Any way to avoid negative feedback if you've done everything possible to help an unhappy buyer?

[pressbox24]

I've been selling on eBay for 23 years and have maintained a 100% feedback rating. I'm in the middle of a crazy situation, and I get the feeling my perfect rating isn't going to last much longer. A guy purchased something from me, and I included the exact measurements in the description. Clearly he did not read the description because when it arrived he asked for a refund because it wasn't the size he "thought it was." Even though this was clearly his error, I refunded his money anyway. Obviously, I want the item back, but instead of going through the proper eBay return process, he spent $23 to mail it back (three times what it cost me to mail it to him in the first place). Now, of course, he wants a refund for that too. Is there anything I can do? I feel like it was his bad TWICE!  He caused this entire problem himself. Any way to avoid negative feedback? I'm a very easy going person; I seriously don't know what else I'm supposed to do for the guy. Help! Thanks in advance.

[wastingtime101]

Don't live in fear of the red donut, @pressbox24! If it comes you can handle it - possibly get it removed and if not then you can leave a professional reply. A well-written reply can counter any effect a neg might have on potential buyers that are viewing your FB.

Follow the advice posted above by @popblox.

[suminda-stores]

contact ebay customer service they will definitely remove the negative feedback for you if you haven’t done anything wrong.

[inhawaii]

I know how much a negative hurts, but honestly, i would NOT refund his return shipping.   HE did not follow ebay protocol.  If he wants that back, that is asking for something outside of the listing. THAT is against ebay rules. If he does leave you a negative and complains about that issue,  hopefully ebay will remove it because he would be in violation.   Good luck!

[coolections]

If he got his money back why would you think he would leave a negative ? The only way I can see that happening would be if the OP was very rude to him.

[inhawaii]

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@coolections wrote:

If he got his money back why would you think he would leave a negative ? The only way I can see that happening would be if the OP was very rude to him.

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He got his money back LESS the $23 return shipping... which he is asking for now. 

[pressbox24]

The request came through eBay, and I was given choices on how to respond. They ranged from no refund to partial refund to full refund. I clicked on refund, and I received a message saying any future sales would be held until the refund amount was fulfilled. Later, I received a message saying the buyer had been refunded. I heard nothing from from the buyer, so I asked him to please package the item carefully before he mailed it back. He asked, "How am I supposed to send it back without a mailing label?" That sounded odd, because I've returned things before and it has always been easy (with a return label provided by eBay). So I wrote, "There should be a return label as part of the process. I'm going to reach out to eBay and find out what's going on." Before I heard anything back (literally less than 2 hours later), he wrote, "I already mailed it back in a bigger box and it cost me $23. Thanks for that."

[pressbox24]

Nope. He's on his own for that.

[fern*wood]

If you refund before the item is returned,  the buyer no longer has access to the return label to print.

[gjs_16]

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@pressbox24 wrote:

I've been selling on eBay for 23 years and have maintained a 100% feedback rating. I'm in the middle of a crazy situation, and I get the feeling my perfect rating isn't going to last much longer.  Is there anything I can do? Any way to avoid negative feedback? I'm a very easy going person; I seriously don't know what else I'm supposed to do for the guy. Help! 

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Simply bend way over backwards like always.

[vintagecraze50]

Totally do not get why this person chose to pay extra to ship this back. Watch out for a return scam on this with them sending it somewhere other than back to you with an empty box. 

[aproudparent2010]

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@pressbox24 wrote:

The request came through eBay, and I was given choices on how to respond. They ranged from no refund to partial refund to full refund. I clicked on refund, and I received a message saying any future sales would be held until the refund amount was fulfilled. Later, I received a message saying the buyer had been refunded. I heard nothing from from the buyer, so I asked him to please package the item carefully before he mailed it back. He asked, "How am I supposed to send it back without a mailing label?" That sounded odd, because I've returned things before and it has always been easy (with a return label provided by eBay). So I wrote, "There should be a return label as part of the process. I'm going to reach out to eBay and find out what's going on." Before I heard anything back (literally less than 2 hours later), he wrote, "I already mailed it back in a bigger box and it cost me $23. Thanks for that."

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1. When you instantly refunded buyer was under no obligation to even return your item

2. You refunding closed the case so an address would not be provided to them

[vintagecraze50]

Please tell me you DID NOT refund this item before they shipped it back. Bad move if you did. 

[aproudparent2010]

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@vintagecraze50 wrote:

Please tell me you DID NOT refund this item before they shipped it back. Bad move if you did. 

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They did, but they say item came back

[pressbox24]

No way

[Anonymous]

Your immediate full refund ended the case.

He did not have to return the item.

If you received the item back, good for you.

Block him and don't listen to his cries for shipping money he didn't have to spend at all.

There is no proof or evidence in the eBay system that he sent it back.

As far as eBay is concerned, the item was not returned and buyer was made whole with the refund.

If he negs you, it is most likely you can get it removed if you have remained professional and not said or done anything stupid.