Negative feedback blackmail

How can a seller get negative feedback removed ?
Buyer suffered remorse for a $1 + shipping item, wanted a “settlement” (read refund) without returning the item. My communication shows I offered a full refund on return, but buyer refused and left negative feedback instead ??

gazzavc

1468 View listings

Posted 4 months ago·Last reply 4 months ago

16 comments

soh.maryl

·4 months ago

111 View listings

For that amount of money, would've just refunded without requiring a return.

But then what do I know?

Also, that FB response was not the best idea you ever had.

kibble-net

·4 months ago

8324 View listings

OP, please grow a thicker skin, and don't call your customers names. As a seller, you're supposed to be the "adult in the room" so why not act like it? If not, maybe you are not mature enough for this business. Best of luck to you.

gb58

·4 months ago

10821 View listings

Ebay isn't going to remove that feedback.

All this over a $1 sale? really?

You should have given them their $1 back and moved on, because you know if they started a INAD case, you would have been on the hook to refund them their entire payment, plus original shipping, plus return shipping.

onefootflipper

·4 months ago

4442 View listings

@gb58 wrote:
Ebay isn't going to remove that feedback.

All this over a $1 sale? really?

You should have given them their $1 back and moved on, because you know if they started a INAD case, you would have been on the hook to refund them their entire payment, plus original shipping, plus return shipping.

The shipping charge was excessive. I have shipped those same figures before, it would have been an 8 ounce box for $5-$6 and the seller charged $16.45

To the original poster. Why are your shipping charges all 3-10 times what they actually cost to ship?

You have $57.85 to ship a TSR Battle over Britain game. I sold one last year, it cost me $9 to ship.

You have $50 shipping on Ravensburger Scotland yard. Most sellers have this shipping at under $10. In fact your shipping makes yours rank 266th out of 269 when sorted by price plus shipping.

If you keep trying to shift all your price to shipping then you will keep getting negatives for it.

You have a coat with $117 shipping on it.

gb58

·4 months ago

10821 View listings

Reminds me of the days when a seller would sell something for $1 and charge $50 shipping. It's the main reason ebay started charging fees on the entire total (sale price, shipping, and tax).

Yes, the seller has a coat for $30, and to my zone it's showing $132 shipping.

Perhaps OP doesn't realize, where ebay fees are concerned, he's paying them on the total.

bonanza125

·4 months ago

8889 View listings

@onefootflipper

"The shipping charge was excessive. I have shipped those same figures before, it would have been an 8 ounce box for $5-$6 and the seller charged $16.45."

To ship a 8 oz package from coast to coast priority mail it does cost $16.45 which the OP shipped priority mail. Just thought I point that out.

inhawaii

·4 months ago

Ebay's most handsome seller.4976 View listings

@bonanza125 wrote:
@onefootflipper

"The shipping charge was excessive. I have shipped those same figures before, it would have been an 8 ounce box for $5-$6 and the seller charged $16.45."

To ship a 8 oz package from coast to coast priority mail it does cost $16.45 which the OP shipped priority mail. Just thought I point that out.

You are correct.

Which opens up a whole nother question.

Why was it not shipped Ground Advantage?

onefootflipper

·4 months ago

4442 View listings

@bonanza125 wrote:
@onefootflipper

"The shipping charge was excessive. I have shipped those same figures before, it would have been an 8 ounce box for $5-$6 and the seller charged $16.45."

To ship a 8 oz package from coast to coast priority mail it does cost $16.45 which the OP shipped priority mail. Just thought I point that out.

I believe that listing said Ground Advantage.

In any case priority mail should be dead and 3 years buried to normal everything sellers at this point. I believe I have used priority mail exactly one time since ground advantage came out and that was for a flat rate envelope that was already packed up in advance.

inhawaii

·4 months ago

Ebay's most handsome seller.4976 View listings

@onefootflipper wrote:
@bonanza125 wrote:
@onefootflipper

"The shipping charge was excessive. I have shipped those same figures before, it would have been an 8 ounce box for $5-$6 and the seller charged $16.45."

To ship a 8 oz package from coast to coast priority mail it does cost $16.45 which the OP shipped priority mail. Just thought I point that out.
I believe that listing said Ground Advantage.

In any case priority mail should be dead and 3 years buried to normal everything sellers at this point. I believe I have used priority mail exactly one time since ground advantage came out and that was for a flat rate envelope that was already packed up in advance.

You're right it did say GA.

bonanza125

·4 months ago

8889 View listings

Yeah I don't use priority mail at all either unless it's requested which some buyers do request to pay extra for that service because they need the item quicker especially parts or something they need as a gift. Majority of the time buyers shop price and want to pay as little as possible in shipping cost.

bonanza125

·4 months ago

8889 View listings

Ebay will most likely not remove the feedback. You can try by filing an appeal and explaining the situation. You should consider changing your return policy to "30 days w/seller pays for returns" so that way it is clear in the listing. The buyer has a right to leave negative feedback if that's the way they feel. Just don't deal with that person again. Now are they being petty? Yes absolutely. You replied to the feedback which will give your other buyers a chance to read your side. I would've worded your reply differently and not call them an infant but that's your choice. Your percentage rating will go back up in a year.

mustang707

·4 months ago

0 View listings

Yes, buyers can be boneheads but as others have said you have to keep your cool. By the way, why would you start at auction at 99 cents when there is no way to make money if it actually sells for that?

meme6253

·4 months ago

3989 View listings

You won't get it removed, Your reply to this situation was Extremely unprofessional, No matter how us sellers feel about certain situations with customers we cannot reply in the manner that you chose.

christworks

·4 months ago

1406 View listings

@gazzavc

Here are the feedback removal reasons:

We remove all feedback that contains any:

Content promoting hatred, violence or discrimination
Profane, obscene, adult, illegal, or explicit content
Opinions on any political, religious, or social issues
Any implied or explicit threats or intimidation
Personally identifiable information
Links, URLs, or other content encouraging sales outside of eBay
Infringement of third-party rights
Meaningless content or images that aren’t of the item purchased
Comments intended for a different item or seller
Negative comments with positive ratings, or positive comments with negative ratings
Personal attacks that could harm the reputation of the seller or their business and could not reasonably be viewed as constructive criticism

I think your buyer stayed on-point and factual, so there is nothing obvious solely on the feedback that I can see would warrant removal. Instead, I think your appeal will hinge on reporting your buyer for abusive behavior.

If you have messages from the buyer demanding a partial refund without returning the item, that would be a violation of eBay policy by the buyer. You can (and should) report the buyer for that. Below is a screenshot of the policy. Once you report them, wait a couple of days and then appeal the feedback. When you appeal the feedback, be sure to state in the appeal that you reported the buyer for abusive behavior due to the demands for a partial refund without returning the item, and note that eBay may review those messages. Hopefully that will get it removed.

I agree with others, your response is poor and that's what will keep people from buying from you. It's not that you cannot be a little snarky. I'm generally okay with scaring away buyers who have the same mindset as the buyer who left the negative. What you don't want to do is scare away all buyers, and I'm afraid you went too far in your response. Next time, if you cannot respond without anger, take time to cool off and focus on trying to get the feedback removed. Only after eBay refuses to remove a feedback would I respond to it. I might be a little snarky, but I'll do so in a professional manner and will include a line letting honest buyers knows their business is always welcome.

roccotacodad54

·4 months ago

436 View listings

Your reply to the negative feedback is more damaging to you than the feedback itself. All those CAPS and name calling makes you look as if you have anger issues. Maybe calm down a bit in the future and try to appear more even tempered.

The idea is to make him look bad not you............................

inhawaii

·4 months ago

Ebay's most handsome seller.4976 View listings

Request feedback removal online through ebay.

----------------------------------------------------

Now, about your reply to the negative feedback...

"Item CLEARLY PICTURED AND DESCRIBED. Buyer paid LESS THAN ONE DOLLAR for these, refused the offer of a refund, wanted to keep the item AND get a refund. Shipping rates via priority mail are set by USPS and ebay. Communication with this petulant infant is a series of disturbing veiled threats. DO NOT SELL TO THIS CUSTOMER, HIS ONLY REASON FOR BUYING IS TO SCAM YOU INTO REFUNDING AND KEEPING THE ITEM WITH THE THREAT OF DAMAGING YOUR BUSINESS."

vs.

"Sorry you are unhappy with your item. Please return it for a full refund."

Which on of those replies would future potential buyers was to read?