Buyer sent negative feedback for an item stated to not be working and complained it was not working
eBay refuses to remove the negative feedback even though it makes no sense and the buyer is mis-stating the facts.
Buyer stated that the item (camera lens) is not working as the reason for the negative feedback.
When I created the listing I checked the box for condition as: “Not Working or For Partsâ€.
In the Condition Details from Seller field, I wrote: “ I have no way to test this, but the zoom action is weird. i may just be unfamiliar with how this particular lens works, but thought it safer to list it as For Parts or Not Working.â€
In the About This Item field in the listing it says “For parts or not working. An item that does not function as intended and is not fully operational. This includes items that are defective in ways that render them difficult to use, items that require service or repair, or items missing essential components.â€
eBay refuses to take the negative feedback down despite the listing stating all of that.
Things i have tried:
1. Contacted the buyer and asked them to reconsider, since the listing said the lens was Not Working or For Parts. Buyer said no
2. Filed an appeal, but eBay said it is totally ok for the buyer to lie about the item
3. Chatted with an eBay agent, who said it is OK for the buyer to leave negative feedback and state the item is not working, despite me writing that it is not working.
4. Chatted with another eBay agent, since it seems completely insane to be in this situation. Same result. They seem untrained, or maybe better stated them seem willfully trained to deny all feedback adjustment, and are only capable of cutting and pasting from the relevant policy web page(s).
5. Used the send an email form of contact to see if maybe there is a separate group that handles email requests for help. Same result - more cutting and pasting of non-relevant policy pages.
Any suggestions for other things I could try? Thanks in advance!
fdgg8690
·2 years agoFWIW, the buyer seems to struggle with English. They may have looked no further than the photograph, listing title, and price, before hitting "buy".
milesbfree
OP2 years agoquite possibly.
Lesson learned - put Not Working in the title in addition to all the other places. However, eBay still wouldn't correct the untrue feedback, I'm guessing.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoI've sold a few items for parts or repair and that's the first thing I put in the title and in the description.
fbusoni
·2 years agoNot sure if this has been broached but selling something "nonworking" on eBay for "parts" is an invitation to confusion and a bad ending.
This applies in particular to old SLRs, whose devotees are, in my experience, a "unique" group.
Better to sell this sort of thing locally on FB marketplace, where you can actually meet the buyer, look them in the eye, and determine whether they understand what "nonworking" means.
milesbfree
OP2 years agoThat is the best answer. eBay is just not a good selling platform. I am an individual, not a business, and was formerly using eBay to sell stuff from my Dad's and an uncle's estates (including this one). Some of it, like that lens, i am not familiar with other than zooming it in and out felt weird. No way to test it, as I stated. In that circumstance, if buyers are not willing to accept that it is Not Wokring or For Parts, eBay is a bad choice.
It was easy to list things for a variety of things like tools from their estates. Now I'm thinking I should be going to specific forums and listing the items there. e.g., camera forums.
I know this is one bad experience out of like a thousand, but it shows how bad eBay is. Also, this was "only" a $25 sale, but I had 724 auctions at 100% positive, and this illustrates it could all go South in a second.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoItem might have been purchased on cell phone of eBay app.
No description will be shown there immediately ...one has to scroll down on the item and find description and click on description.
Need to put in title 'not working'.
Not everyone uses a computer to buy items on eBay nowadays.
A revision can only be in 10 days by buyer or eBay.
I suggest going on a cellphone and look at eBay app and understand what might have happened.
Also opening a claim on the cellphone is not easy as well due to eBay requesting a photo of item that might be returned or such.
Buyer probably got frustrated and just decided to leave the feedback because that's easy to do.
milesbfree
OP2 years ago> When selling as "for parts or not working" it is suggested that a seller not provide "false hope" to a
> potential buyer. I have no way to test this, but the zoom action is weird. i may just be unfamiliar with
> how this particular lens works, but thought it safer to list it as For Parts or Not Working
> As @buyselljack2016 has posted, you created an ambiguity when you created your listing and
> therefore must take the SNAD return.
To me that means the seller is unsure about the condition of the item and knows nothing about it, making me even LESS LIKELY to think i was getting a working lens especially after it says "Not Working" in 4 different parts of the listing.
The seller did not request a SNAD return. Just left negative feedback. If it was me and I was dumb enough to ignore all of the "Not Working" warnings, I would have asked for a return or my money back. Something seems weird here. Why would someone just eat the money when eBay is 100% on the side of the buyer (as this illustrates)? I think because the lens was Not Working, just as the auction said it was, so they know they don't have a leg to stand on.
Also, the description mentioned a safety issue with assuming the lens would work. Buyer ignored that too.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoYou should have mentioned in the description it was for parts or repair and you don't know if it works.
milesbfree
OP2 years ago>You should have mentioned in the description it was for parts or repair and you don't know if it works.
That is stated in 4 different places in the listing. I thought 4 times was enough, but apparently not.
kensgiftshop
·2 years agoJust looking at the listing, on a PC, you see the condition which says for parts or not working.
Under the seller notes, you state it's for parts or not working, but if the buyer doesn't click Read More, they are not going to see it.
There is nothing in the actual description that says it's for parts or repair.
house*of*paws
·2 years agoHi @milesbfree
Did the buyer contact you before leaving the neg?
Did the buyer open a return request? If yes, did you accept the return?
You MAY be able to have the neg removed (by eBay) OR revised (by the buyer) if you accept the return … OR simply refund.
[I am very sorry this happened. It shouldn’t be happening in my opinion … but I’ve been seeing posts that eBay has been granting refunds for items listed as ‘Not working or for parts’.] ☹ï¸
milesbfree
OP2 years ago> Did the buyer contact you before leaving the neg?
>Did the buyer open a return request? If yes, did you accept the return?
No, he just left the negative review. No contacting me first to see what could be done, no return request, no refund request, no communication at all. That makes me think the person is running some sort of scam, and might come back later and ask for money.
buyselljack2016
·2 years agoIf attempting to "scam" you that would have happened first. They would have filed a SNAD to get a refund.
IMHO you just have a buyer that was disappointed when purchasing an item that "hinted" that it might be just fine.
Hinting that it might be OK.......................... i may just be unfamiliar with how this particular lens works
milesbfree
OP2 years ago"The zoom action is weird". Buyer feedback states the reason for negative feedback is the action is weird.
"thought it safer to list it as For Parts or Not Working."
Condition: Not Working or For Parts
"An item that does not function as intended and is not fully operational. This includes items that are defective in ways that render them difficult to use, items that require service or repair, or items missing essential components."
stacy_pme
·2 years agoThere is a facebook page, called ebay for business, I recommend you go to that facebook page, and send a private message with your information. They will have you "authenticate" your ebay account... and once that is done, they will usually be able to assist you properly. I believe they are US agents. I hope this helps you. It has helped me in the past. Good Luck!
milesbfree
OP2 years agoby "authenticate", do you mean I need to give them my login info? If so it sounds very shaky - why wouldn't they just tell me what to do?
bonjourami
·2 years agoThey dont require 'login info', I also found them to be most helpful.
tobaccocardyahoo
·2 years agoAs @buyselljack2016 has posted, you created an ambiguity when you created your listing and therefore must take the SNAD return.
By attempting to enhance the attractiveness of the item, you created this situation.
buyselljack2016
·2 years agoWhen selling as "for parts or not working" it is suggested that a seller not provide "false hope" to a potential buyer.
----------------------------------------------
I have no way to test this, but the zoom action is weird. i may just be unfamiliar with how this particular lens works,
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years ago@milesbfree
This is what a lot of sellers use to get a INAD return. This has to be very clear it does not work or even hint that you may have had it working at one time. That being said, they should be able to understand what you meant and correct the feedback but some buyers really have no clue how it may impact a seller.
ckimodog
·2 years ago@milesbfree
Wrote: Chatted with an eBay agent, who said it is OK for the seller to leave negative feedback and state the item is not working, despite me writing that it is not working.
Sellers cannot leave negative feedback and have not been able to leave NF since 2008. Please allow me to advise you about eBay's cruddy customer service. As I have stated in the past, they are about as useful as a 3 legged horse at the Kentucky derby. They are outsourced overs seas agents who do not work for eBay. They read scripts and most times their info is incorrect or completely false. eBay will not accept an email, so don't bother. The only thing I can advise is to communicate with the buyer. Be polite and professional and perhaps they will remove the feedback. Very sorry for your situation, but you can't make people read here on eBay, regardless what you posted in your description. Honestly, I would never list a non working item, as this is tends to be the result, unfortunately. Hang in there.
Happy selling
milesbfree
OP2 years agoThanks for the reply. that sentence should have said buyer, not seller. i corrected it above
milesbfree
OP2 years agoeBay has said the following things from their own policies do not apply: