage" until I accept their return. Kind of like threatening negative feedback without actually saying it. Just curious if this has happened to anyone else, and if it's a common way for buyers to try and force sellers to accept returns. Or maybe I'm being paranoid and this person just made an honest mistake?
simba6
·1 year agoIs it a new user?  All they would have had to do is file a not as described case. There is no refusing that.
brendalee1976
·1 year agoDear resting_kitsch_face,
Good day. I am experiencing a feedback situation, though slightly different from yours, and it is very frustrating. I hope that your problem is resolved soon satisfactorily, to both yourself and the buyer. I hope that the feedback revision is done for you much sooner than much later. And while there are two or more sided to every story, your side seems very compelling. You may have to call eBay customer services again and ask to speak with a supervisor, requesting that your remarks be documented in the transaction notes. I find it very puzzling that a buyer could have left you a negative feedback accidentally or not, yet, for approximately one month since a buyer returned a badly damaged item to me, an item which was a total loss because it could not be relisted. I have been trying to find a way to justifiably leave this buyer a negative feedback. However, it seems like eBay only allow buyers to leave negative feedbacks for sellers, but not vice-versa.
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Like you I followed eBay's policy by: 1. Accepting the returns request. 2. Examined the returned item. 3. Notified both eBay and the buyer (with pictures) of the badly damaged returned item, matched against pre-shipment pictures. 4. The buyer to this date has not returned my eBay message after approximately one month, the eBay customer services representative documented my concens in a kind manner. 5. I have now blocked this buyer from my account, reported the buyer to eBay, and was willing to let this go. However, I kept thinking about the next seller that this buyer may exploit. So, a buyer like this should be exposed in my opinion with at least a negative feedback, and comments in a factual way be shown in the remarks section to motivate accountability (since the buyer chose not to respond to my eBay message).Â
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Do you know if buyers are always exempt from receiving negative feedbacks? The eBay help and contact pages in my research, do not address this matter directly. All the best to a speedy solution for you.    Â
house*of*paws
·1 year agoHi @brendalee1976Â
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eBay took away negative and neutral feedback for buyers in 2008. Â It also made it a policy violation for sellers to leave negative comments with a positive rating for buyers. Â Sorry.
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[It appears that the OP had their negative feedback revised to positive.]
brendalee1976
·1 year agoDear  @house*of*paws,
Good day. Thanks for taking the time to respond, and for sharing this very important information. If this is a written policy of eBay, I tried but could not find it under the Help & Contact section. If your information is correct, this policy seems to show a high level of bias against eBay sellers, combined with a high level of disrespect to eBay sellers. And without sellers on the eBay platform, what is the business model?
Please note: I hope "resting kitsch face" got the accidental negative feedback corrected.
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While many buyers are very honest, respectful, decent, and honorable business partners on the eBay platform. A small group exploits the system for selfish unfair gains. As important as buyers are to this business, and should be encouraged to engage in the business by both sellers and eBay. The small group of bad actors posing as honorable eBay buyers, but are not, should be revealed to hardworking sellers on the eBay platform.
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While I would not do this, because two wrongs do not make a right. An irate seller may consider giving eBay or eBay's customer service representatives bad survey reviews. Because there is no tool available for sellers to show up a buyer with bad intentions from the small group of bad agents posing as honest buyers. A negative feedback to such person or persons would grab eBay's, and other sellers attantion to this buyer, to generate a timely fix. As eBayers (eBay, buyers and sellers) we should all operate honorably, respectfully, fairly, and with the highest level of decency one to another while operating on the eBay platform.Â
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I am yet to receive justice for the badly damaged returned item, which in good faith I accepted from a buyer. I have blocked this buyer from my account so will not have future issues with this person, but fear for the next seller who will face this buyer's tricks. Thanks for taking the time to read my post. All the best.Â
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