Gone are the days when Ebay blocked negative feedback for sellers who offered free returns. | Selling

rugerskick

·10 months ago

Also, patina on silver isn't rust. I also thought most collectors preferred it to remain on an old item rather than be polished and removed.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

If the entire feedback breaks policy, Ebay will remove it when the seller requests it. But if only part of it is against policy, Ebay gives the buyer the chance to revise it. If they don't, then Ebay will remove the entire feedback.

With that said, IDK the timeline on this. I'm awaiting an answer on it. How long is the buyer given to revise the feedback?

From Ebay:

More flexible handling of mixed feedback

Weâ€™re also improving how mixed feedback affects your profile. Starting this October, when you ask us to remove feedback and a buyerâ€™s comment contains both removable and non-removable content, weâ€™ll ask them to edit the removable part. If the buyer revises it, weâ€™ll publish their feedback. If they donâ€™t, the feedback wonâ€™t appear on your profile at all. Weâ€™ll notify you whenever we ask a buyer to revise their comment.

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/news/2025-august/seller-protection?mkevt

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-policies/feedback-policies?id=4208

This is why Ebay has made the changes above. They are being proactive on this subject.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials

iamalwaysright

·10 months ago

5 View listings

I think the OP's point to this thread is about the feedback protection of sellers who offer free returns, so I'll comment on that to get back on track a little.

Yes, this I can confirm this protection existed. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe how it worked was that for transactions that already had the returns closed with refunds, the buyer was still allowed to leave bad feedback. I don't think the buyer saw anything different on their end. For all they saw, the feedback was submitted. But the feedback doesn't end up on neither of the seller's nor the buyer's "left for others" page. Scrubbed. I'm not sure what happened to ones where the feedback was already left before the return closed with refund. Because I recall some that didn't auto-scrub, I'd have to talk to ebay to have it removed. I never looked at it close enough to notice any that auto-scrubbed.

For those of you who say that sellers that close a free return with a refund shouldn't deserve this feedback protection because of how the buyer might still feel, yes you're probably right. Ebay might also feel that you're right. But I think that didn't matter in ebay's decision. I saw it as merely an incentive for sellers to use free returns, regardless if it's right or wrong. Ebay wants all sellers to use free returns. But it's not a requirement and sellers are free to make their own choice. So ebay just sends a nudge for sellers to do so in form of a perk. Trust me, we know this isn't the first time ebay has used this tactic to corral sellers into conducting business a certain "preferred" way.

One question for @bill.purvis2012 tho. Have you tried talking with ebay and seeing if they'll remove the feedback based on that protection? I wonder what they will say.

And @mam98031 mentioned the new "mixed feedback" removal requests. I want to know as anyone ever tried this yet? If so, I'd love to hear the outcome. Since this is so new and all. I wonder if the Seller Help removal link would be able to do this or would you have to speak to non-AI agent for this.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@iamalwaysright

The OP is right, this perk has been taken away. It no longer exists.

gurlcat

·10 months ago

1986 View listings

@iamalwaysright wrote:

And @mam98031 mentioned the new "mixed feedback" removal requests. I want to know as anyone ever tried this yet? If so, I'd love to hear the outcome. Since this is so new and all. I wonder if the Seller Help removal link would be able to do this or would you have to speak to non-AI agent for this.

eBay has only published what the final result can be, ZERO about the "hows" of it. I can only imagine what a train wreck this thing could become, especially since it (supposedly) won't just delete the naughty parts and leave the okay ones, but rather prompt the buyer to edit it themselves .... at a time when people (particularly angry people) are more up in arms about 'free speech' than ever before. So just think what "creative" ways they might respond. And then what? Do their responses get checked for compliance?

chapeau-noir

·10 months ago

No bad meows!6575 View listings

@gurlcat wrote:
@iamalwaysright wrote:

And @mam98031 mentioned the new "mixed feedback" removal requests. I want to know as anyone ever tried this yet? If so, I'd love to hear the outcome. Since this is so new and all. I wonder if the Seller Help removal link would be able to do this or would you have to speak to non-AI agent for this.
eBay has only published what the final result can be, ZERO about the "hows" of it. I can only imagine what a train wreck this thing could become, especially since it (supposedly) won't just delete the naughty parts and leave the okay ones, but rather prompt the buyer to edit it themselves .... at a time when people (particularly angry people) are more up in arms about 'free speech' than ever before. So just think what "creative" ways they might respond. And then what? Do their responses get checked for compliance?

LOL - all I can see are problems. I mean - people are up in arms about free speech because of fear of losing it and fights about what it is, but I think more it's the fact that they don't like being hassled about their opinions concerning a transaction that they're already unhappy about. I'd be going hurrrrr if I got a note that my feedback after receiving junk wasn't 'proper'.

ETA: So yeah, can o' worms.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

Some of that comes from the confusion about what Free Speech even means. Those that think it applies on the Ebay forums or in feedback left are simply wrong. Ebay is not the government suppressing someone's speech. They are a company running their business the way they see fit. The can edit what we say any time they want and it is not against the Constitution.

chapeau-noir

·10 months ago

No bad meows!6575 View listings

@mam98031 wrote:
Some of that comes from the confusion about what Free Speech even means. Those that think it applies on the Ebay forums or in feedback left are simply wrong. Ebay is not the government suppressing someone's speech. They are a company running their business the way they see fit. The can edit what we say any time they want and it is not against the Constitution.

Um...yeah, I'm aware of that. But we're dealing with the reality of cranky buyers.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@chapeau-noir wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
Some of that comes from the confusion about what Free Speech even means. Those that think it applies on the Ebay forums or in feedback left are simply wrong. Ebay is not the government suppressing someone's speech. They are a company running their business the way they see fit. The can edit what we say any time they want and it is not against the Constitution.
Um...yeah, I'm aware of that. But we're dealing with the reality of cranky buyers.

Mixed with cranky sellers it isn't likely to end well.

iamalwaysright

·10 months ago

5 View listings

@gurlcat wrote:
@iamalwaysright wrote:

And @mam98031 mentioned the new "mixed feedback" removal requests. I want to know as anyone ever tried this yet? If so, I'd love to hear the outcome. Since this is so new and all. I wonder if the Seller Help removal link would be able to do this or would you have to speak to non-AI agent for this.
eBay has only published what the final result can be, ZERO about the "hows" of it. I can only imagine what a train wreck this thing could become, especially since it (supposedly) won't just delete the naughty parts and leave the okay ones, but rather prompt the buyer to edit it themselves .... at a time when people (particularly angry people) are more up in arms about 'free speech' than ever before. So just think what "creative" ways they might respond. And then what? Do their responses get checked for compliance?

*shrug*

Yea I'm wondering how it'll turn out too. If anything it'll be some good reading.

fern*wood

·10 months ago

10570 View listings

It still seems like a lot of trouble for little benefit, since it sounds like the negative will remain even if edited.

chapeau-noir

·10 months ago

No bad meows!6575 View listings

@fern*wood wrote:
It still seems like a lot of trouble for little benefit, since it sounds like the negative will remain even if edited.

I think it's an attempt to comply with the law in spirit, but the execution is really clumsy. Not sure how else compliance can be achieved, though.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@chapeau-noir wrote:
@fern*wood wrote:
It still seems like a lot of trouble for little benefit, since it sounds like the negative will remain even if edited.
I think it's an attempt to comply with the law in spirit, but the execution is really clumsy. Not sure how else compliance can be achieved, though.

Have you seen this applied to a seller? What made it "clumsy"? I've been watching for this to happen and haven't yet seen it applied.

gurlcat

·10 months ago

1986 View listings

@chapeau-noir wrote:
I think it's an attempt to comply with the law in spirit, but the execution is really clumsy. Not sure how else compliance can be achieved, though.

Can you even imagine how sick the suits must be of having to think about this topic, something that has zero to do with their profits, other than eating into them with paid employee hours?

Just thinking about it reminds me of when I taught high school science at a charter school and so much of our funding rested on whether a few other core subject teachers and I could raise our kids' national test scores ...... meanwhile we had to constantly rethink stuff like effin' bathroom passes (just when you think you have a fair policy, you're being called to the principal's office because some parent complained that you're cruel ... all while teachers of art, gym, Spanish, etc, don't even have to care if their kids actually learn anything, so they can go hang out in the bathroom as often and long as they want).

I wonder how many times the question of just ending feedback altogether has come up.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@fern*wood wrote:
It still seems like a lot of trouble for little benefit, since it sounds like the negative will remain even if edited.

I think it is a bit premature to feel this new way of handling negative feedback isn't worth the effort. So far I haven't seen anyone go through this process. So for me, I will wait and see how Ebay applies this. So far I have only seen entire feedbacks getting removed.

gurlcat

·10 months ago

1986 View listings

@fern*wood wrote:
It still seems like a lot of trouble for little benefit, since it sounds like the negative will remain even if edited.

I don't know, I think it would still be worth trying. For one thing, if the buyer refuses to make the edit, the whole neg gets deleted (including the score deduction). And even if they do the edit, it could certainly make the difference between comments that scare off future buyers versus .... not so bad.

I just have my doubts about the execution on eBay's end.

fern*wood

·10 months ago

10570 View listings

One more comment from the peanut gallery. I also can't imagine how this will work, since it seems ebay is moving to more AI and even less hands on handling and this sounds very hands on to me.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@fern*wood wrote:
One more comment from the peanut gallery. I also can't imagine how this will work, since it seems ebay is moving to more AI and even less hands on handling and this sounds very hands on to me.

Ebay doesn't use AI on appeals. Real people look at them. The initial ask via the automated version is often handled by AI. I don't think we have any information on h ow this will work in practice yet. This is new for all of us and I think we just need to give it time and see how this works.

gurlcat

·10 months ago

1986 View listings

The buyer not only gets disappointment and wasted time; they're literally giving the seller an interest-free loan. Maybe not for a lengthy period of time, but could you get that for even one day at any bank, payday lender, etc? And for items with huge daily fluctuations in value like gold and silver have right now, having money tied up in a ripoff for even a week can mean a real loss in investment opportunity.

bonanza125

·10 months ago

8845 View listings

"Ebay would do away with negative feedback for sellers who offer free returns. No longer."

So you attempted to officially appeal the negative?

bashort

·10 months ago

11885 View listings

I did not know that there was every a time that free returns gave immunity to bad feedback. I certainly never benefited from it.

meme6253

·10 months ago

3989 View listings

I agree with twk, Sterling silver should not rust, So there was a definite issue with that item, perhaps it was only plated, They have a right to their feedback, No slight patina on genuine sterling silver.

dnasilver

·10 months ago

611 View listings

Sorry all silver eventually tones. Even silver at 9999 purity levels will tone. Look at the coins we sell. the ones that show no toning to the naked eye still have a patina upon magnification. It is a natural process when silver is introduced to the environment.

roccotacodad54

·10 months ago

433 View listings

I have antique silver items that have developed a wonderful gold/blue/purplish patina that's beautiful. Not the black or brown nasty looking type.

I'm not sure what in the environment caused that particular patina before I obtained them but I waxed them with renissance wax just to preserve it. I have no intent of polishing them to remove it.

I may research what in their enviroment caused it someday.

I am looking right now at a sterling spoon with a totally different goldish patina...Beautiful.

baangell

·10 months ago

2202 View listings

When eBay added automatic positive feedback they also removed seller protection from negative feedback on free returns.

On a side note, with the skyrocketing prices for silver it might be more profitable to sell at scrap prices.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@baangell wrote:
When eBay added automatic positive feedback they also removed seller protection from negative feedback on free returns.

On a side note, with the skyrocketing prices for silver it might be more profitable to sell at scrap prices.

@baangell

Not exactly. They removed the AUTOMATIC removal of negative feedback on sellers with Free Returns. Sellers did NOT lose ALL their Seller Protection. If the seller can determine what part of the Feedback Policy the buyers feedback breached, they can still ask Ebay to remove the feedback. The protection is still there.

chapeau-noir

·10 months ago

No bad meows!6575 View listings

@mam98031 wrote:
@baangell wrote:
When eBay added automatic positive feedback they also removed seller protection from negative feedback on free returns.

On a side note, with the skyrocketing prices for silver it might be more profitable to sell at scrap prices.
@baangell

Not exactly. They removed the AUTOMATIC removal of negative feedback on sellers with Free Returns. Sellers did NOT lose ALL their Seller Protection. If the seller can determine what part of the Feedback Policy the buyers feedback breached, they can still ask Ebay to remove the feedback. The protection is still there.

A tiny amount, maybe, because then one runs into eBay's usual equivocation of *if* what part of the feedback violated what part of the policy...if the seller is able to winkle that out.

dhbookds

·10 months ago

1682 View listings

Think it was in response to this, as was the addition of the auto feedback.......

The FTC's new rule on customer comments, effective October 21, 2024,

bans fake reviews, buying positive or negative comments, and suppressing negative reviews. It prohibits businesses from misrepresenting reviews as independent when they are not, and requires clear disclosures for insider or incentivized reviews. Ordinary consumers are not liable under the rule, which only applies to the conduct of businesses and influencers.

Key changes in the new FTC rule

Bans fake and AI-generated reviews: Businesses cannot post or use fake reviews, including those created by bots or AI.
Prohibits buying reviews: It is illegal for a business to give compensation or other incentives conditioned on a review having a specific positive or negative sentiment.
Forbids review suppression: Businesses cannot block or remove negative reviews through processes, procedures, or intimidation, including making unfounded legal threats.
Requires clear disclosures: Companies must ensure disclosures for incentivized or insider reviews are clear, conspicuous, and easy to understand.
Clarifies employee/insider reviews: Employees or relatives can post honest reviews if they disclose their material connection to the company.
Restricts "company-controlled" review sites: Businesses cannot present their own review sites or entities as independent when they are controlled by the company.
Prohibits "review hijacking": While this was proposed, the final rule eliminated the specific prohibition on using reviews from one product to appear to be for another, though other provisions may still apply.
Eliminates liability for ordinary consumers: The rules only apply to the conduct of businesses, not individuals posting reviews.

kensgiftshop

·10 months ago

389 View listings

You did say it was in Excellent Condition.

Nothing was mentioned in your description about any problems with it.

Don't see why they would remove it.

hotwheelsbum

·10 months ago

61 View listings

@bill.purvis2012 wrote:
Offering free returns for any reason used to block a buyer from negative feedback as the refund made them whole. No longer. Just received a negative from an unreasonable buyer who bought vintage sterling item and claimed it was 'rusty' when it had the slightest patina. This, after she kept it as long as possible. Totally refunded to her. In the past, Ebay would do away with negative feedback for sellers who offer free returns. No longer.

"It had the slightest patina"

This is the only thing you put in your listing when describing the Necklace to potential Buyers:

â€œExcellent Conditionâ€

"Vintage Sterling Silver 925 Serpentine 18" Chain 1" Sterling Dragonfly Necklace"

Bare minimum. Didn't add that it has a slight patina. Could use a good polishing. Selling as is so that Buyer can polish to their desire. Nothing.

Buyer expected a "Vintage Sterling Silver 925 Serpentine 18" Chain 1" Sterling Dragonfly Necklace" that was in â€œExcellent Conditionâ€, and you sent them something that had a "Slight Patina".

Negative Earned. Go on about your day. Put this one behind you.

twk

·10 months ago

2410 View listings

Sterling silver should not rust.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@twk wrote:
Sterling silver should not rust.

I think the buyer may have been a little confused and determined some dirt was rust. In looking closely at the chain especially, it looked like it needed a good cleaning.

m60driver

·10 months ago

6057 View listings

Your response should have been limited to "I accept free returns and promptly refunded." and nothing more.

powell-collectibles

·10 months ago

JBLBFF, Mixed Bag Guy, AND Unofficial Mentor to the Stars2349 View listings

@bill.purvis2012 wrote:
Offering free returns for any reason used to block a buyer from negative feedback as the refund made them whole. No longer. Just received a negative from an unreasonable buyer who bought vintage sterling item and claimed it was 'rusty' when it had the slightest patina. This, after she kept it as long as possible. Totally refunded to her. In the past, Ebay would do away with negative feedback for sellers who offer free returns. No longer.

Pendulum has swung. Sure, encouraging free returns was a good thing. But, using that to silence buyers that had significant legit issues woth a transaction wasnâ€™t right.

AND, refunding a buyer doesnâ€™t make him whole. You arenâ€™t compensating a buyer for his wasted time and disappointment with the transaction.

fern*wood

·10 months ago

10570 View listings

@powell-collectibles wrote:
Pendulum has swung. Sure, encouraging free returns was a good thing. But, using that to silence buyers that had significant legit issues woth a transaction wasnâ€™t right.

AND, refunding a buyer doesnâ€™t make him whole. You arenâ€™t compensating a buyer for his wasted time and disappointment with the transaction.

I tend to agree with that. Even worse in my mind were the courtesy removals given to sellers with, I believe, concierge service. I remember a seller coming to the board to whine about no longer getting removals (so many a year) just for asking. For these reasons, I seldom give much of a thought to feedback when I buy.

bashort

·10 months ago

11885 View listings

@fern*wood wrote:
I remember a seller coming to the board to whine about no longer getting removals (so many a year) just for asking. For these reasons, I seldom give much of a thought to feedback when I buy.

I remember that also, I could not believe that was happening.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@fern*wood wrote:
@powell-collectibles wrote:
Pendulum has swung. Sure, encouraging free returns was a good thing. But, using that to silence buyers that had significant legit issues woth a transaction wasnâ€™t right.

AND, refunding a buyer doesnâ€™t make him whole. You arenâ€™t compensating a buyer for his wasted time and disappointment with the transaction.
I tend to agree with that. Even worse in my mind were the courtesy removals given to sellers with, I believe, concierge service. I remember a seller coming to the board to whine about no longer getting removals (so many a year) just for asking. For these reasons, I seldom give much of a thought to feedback when I buy.

That was all working towards what is going on right now. These auto removals are no longer on Ebay. And that is because of this.

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/federal-trade-commission-announces-final-rule-banning-fake-reviews-testimonials

But sellers CAN still request feedback removal.

More flexible handling of mixed feedback

Weâ€™re also improving how mixed feedback affects your profile. Starting this October, when you ask us to remove feedback and a buyerâ€™s comment contains both removable and non-removable content, weâ€™ll ask them to edit the removable part. If the buyer revises it, weâ€™ll publish their feedback. If they donâ€™t, the feedback wonâ€™t appear on your profile at all. Weâ€™ll notify you whenever we ask a buyer to revise their comment.

https://www.ebay.com/sellercenter/news/2025-august/seller-protection?mkevt

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-policies/feedback-policies?id=4208

toysaver

·10 months ago

7833 View listings

"bay blocked negative feedback for sellers who offered free returns."

OMG I never knew that! As a seller not that meaningful to me but as a buyer I would have considered that when making purchases.

bill.purvis2012

OP10 months ago

4359 View listings

Why? If a seller offers a buyer complete return and refund? As a buyer, that works well for me. I buy all the time online and if something isn't right I'm perfectly satisfied with a return at the seller's expense and a refund.

roccotacodad54

·10 months ago

433 View listings

You may be perfectly fine with a return and refund. I'm not.

I usually only start either the car or pickup once in awhile to go to town for one reason or another. Sometimes in winter just to get oil flowing and keep the battery charged.

On the rare ocasions I've had to file for a return The whole process left a bad taste in my mouth.

First the item is broken or NAD or whatever.

Then I have to repack it.

Then drive to town whereas I might not have for awhile, especially in bad winter weather.

Then wait in line at the PO to make sure it's properly scanned and I have a receipt.

Then wait for my refund..........................Naaa.

christworks

·10 months ago

1329 View listings

@roccotacodad54 wrote:
You may be perfectly fine with a return and refund. I'm not.
I usually only start either the car or pickup once in awhile to go to town for one reason or another. Sometimes in winter just to get oil flowing and keep the battery charged.
On the rare ocasions I've had to file for a return The whole process left a bad taste in my mouth.
First the item is broken or NAD or whatever.
Then I have to repack it.
Then drive to town whereas I might not have for awhile, especially in bad winter weather.
Then wait in line at the PO to make sure it's properly scanned and I have a receipt.
Then wait for my refund..........................Naaa.

Sounds like you are not suited to buy online.

roccotacodad54

·10 months ago

433 View listings

No. I rarely have to involke the MBG because I am careful who I buy from and what I buy.

I was just trying to point out that getting a refund after the hassel of it doesn't make the "buyer whole".

I just don't get the idea that one should be happy about a transaction going bad just because they got a refund.

It was still a bad experience for them and if the feedback reflects that...so be it.

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@roccotacodad54 wrote:
No. I rarely have to involke the MBG because I am careful who I buy from and what I buy.
I was just trying to point out that getting a refund after the hassel of it doesn't make the "buyer whole".
I just don't get the idea that one should be happy about a transaction going bad just because they got a refund.
It was still a bad experience for them and if the feedback reflects that...so be it.

What you have to say about the buyer being whole is absolutely correct. But that doesn't mean the buyer should post a negative feedback on the seller for that reason. Especially if the issue with the item was outside of the seller's control and the seller worked with the buyer until the problem was resolved.

Most sellers are good people just trying to earn money they work for. They don't intentionally try to make things difficult for their buyers. But sometimes us humans make a mistake. And I think some tend to forget that side of the transaction since it is not done in person.

golfingaddict

·10 months ago

27172 View listings

Leaving negative feedback makes up for all the pain and agony of returning an item?

Asking for a friend.

roccotacodad54

·10 months ago

433 View listings

No but the seller shouldn't complain because the buyer left negative feedback when it was the seller that caused the bad experience for the buyer...................

mam98031

·10 months ago

Owner / Operator19714 View listings

@roccotacodad54 wrote:
No but the seller shouldn't complain because the buyer left negative feedback when it was the seller that caused the bad experience for the buyer...................

Give some examples of a seller causing the bad experience. That would be helpful. Because you are right here too, the sellers do sometimes misbehave.

roccotacodad54

·10 months ago

433 View listings

Lets see, bad examples....Inadequate (sometimes comical) packing of items that resulted in easily avoidable damage to fragile items.

I have reached out to a seller and received a rude response.

I agree most sellers I've dealt with provide a pleasant buying experience for me. I do my best to do my due dilligence in vetting to do my part in avoiding problems.

I just don't think free returns should exempt a seller from a negative.

I'm not prone to leaving them myself but I do understand a buyers frustration when a deserved one is removed....................

jonathanbrightlight

·10 months ago

0 View listings

@bill.purvis2012 wrote:
Why? If a seller offers a buyer complete return and refund? As a buyer, that works well for me. I buy all the time online and if something isn't right I'm perfectly satisfied with a return at the seller's expense and a refund.

So if you order something, and something completely different shows up, and the seller responds rudely or doesnâ€™t respond except to approve the return, you feel any negative feedback is not warranted as long as you get your money back after a process that may take several weeks?

I would not.

chapeau-noir

·10 months ago

No bad meows!6575 View listings

@bill.purvis2012 wrote:
Why? If a seller offers a buyer complete return and refund? As a buyer, that works well for me. I buy all the time online and if something isn't right I'm perfectly satisfied with a return at the seller's expense and a refund.

"Free" returns shouldn't buy off feedback. Someone looks for something they really want, finally finds it and then seller sells them junk? "Free" returns doesn't fix that waste of time and disappointment on the buyer's end.

ETA: And I'm really slow to neg, too.