Why does a negative feedback get deleted when eBay had to issue a refund from a nonresponding seller

[retiredinfl]

Probably TL;DR  😀

Does eBay automatically remove a neg if a seller sends a refund even if eBay forces or covers the refund?  This was one of those sellers from China who ships from the US with like 15,000 feedback and sells lots of low end stuff.

Been buying & selling on eBay for almost 25 years.  Today I posted probably my 4th or 5th EVER (in close to 25 years) negative feedback for a seller who was doing everything in their power NOT to refund a $15 defective item despite the "30 day refund seller pays shipping" on their ad. 

Received a defective item and asked for a return label & refund.  I get a email from my return request from eBay stating " a return label has been sent."  I go look for the label and the seller instead sends a message saying "WE DID NOT SEND A RETURN LABEL" then offers me $1 (ONE dollar) to keep it.  I refuse.  Then $3, then $10, then tells me IF they send me a return label it's going to take a VERY LONG TIME to get a refund while they inspect this cheap piece of plastic for damage and my poor packing and then offer me $10!  I then told them (nicely in so many words ) to F-off and send the label.

This morning I leave them negative feedback then contact eBay through chat.  Pleasantly surprised tonight I get a refund (FROM eBAY, not the seller directly) but my negative feedback is removed and I can't leave any more feedback for them (it had NOTHING bad in it except to explain exactly what went down).  Is negative feedback always removed when a refund (no matter how it gets sent) is received?  Looking at sellers previous feedback it seems I'm not the first but some people just take the loss.  

[reallynicestamps]

 except to explain exactly what went down

You can't mention Disputes or their outcome in a FB. It will be removed.

And it is a perk for some sellers (Top Rated Sellers? Premium Store Subscribers? I'm not sure) that FB cannot be posted until  seven days after the sale.

So either of those could be the reason.

You can leave  a Response to any FB the other member left indefinitely.

But KISS

"Not worth $15. Broke down within hours. Seller refused refund." for example. No mention of Dispute or eBay's refund.

[kathiec]

One of the perks of being a Top Rated Seller is that negative or neutral feedback relating to 'not as described' cases is removed. They're also reimbursed for a portion of a return shipping label, although that doesn't apply for Chinese sellers, who can't provide one. Not sure, however, how this seller managed to get it scrubbed without refunding.

[recurring_window_shopper]

It's absolutely a feature on Ebay just like it is in every facet of the world: if you line their pockets enough, the rules don't apply to you. Plain and simple. 

I've noticed that when I report or otherwise complain on a Chinese listing being fraudulent in some way, Ebay does nothing about it because they sell the most stuff. The only exception is if it's a new shop with low numbers. 

[retiredinfl]

DIdn't mention "dispute" in the FB, jsut what they did (offer $1 etc and not send label).  The "claim" was for defective.  Also interesting was looking at the order it says "FEEDBACK LEFT".  

Even funnier was a couple hours ago I got an email from the seller stating "My manager gave me permission to issue a full refund and you can keep the (piece of junk) item" which was a lie because the refund came like 5 minutes after I chatted with eBay which was 36 hours ago.   I must give eBay credit though for pushing through an immediate refund.

Now that I got my $16 back I can buy food and medicine for the next month!   LOL !!!