What kind of feedback would you give this seller?
Summary: inhawaii shared a challenging experience with a new seller who shipped items inadequately packaged and accused them of being a scammer when feedback was provided. Several participants offered perspectives, debating whether to leave feedback and what type it should be. Some suggested leaving constructive feedback, others advised against it to avoid negative repercussions. The discussion expanded to include broader experiences with packaging issues and the challenges of dealing with feedback and new sellers, with some recommending no feedback or positive feedback despite the seller’s behavior. Ultimately, inhawaii decided to withhold feedback for the time being.
I bought 5 of an item for about $40.
This is a new seller with (1) feedback. I like to give new sellers a chance.
He messages me and says he doesn't have 5 of the color I ordered and if I would be willing to take 1 in another color.
I said no problem. It wasn't really a big deal.
The package arrived.
Although the items are not really fragile, they were shipped loose in a box with absolutely no packaging whatsoever.
They were not damaged but who packages and ships thing this way?
I decided to let him know of my dissatisfaction.
He replies back calling me a scammer.
I guess he thinks I was fishing for a partial refund.
What kind of feedback (if any) would you give this seller?
ten_o_nine
·1 month agoA neutral or negative feedback is a necessary lesson that will force them to fix their packaging and attitude before they lose their account.
skatefool
·1 month ago"They were not damaged but who packages and ships thing this way?"
-Amazon, of course. You must have ordered things from AZ before, no?
smilekc
·1 month ago"This is a new seller with (1) feedback. I like to give new sellers a chance."
This is a new selling account, not necessarily a new seller. It could be they rack up negative feedback on one selling account, then open a new selling account. They could have multiple selling accounts, all working at the same time.
The fact that they ran out of an item they are selling & knew how to message you, along with them instantly calling you a scammer tells me they have been selling for a long while.
I'd leave neutral feedback, provided you have a separate buying account. If you buy on your selling account, this "new" seller is likely to retaliate if you leave honest feedback by buying from you & leaving negative feedback from one of their accounts.
grann-4629
·1 month agoBig deal. Feedback ain't worth a hill of beans anyway ...
gurlcat
·1 month agogrann, we all know your position on feedback, LOL. But saying there is nothing wrong with a feedback score of 50% (1 pos and 1 neg) is kind of absurd. Maybe YOU would buy from such a seller, but I'd bet big money that most buyers would not.
adamcartwright
·1 month agoActually.... for everyone wondering how a new seller could possibly know how to pack a shipment because AZ sets such a poor example (we're making AZ the standard now?) ...
If good old common sense fails, eBay thrusts an entire paragraph of "Shipping Instructions" in your face when you buy your shipping label.
It tells you what size box or envelope to use, reminds you to cushion your item with protective materials like bubble wrap, peanuts, foam, or paper, etc.
Now I wouldn't jeopardize my account by making a big deal about it, but there really are no excuses for shoddy packaging.
grann-4629
·1 month agoMy partner just received a sofa cover from AZ. It wasn't even a box or a bag ... right off the shelf and into the shipping program!
Prime is really getting lousy for packing and richer by not doing it properly.
powell-collectibles
·1 month agoWhen you order from Amazon, there is often the option to have delivered in no packaging or in Amazon packaging. If I order something big, that might be the default. That’s actually what I prefer for something large - I don’t want to take care of that unnecessary packing material.
adamcartwright
·1 month agoI got something from Amazon the other day. Although I had not even been offered the option of packaging or no packaging, it did arrive on the front porch with a shipping label slapped on the manufacturer packaging.
sin-n-dex
·1 month agoI'm late to the party, but I wanted to weigh in.
To start with, I wouldn't leave a negative feedback if I used an account to sell stuff, because of fear or retaliation by someone who might not be completely balanced. I don't think I'd leave a neutral either.
But I would probably message the seller to let them know, but to avoid being accused of being a scammer I would tell them their product arrived safely, but just between you and me for next time, you should do this... sometimes buyers send me messages like that when something goes wrong, and keeps it in message instead of on feedback. I would let a buyer know my complaining is not to get money back for my items, it's just because they're a new seller and I want to be helpful.
If I forgot to make that clear and got called a scammer, that's when I'd become very defensive and I would respond to that instead of letting it go. I'm someone who always have to have the last word, even when I'm blocked and the person I'm writing to isn't seeing my messages. Saying it is part of the exercise for me to move past it.
That's just how I would handle. But I think I might have approached it a little more gently than you did. It's kind of ridiculous that he'd call you a scammer anyway... it's pretty obvious from your profile and store that you're an established seller who might know something a new seller hasn't learnt yet.
C.
inhawaii
OP1 month ago · EditedSomething I didn't mention in my original post (not that it matters to some of you) but the 5 items were loose, not wrapped together, not in a ziploc bag, not in a paper bag, loose in a box way to big for them, literally rattling around. I've shipped non-fragile items in a box without any packaging before, but the box fit the item. I would never ship a small item (let alone 5 of them) in a big box without ANY packaging. Two of my family members who have never packed a box in their life) were both there when I opened the box and both made a comment like "Why would they ship it like that?"
Anyways, i've decided to not leave any feedback ... for now. Thanks for everyone's opinions.
bdmh-enterprises
·1 month ago"Although the items are not really fragile, they were shipped loose in a box with absolutely no packaging whatsoever.
They were not damaged but who packages and ships thing this way?"
Literally every major retailer out there. And not just the big box guys, I get stuff from Pokemon Center, and Wizards of the Coast with no packing material, though Walmart is still 50/50 nothing or 8 miles of unneeded air pillow.
IMO if the items arrived undamaged, then the seller used exactly the right amount of packaging to get them to you undamaged...
adamcartwright
·1 month agoI think the difference is that the ramifications of poor packaging -- for both buyer and seller -- are worse here on eBay than with a major retailer.
gone.c-33
·1 month agoExactly this. If a younger seller’s only experience has been with Amazon or Walmart, I wouldn’t blame them for thinking this is how stuff is packed for shipping.
chapeau-noir
·1 month agoTell him to grab the reins - you're only giving him some friendly advice from your experience. He might settle down.
gurlcat
·1 month agoI will never understand this "item could have been damaged" thing. There are probably about as many standards of sufficient packing as there are packers. There is someone out there who thinks it's messed up how toothpicks are packaged all together in a container instead of individually wrapped. Okay I'm being silly, but I guarantee if you asked the Community how much packaging a _____ needs, you would get a wide range of answers.
So with that in mind, if a seller's instinct about how much was enough PROVES true, by the fact that the item arrived undamaged, it's pretty ridiculous to tell them they should have applied your standard of packing.
grann-4629
·1 month agoI have always wondered what they pack those little styrofoam packing bubbles in when they ship them in bulk to distributors.
The only packaging that bothers me is that huge plastic bag they use to package individually packaged rolls of paper towel and that cardboard thing that Pepsi uses to hold their 6 bottles.
gurlcat
·1 month ago · EditedTough call without enough information. I mean did you sound like you were partial refund fishing???
EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I side with the seller. Sorry @inhawaii but why are you being cagey about details, like what kind of item these were, and what kind of outer container they were in? Without those facts, it's impossible to tell if you were right to try to educate this seller, or just being a Karen. And the fact that you didn't tell us what the items were ... kinda makes it seem like you know some would regard your complaint as Karen-ish. 😆
grann-4629
·1 month agoIf you have read many of his posts they are usually in a list with no narrative ... that's just his style. If he reads your comment, hopefully he will come back and fill in the blanks.
Another warm day here and the garden and trees are looking beautiful. Norton and I are just chillin' in the back yards watching the bluebirds. Hope you ate doing well.
inhawaii
OP1 month ago · EditedI've noticed the older I get, the more Karen-ish I get.
I just got Amazon to refund me on this order...
gurlcat
·1 month ago · EditedWell that makes sense. Those boxes WERE damaged.
EDIT: but now I have to wonder what kind of sicko drinks Diet ... Strawberry .... Dr. Pepper. 🤮
Oh inhawaii, please say it's to poison bugs in the garden or something, PLEASE.
sin-n-dex
·1 month agoIt tastes like strawberries and cream. Doesn't taste like Dr Pepper at all.
25thstreetpeddler
·1 month agoIt's not just you—anyone who regularly consumes that "zero sugar" substitute will eventually destroy their kidneys keeping up with that habit. Mark my words.
gurlcat
·1 month agoIf that were true everyone would know about it. Sucralose has been in widespread use for over a quarter century.
toomuchstuffagain35
·1 month agoI'd still rather put real sugar in my body than chemicals, but YMMV
powell-collectibles
·1 month agoI’ve never seen anything about kidney related issues, but diet soda is just bad news. Effects on a micro biome and the brain, etc. aren’t good.
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/3-reasons-you-should-kick-your-diet-soda-habit
sin-n-dex
·1 month agoI'm diabetic, I can't drink anything with sugar without great caution. I also can't drink carbonated drinks (anymore... I used to drink them). I drink water, but flavour it with Crystal Lite.
deltilogical
·1 month agoIts 100% healthful! Like aspartame!
meme6253
·1 month agoYou have gotten some great answers from everyone!, Now you need to think over what your response will be for about 2 weeks.
inhawaii
OP1 month agoI should make my decision right around the time that Greenland thing goes through.
grann-4629
·1 month agoWould that be the Greenland in trade for California, Montana and the two Dakotas thing? It's still a ways off I hear and all 27 people there are objecting to any trading.
OTOH, there's around 6 million folks in Denmark who can't wait to visit California and Mount Rushmore!
house*of*paws
·1 month agoHey@inhawaii
I wouldn’t be able to answer your question adequately without knowing … verbatim … the message you sent to the seller.
[It seems odd to ‘express dissatisfaction’ about an item that arrived safely and was as described. My nonfragile, Amazon items often arrive in a box with only a small piece of crumpled brown paper accompanying them … so the practice isn’t uncommon.]
I enjoy reading most of your replies to Community posts … as I enjoy your sense of humor … but I doubt that everyone picks up on the intended sarcasm.
I’ve occasionally messaged new sellers about packaging and have received thanks … so it’s difficult imagining what kind of message would receive the response you got. Care to share it? 😉
My practice is to leave positive or no feedback for 99.9% of my purchases. I reserve negatives and neutrals for the most grievous of offenses … NEVER for an item that arrived ‘as described’. I know that that would reflect poorly on me and not serve the intended purpose. JMHO. 🙂
grann-4629
·1 month ago... as I enjoy your sense of humor … but I doubt that everyone picks up on the intended sarcasm.
Score!
Right on with that statement.
stainlessenginecovers
·1 month agoI would have messaged him back stating "I'm not fishing for partial $$, nor am I fishing or Scamming for anything- just trying to help out a new seller so you know for next time. The next buyer might not be as nice"
As far as feedback, I just wouldn't leave any unless their response for this last message deserved something neg.
gloryglorygifts
·1 month agoI would just take the high road and leave a positive. It arrived quickly, undamaged and you got them for a good price? Leave the suggestions about his packaging to messaging. If they stick around long enough, they will find out what the true scammers are like.
shaleeanwesley
·1 month agopretty much the same as you put here, loose items in box, no damage but there wasent packing material to secure the items an also the way you were treated
aeparts1
·1 month agoYou have no way to know if they are a new seller. They simply have a new selling account. They may have opened a new selling account due to many negative feedback on another account.
Leave a neutral with what happened. Or after what they said to you, a negative. They are not beginners at this.
tobaccocardyahoo
·1 month agoI do not leave feedback for sellers. I would not leave any for this seller.
simba6
·1 month agoI would leave no feedback.
bashort
·1 month agoI use a buying account for most purchases, I either leave positive FB or none, If the transaction goes bad I open a case. I do not want to damage a seller beyond that and I do not want a seller to decline a offer I make because of feedback I have left
adamcartwright
·1 month agoGood point about damaging yourself by leaving a neg
legalbeagle52
·1 month ago · EditedYour items arrived in good condition. You tried to 'educate' a new seller and it fell on deaf ears. I would not converse again nor would I leave any feedback. You did your part. He'll learn.
Let the auto feedback kick in.
selsa84
·1 month agoSo your items were delivered with no damage and aren't sure if you should leave a neg?
inhawaii
OP1 month agoMy items were very poorly packaged and I was accused of being a scammer by a very rude new seller.
I'm not sure if I should leave a positive, and neutral, a negative or no feedback at all.
I was seeking other's opinions.
vintage-camerastuff
·1 month agoI would leave a neutral for poor packing and explain why in your comments. New sellers need some guidance or they won't learn.
I recently left neutral feedback to seller who had 10,000 feedback for the same reason. Poorly packed camera equipment with not one bit of padding. Everything was bouncing around in the box. I would have left negative but nothing had serious damage.
lakefor94
·1 month agoI ain't reading the whole thread but I take it you have created a buying account as to not mix buying with selling.
Especially if you aim to provide less than stellar feedback, @inhawaii
shaleeanwesley
·1 month agopretty much the same as you put here, loose items in box, no damage but there wasent packing material to secure the items an also the way you were treated
stuff4divas
·1 month ago · Edited@inhawaii
neutral with this similar comment:
altho items arrived undamaged, the packaging was subpar, no wrappings. buyer accused me of being a scammer when all i wanted to do is give advice on how to package up items. not a good attitude to have, especially as a new seller.
squinkercat59
·1 month agoYou have a conscience, otherwise you wouldn't be asking that question here. Other buyers will not be so kind, and if the seller has that kind of defensive attitude, the amount of his negatives will climb in no time. Personally, I'd probably leave a positive to ease your mind, but putting in that they arrived safely despite poor packaging.
fabrics24
·1 month agoI think this is a good idea! I find being patient makes me feel better about things in the long run. Gently mentioning that inventory management and packaging skills improve with time and effort in the context of a green donut might help them understand that you're not fishing for a refund; you're looking out for them.
If they choose not to heed your advice, well...as I often say; that says more about them than it does about you.
blackssilvershop
·1 month agoYes, but be Defensive. Don't be America's Failed Media. Best to be Negative forever and ever. That's the True Nature of America. There is not Positive action to Ugliness. Be Stronger than most American's. It's the easiest thing you will ever do.
grann-4629
·1 month ago???
blackssilvershop
·1 month ago???????????????
grann-4629
·1 month agoGood reply, I guess. I really can't understand your post. Are you a Preacher?
fabrics24
·1 month agoI would love to know what the heck brought this on
blackssilvershop
·1 month agoJust my Natural Rage. It's rather Extensive. After all, this Nation was Build on Forgiveness. I just wasn't Born with any. Sorry about that.
fabrics24
·1 month agoForgiving and being patient are hard, but hard things are worth doing. I used to be an incredibly angry person; it took a lot of effort, but I'm much happier now.
This shouldn't be too hard for inhawaii though; he just needs to weigh what we've said and decide what's right for him.
adamcartwright
·1 month agoI think leaving negative comments, such as poor packaging, in a positive FB is against FB policy. The seller could probably get that part removed.
forgottenape
·1 month agonew sellers a chance what does that mean? everyone was a new seller at one time i dont seek them out to give them a chance if they have what i need i buy. and feedback means absolutely nothing and hasnt for years so not sure what your conundrum is
inhawaii
OP1 month agoI don't seek them out either.
I was trying to convey that I had no hesitation buying from a new seller.
forgottenape
·1 month agoyouve already made up your mind you just came on here to justify it. just remember what goes around comes around so dont come back on the boards complaining about a bad feedback on something ticky tacky because you will have burned your bridges
fern*wood
·1 month agoI'm in the camp of being happy if my item arrived in the condition I purchased. I don't expect others to pack as I do or share my vision of proper packing. I've also stopped conversing with them on my idea of helpful tips or advice--most never take kindly to any type of unsolicited "help". I would then let the auto feedback kick in.
luckythewinner
·1 month ago · EditedSo you were "dissatisfied" because the items arrived undamaged?
You leave him a positive because his packaging was adequate.
powell-collectibles
·1 month agoI wouldn’t give a negative or even a neutral. A bad mark on feedback for such a new seller can be a big deal. Heck, even with one negative this early I’d suggest that he starts over with a new account.
kibble-net
·1 month agoIf you weren't asking for a partial refund, I'd screenshot his response and include it in your NEGATIVE feedback.
Feedback is a rating of the overall transaction, it's not just about getting the goods from point A to point B. If a seller acted unprofessionally, that's part of the puzzle.
m1.5tman
·1 month agoThis definitely struck a nerve with me. I like collecting vintage cd players, some as parts/repair units and some as fully functional decks. It absolutely boggles my mind how clueless some sellers are as to how to package vintage/fragile things. one seller put a cd player in a big box with only crushed paper as filler. Or they don't secure the laser mechanism properly even though there are instructions on the bottom of cd player on how to do so. I've had to file for a refund seven times in the past five months. The icing on the cake is I have had to file for a refund on the last two cd players that I purchased this past week! I take pictures of everything when it comes in; the sealed package and multiple pictures as I go through the process of unboxing it for my protection, but I recently heard that buyers can be banned for making too many returns for refunds?? It's not MY fault the seller doesn't know what they are doing! Thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Rant over! LOL
grann-4629
·1 month agoNice rant 😎
I suggest you find a more reliable place to buy this stuff. Seven returns in five months is a very poor batting average.
powell-collectibles
·1 month agoEven with the problems, eBay might be the best marketplace for these items.
pickapaper
·1 month ago"They were not damaged but who packages and ships thing this way?"
More and more of the big stores do. I can't remember the last time I ordered something from AZ that came with any filler or wrapping inside the box or was just shipped in a vinyl bag. Department stores send things that I am just shocked arrive without damage because there is no inside wrapping/filler.
Interesting that your seller is a newbie seller but still knew enough to call you a scammer. Sad state that he has already figured out (in his mind) that everyone is going to try to cheat him.
powell-collectibles
·1 month agoIf you read posts on these boards, you can get the mistaken impression that a scammer is out to get you 24/7.
Someone asks a question before the sale? Scammer!
Asks a question after a sale? Scammer!
Files for a return without contacting me first? Scammer!
Reaches out to me with a problem and hasn’t filed for a return? Scammer!
Lives in a new build so I can’t see his house on Google Maps? Scammer!
Is anywhere in the state of Florida or Delaware? Scammer!
New buyer? Scammer!
Guest purchase? Scammer!
Old buyer without a lot of transactions? Scammer!
Longtime buyer who doesn’t leave feedback for sellers? Scammer!
Buys a lot from the same seller and leaves the same feedback again and again? Scammer!
Leaves one negative out of one hundred purchases? Scammer!
Uses a nickname in his ship-to address? Scammer!
Lives in the same city as someone that I’ve blocked? Scammer!
grann-4629
·1 month agoOk, so I'm a scammer ... that hurts!
pastimpressions
·1 month agoI am with you @inhawaii
I try to patron new sellers as well to give them a chance.
I have experienced poor packing that sometimes does/sometimes does not create item damage. Sometimes it's an INAD issue.
I, as with you, am trying to be supportive and/or mentoring.
Most times, the sellers are very receptive.
Sometimes they are not & have to learn the hard way on their own time.
When I have an issue that diminishes value due to seller error/ignorance I generally absorb the loss as best I can & direct mentoring to the seller.
I try to advise of best practices. Give "pointers" if you will.
I do give feedback. Honest & accurate feedback.
I do, however, choose to only mention the positives & leave the negs to messages with the seller.
To abate the fear a seller may have that I am fishing for a partial refund, I have learned to give the positive online feedback PRIOR to contacting the seller.
If they insist on some form of gratis to "make it right" I will not argue against it. I am happy if they "pay it forward" and show similar patience & understanding to a seller with which they may have had a less than perfect experience.
As an aside, normally the sellers LEAST receptive to the constructive concerns privately expressed are the TRS's with 1000's of sales.
In those cases, I sometimes regret being so understanding & leaving all positive feedback in advance. Go figure.
Just one man's opinion
christworks
·1 month ago@inhawaii Who packages and ships things this way? People who do not have experience shipping things. My postal clerk was telling me yesterday about the number of people shipping glass picture frames inside a bubble mailer. Apparantly this has become an issue at my post office. She said people are stunned to learn they need to put something like that in a box.
I think messaging your buyer was the appropiate way to handle it. Let's give the seller the benefit of the doubt. I'd write them back once more. "Dear Seller, Let me apologize if my message set off an alarm bell. I'm not trying to scam you at all. I don't want a partial refund or anything like that. I'm a seller, too, and I noticed you appear to be a new seller. While my order arrived safely, I wanted to give you some advice on how these items should have been packed because most buyers aren't going to show you kindness like I am. If you do not properly pack items, you will eventually have to give someone a refund."
Then, go on to explain how they should have been packed if you didn't do that the first time. Thank them, and I've move on from this and let the auto feedback handle it unless they respond. A positive response from them, leave them positive feedback. If they again accuse you or have an attitude, drop that red donut on them.
pastimpressions
·1 month ago100% agree until the last sentence.
Don't drop the donut. Save the Krispy Kreme for the coffee or tea!
Sometimes the seed takes root, sometimes it falls on rock & washes away with the coming rain.
Still we try.
Express your concerns privately, praise the positives publicly.
Just one man's opinion.
grann-4629
·1 month ago@inhawaii has nothing to apologize for, and giving 'advice' to anyone like this will only come across as being like Mom telling you to brush your teeth. It will be met with anger and probably result in a bigger argument.
I would simply say 'Item received. Thanks.'
bennotbill
·1 month agoThe most I do in this sort of situation is give a low star rating to "postage and handling charges".
go-bad-chicken
·1 month ago"They were not damaged but who packages and ships thing this way?"
A brand new seller with a feedback of 1.
Take this opportunity to mentor that new seller and send them constructive advice about packaging via messages.
kibble-net
·1 month agoThe problem is, if you give new sellers a free pass, they won't ever have a reason to learn.
We all make mistakes, but if those mistakes are ignored, we don't learn.
Case in point, plastic playgrounds.
grann-4629
·1 month ago2nd Case in Point: This forum.
rschissler
·1 month ago"Take this opportunity to mentor that new seller and send them constructive advice about packaging via messages."
To a seller that calls you a scammer?
laperlalady
·1 month agoPersonally....none.
They arrived and weren't broken.
You sent him a message. Maybe he will try to pack better in the future. Maybe he won't. New seller perhaps?
Try not to purchase from him again.
Let someone else be the one to leave the negative.
But, if you feel you need to leave a feedback....
"Could have been packed more securely. USPS delivered fragile items with no breakage."
grann-4629
·1 month agoThey were not 'fragile' items ... read the OP. They could have been something like t-shirts or dish towels, in which case, delivery in a brown paper bag would be OK.
adamcartwright
·1 month agoI get why Hawaii is perturbed.
If outer packaging is compromised, inner packaging can protect the item even if it's not a breakable item.
I learned that when one of my eBay clothing purchases arrived with the outer packaging open. The USPS had taped it up, resulting in the shirt itself getting taped.
grann-4629
·1 month agoCorrect, forgot about damage caused by handling. I ordered a watch band from AZ several years ago. It was in a small little box that AZ put into a box about 1 ft squared with zero inside packing. Imagine the ride it had in that 1x1 cell on it's journey to me.
Whatever Jamie decides to do will be the right thing ... I just hope that when he resells these items he is able to walk them to the post office 🤓
adamcartwright
·1 month agoI've had AZ ship a heavy case of cat food in the same huge box with a glass vitamin bottle and only one small piece of crinkled packing paper. The two were sloshing around in that box, and it's a miracle the glass bottle wasn't broken.
toomuchstuffagain35
·1 month agoBut, but...they arrive undamaged therefore, according to some, the packaging (or lack thereof) was adequate. /s