Is neutral feedback with a positive comment a big deal?

[slimshady2357]

Hi, I am downsizing in the next few years and getting rid of a load of stuff so I am not someone who regularly sells. I've sold about 55 things and had some great feedback but I've had my first neutral feedback but with a positive comment.

I contacted the buyer to ask if there was a problem with the item, they confirmed no problem, I then asked if they meant to leave a neutral, they responded yes but again gave me no clue as to what was the problem. I've blocked them from bidding on any further things in the future and left a response on my feedback saying that the buyer was pleased with the item and wouldn't say why the feedback was neutral.

I feel I should report the buyer in case they are doing this regularly but ebay's report a buyer function mentions misusing feedback but then doesn't give an option regarding feedback when the report process is started.

Is this just one of those things where I shouldn't sweat it, or is there anything I should have done differently?

Thanks

[eastlaneave]

@slimshady2357 

I think I would ignore it. There are numpty buyers out there.

By the way, this is the eBay. com community, you may prefer the UK version
https://community.ebay.co.uk/

[slimshady2357]

Thanks for the response, that does seem the most sensible thing to do.

It seems that it's not only buyers who are numpties, also declutterers need to be added to the list 😳 I'll try and find the UK community next time, thanks for the link. Much appreciated.

[gosimus · Accepted solution]

@slimshady2357 

< again gave me no clue as to what was the problem >     

I think the problem is contained in the neutral feedback comment itself.  "Selli is very ungrateful." which I assume the word seller got misspelled when the buyer revised the feedback from a negative to a neutral.  Certainly It would be enlightening to learn why the buyer thought you were ungrateful, but personally, I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. 

[slimshady2357]

When I initially contacted them and asked if the item was ok, they responded with just a 'yes'

So then I asked if perhaps they'd made a mistake with the feedback? To which they replied no, be grateful.

The only interaction before that was after they'd paid (they took the full four days to pay), once they paid I sent my usual automatic message thanking them for the payment and that I would get the package posted out the next day (which I did) and they apologised for the time it took to pay as they were waiting for the money (it was a £2 plus £2.70 postage). I said no worries, ebay gives buyers 4 days to pay and they had paid within that time. I then left feedback that day thanking them for their purchase and timely payment.

Today I noticed the neutral feedback and contacted them again to make sure things had gone ok. When they were unable or chose not to explain why they'd left neutral, I thought I'd contacted ebay to ask them to remove the feedback but actually it was the buyer I was contacting (rookie seller and first time I had done this - I'll know for next time). The buyer then changed the feedback to a different comment which now said I wasn't grateful (the original private message said I should be gratefl) but kept it as neutral (which is nice of them). Tbh if it was something as simple as wanting more effusive thanks for the purchase, then I wish they'd just said that.

Personally I wonder if it was more like my late Dad, nothing was ever 10/10 - so if a transaction went smoothly  and as expected he would consider that neutral, nothing bad happened, it happened as expected. He might have given a positive if someone drove 100 miles and delivered it themselves or put £100 in the parcel or something like that - otherwise he'd consider it as expected which is neutral. Sadly ebay doesn't use that same criteria though.

[gosimus]

@slimshady2357 

I saw on your feedback As a Seller tab that you have one revised feedback.  In your Reply to the neutral you referenced the buyer telling you "I should be grateful for the neutral (they amended their feedback to this)" and I thought that meant that it was a negative rating that had been amended (revised) to this (the neutral).  Now, after further explanation (i.e., "kept it as neutral"), it's clear that my conclusion was not correct.  Sorry about that.  And thank you for accepting my reply as best answer.  It seems that the buyer might be one of those people who feel entitled to some things they shouldn't, effusive thanks being one of those things.

[tenbigdogs]

Hi @slimshady2357  If you drop back by to see this, your biggest take-away here should be:  Leave it alone.   

Even if you're only a part-time seller to yourself, to everyone else you are an eBay seller like all others.  Your personal motivations are of no interest to anyone but you.  Leave your buyers alone.  You should stop sending thank you emails.  eBay already sends them like a zillion emails about the transaction.  They don't need yet another one from you.  You should absolutely not follow up with your buyers.  When it comes to buyers, no news is good news.  As you've found out, you poke that bear at your own risk.  Any needed communication should come before the transaction, not after.  If you feel the need to thank them for their business, put a note in the package.  And never again leave a follow up comment to feedback.  There is nothing a seller can say that doesn't just make them look bad and make the matter worse.  

Here is a perfect eBay transaction:  The buyer pays, the seller ships.  End of story.   Good luck! 

[slimshady2357]

Thanks for the feedback. I mostly agree but I will say that I am more of a buyer on ebay than a seller and I personally really appreciate the personal touch of small sellers.

I've been doing the same things that the best sellers on ebay (imo) have done for me when I've bought from them. But I guess I have to balance whether the nice comments are balanced by the pita comments.

I'm just glad my time as a seller is limited to reducing my stuff. I'm  alot more sympathetic to full time sellers now!