5 stars in exchange for refund
So I got an item that was defective. I contact the seller and they say I can return it for a refund or I can give them a 5 star review in exchange for a refund without returning. It sounds shady and I said that to them. Then they told me ebay recommends they do that. I don't see why ebay would tell sellers to bribe buyers with no return and their money back for a defective item in exchange for a 5 atar review. That just sounds like a way to end up with a lot of dishonest shops. They don't actually allow that, do they?
22 comments
albertabrightalberta
·4 months agoBTW @darkstu-92
Did you happen to look at the seller's feedback before buying?
Both neutral feedbacks allege that the Samsung SD cards are fake and at least one of the negs claims it's a fake Samsung SD.
I'm guessing that yours didn't work properly because it's fake.
inhawaii
·4 months agoIt looks like i'm in the minority on this one.
I'm just saying, as long as the buyer gets his refund FIRST, case closed.
It doesn't matter what happens after that.
The buyer is totally safe.
Why go through all the trouble of a INAD return when it is not necessary?
Life's too short.
simba6
·4 months agoFile an item not as described case with eBay. Click return this item and select not as described. The seller will have to provide a paid label if they want it back. I suppose some clueless customer service rep could have told them that? They don't always know the rules.
funfactorychannel
·4 months agoebay doesnt tell sellers to do that.
But regardless he is offering you an option to not go through the hassle of printing a label out, putting it back on and going to the post office. Vs give a feedback and get 5 stars.
I don't do this practice but if a seller gave me an option I would take it if I am too lazy to do all that work. But I go to the post office everyday so this issue never occurs for me. 😞
bashort
·4 months agowhat I think works much better as a seller if you are going to use the refund with no return tactic is just do it and never mention feedback. I have done this a few times when I was sure I was at fault and my limited experience is that it will result in good fb or no fb.
The buyer is already disappointed, asking them to do something first with no guarntees is not a good idea.
bonanza125
·4 months agoIt's not allowed. Just file a case "item not described" and return for refund. Do not communicate with this seller.
kibble-net
·4 months agoEbay most certainly does not tell any sellers to do this.
My best advice to you is to open the return, send the item back at the seller's expense, and warn future buyers about this bribery scheme with "neutral" or "negative" feedback (at your discretion).
darkstu-92
OP4 months agoI don't want to return it because ita a micro sd card that bricked on me and my information is stuck on it. I did indeed leave a negative warning review detailing what happened.
terrycece62
·4 months agoWithout filling the claim, you have to go on the seller's word that he/she will refund you do you trust the seller to follow through?
just a reminder
funfactorychannel
·4 months agowhy not? if he doesnt, file the claim. leaving feedback doesnt prevent you from filing a claim.
terrycece62
·4 months agoJust information buyer may want to consider if seller does not follow through it will delay refund further.
That's all
albertabrightalberta
·4 months agoIf the buyer had left positive feedback first and the seller didn't follow through, that would have been another reason why the seller would have earned the neg that the buyer can't give them!
albertabrightalberta
·4 months agoAnd it's clear why the seller needed that positive feedback they tried to bribe you to get! With 6 negs and 2 neutrals just in the past year, they need all the positives they can get.
@darkstu-92
You should still report the buyer for the bribe.
kalyoth
·4 months agoOpen the return case. Force the seller to make a decision. It is standard ebay policy. What they suggested is prohibited behavior & will get them suspended.
cheech2021
·4 months agoKeep it simple. Thats your review. Tell them what you just told us, thats a true review.
meme6253
·4 months agoWhat they are asking is against policy. I would never nor should any seller literally ask for positive feedback in that way.
sweetsyerra
·4 months agoI think it depends on why it was defective. Was it blatantly misrepresented or was it something that perhaps sending it through the rough-and-tumble mail may had jostled something accidentally, etc.
If it's something minor that you think the seller may have missed (we list tens of thousands of different-type items. We can miss stuff no matter how much research we do) then I would tell them to give my refund and then give them their five stars but be honest in the feedback. "Seller's item was defective but I was given a full refund" for example, so the world knows there was an issue in case this is happening often.
angelno9
·4 months agoYou do not need to engage with the seller at all.
Simply file "Significantly Not As Described" dispute, and wait for the seller to respond with either a refund or a shipping label.
If he does not, then wait the appropriate time amd then ask eBay to step in and you will get the refund.
It is fine for the seller to offer a refund without return, but it violates eBay policy to make that refund contingent on DSRs or feedback.
inhawaii
·4 months agoThere's nothing wrong with that.
The seller is offering to do you a favor by refunding you without you having to return the item.
In return the seller wants you to leave him 5-star positive review.
As long as you get the refund FIRST, you would be safe taking this deal.
angelno9
·4 months agoThere is something wrong with that, because (a) it is unecessary; and (b) it's against eBay policy.
jonathanbrightlight
·4 months agoeBay didn’t tell them to do that, and in fact it’s directly against policy: https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-policies/feedback-manipulation-policy?id=4231
I agree, just tell them they can send the refund or a return label.
loose_goose_garage
·4 months agoJust tell them you want the refund first before leaving feedback, then leave appropriate feedback if they actually give it to you. Had a couple sellers do this over the years, some will refund, others are just hoping you'll leave good feedback first.