Negative feedback from buyer who used a $400 handbag and returned it
Is it true that ebay protects sellers from negative feedback from buyers who are angry at sellers who suspect buyer used an item and then returned it?
Is it true that it takes ebay a few days to remove the negative feedback?
Thanks for any and all help.
PS: Case was decided in my favor and ebay paid me $100. They also fully refunded buyer as a "one time courtesy."
10 comments
uniwarehousewares
·2 years agoebay does not care any more about feedback or about sellers, negative feedbacks are linked with sellers , if ebay does care, they must be taking care of it, but since last year they have changed feedback policy.
albertabrightalberta
·2 years agoI see no indication or admission in the feedback that the buyer "used" the item.
The size didn't work for her so she wanted to return it.
The buyer's only mistake was in asking you to take it back rather than just opening a return request in compliance with your 30 day free return policy.
WIth that policy, you don't have the option of refusing a return!
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @beeabouttown
If you’re going to offer the most generous return option available in your listing … why then ruin your reputation by questioning the buyer’s motives?
[Thinking for 3 days about whether or not you really want to return an item is sound judgment IMHO … not something to be criticized.]
WHAT ‘case’ could eBay decide in your favor if you offer ‘free returns’? It sounds like YOU received a courtesy remittance … with the buyer being granted the return.
[I’m amused and confounded by sellers who believe a buyer must be continuously ‘using’ their product if they don’t request a return the moment they receive it. I imagine that a buyer might check to see how much ‘fits’ in a purse … but that’s not actually ‘use’.]
I don’t think eBay will be removing the feedback. Have you considered apologizing to the buyer for implying bad motives on their part … and then requesting a feedback revision? It might be your only hope. Good luck!
beeabouttown
OP2 years agoread somewhere in ebay's policies that sellers are protected from buyer's negative feedback in cases like mine. Now, of course, I can't find it. So I was hoping the community could shed some light.
I'm relieved you think one negative won't hurt but it's hard when you've always been a 100% seller and you know buyer's feedback is bogus.
I look for certain signs that a handbag has been used, whether I'm buying or selling. Over the years, I've become quite practiced at it. This bag was used. Apparently, merchants from Amazon on down are having the same problem with buyers purchasing items with the intent of using/returning the items. In the end, this type of buyer will cause price increases for all of us.
beeabouttown
OP2 years agoI found what I was looking for!
It's under ebay's Abusive Buyer Policy, which includes buyer's use of an item and then returning it.
Negative feedback will automatically be removed (allow 3 days for negative feedback to disappear) in these cases.
Note I stated in my initial post that the ebay concierge emailed me that the case was decided in my favor.
If it's not gone within three days, I'll appeal.
house*of*paws
·2 years ago@beeabouttown
You never told us what 'case' you keep referring to. You offer Free returns ... so the buyer automatically is granted a return, meaning the buyer won their claim.
If you're talking about your ability to withhold money from your refund because the item wasn't 'returned in the same condition as received' ... it sounds like eBay gave YOU a 'courtesy refund' without subtracting any money from buyer's refund. That doesn't mean you won the case in any sense that I'm familiar with.
Are you not willing to try for a revision of the feedback from the buyer?
beeabouttown
OP2 years agoPart of email sent to me re used return:
"I understand that you have received damaged and used item. I know how it feels to not receive your item as expected after facilitating the return. Please do not worry, I’ll be personally taking care of this issue for you and provide you with the best possible resolution.
I appreciate your willingness to work with us in resolving your concern by submitting the document we have requested for us to validate your claim of receiving a damaged item. With this, I’m pleased to inform you that I have closed this case in your favor and processed your funds which will reflect in your account in less than 24 to 48 hours. These funds will come directly from eBay.
This action was taken while taking full advantage of your seller protection that eBay offers. eBay always protects its sellers in such cases."
kitschy*loot
·2 years agoIf this concerns the handbag with the negative feedback; I don't think they should remove it. You can't prove they used the item and your opinion does not equal fact or proof. I returned some shoes to a store once and they tried to say I wore them and they were entirely inaccurate, not only did I not wear them I never even tried them on so people's "professional" opinion can certainly be wrong.
If you are talking about that transaction your response was there are two sides to every story... and you're correct, but you only see your side of the story on this particular issue so maybe you need to take your own advice because just maybe they didn't use it.
Unavailable member
·2 years agoDoesn’t seem likwnfeedback that eBay would or should remove. One neg isn’t damaging.
beeabouttown
OP2 years agoI read somewhere in ebay's policies that sellers are protected from buyer's negative feedback in cases like mine. Now, of course, I can't find it. So I was hoping the community could shed some light.
I'm relieved you think one negative won't hurt but it's hard when you've always been a 100% seller and you know buyer's feedback is bogus.
I look for certain signs that a handbag has been used, whether I'm buying or selling. Over the years, I've become quite practiced at it. This bag was used. Apparently, merchants from Amazon on down are having the same problem with buyers purchasing items with the intent of using/returning the items. In the end, this type of buyer will cause price increases for all of us.