Bad feedback crazyness and eBays lack of help

[funkocollectables]

I sold a new bottle of cologne for about $16.00
The buyer received the item on the 18th and emailed me.

He said it was bad and he threw it in the trash and I needed to give him a full refund ASAP.

I have a no return policy (We know thats a joke) but I said send it back and Id refund it.

He said it was thrown away and to give him the refund. Keep in mind this all happened within an hour of him receiving it. He also mentioned if I didnt do this I would get bad feedback. So basically blackmailing me using the feedback system. I said only if he sent it back and he did as he said and left back feedback. I used the feedback feature to report the buyer and explained that he claimed to have thrown it away and wanted a full refund. Ebays response was to except a return. Its like they dont even read our emails. The buyer was unwilling to return the item.
Here is his email (All through the eBay email system). To me it sounds like blackmail. Also the tone was super aggressive for a first email. 

First email from buyer: This cologne was not new without box, it smelled terrible, it was old, you don't check you're products at all! This went in the trash where it belonged, I will not leave you good feedback, I want a complete refund asap

My response: The item was new from a gift pack but removed and sold. We don't offer refund especially for not liking the smell but if you want to send it back, we will refund it.

The buyers response to my response and our last interaction: It's in the garbage where it belongs. I will not leave you good feedback, you need to check what you sell to customers!

This item is English Leather so its not something I personally like and it's a strong musky smell. We only got it because it came with a cool item in the gift box. So I opened the box, sold the item I didnt want.

So am I wrong for asking for the item to be returned if they wanted a refund and should eBay allow buyers to force sellers into refunds?

Ive been a seller on eBay for 25 years and my account does not have these issue and never has. This account is my wifes and is newer with lower feedback so I wonder if the buyer assumed this was a person new to eBay who he could bully.

Any thoughts?

[funkocollectables]

Sorry I couldnt find my way back to the forum and wasnt getting notifications so Im just now catching up.

[funkocollectables]

Small update for those who want to know. I did contact ebay again and they dont care that they have an extortion policy. Since the buyer choose to say item not as described nothing can be done. Clearly ebay just doesnt care. Years ago I would have made everybody suffer by just giving everybody bad feedback in hopes ebay might fix this policy. Im not doing that now and just realized ebay doesnt enforce their own policy and if you choose a default reason that eBay provides like not as described then who care about sellers. 

[funkocollectables]

1. When you click on your feedback to the right of it they now have the option to "report this buyer" and "Request Revision". Im sure its just next to bad feedback.

2. Ebays response to my reporting was to take the item back. Clearly they didnt read my report because I said I would refund if the item was returned. Pretty sure they run off AI now and we get no real help.

[funkocollectables]

As noted he said I needed to refund without receiving the item back or he would leave bad feedback. This is not a matter of any options other than be extorted or get back feedback. I ended up with the back feedback.

[az93]

Don't put so much energy into a $16 perfume transaction. He already left you a negative, he can't do anything else to you. He might have gotten a refund. Now he gets nothing.

[funkocollectables]

Im not "incorrect" I just typed it out wrong. I was meaning that to get a refund you need to return the item. However as shown in the message he is not willing to return the item. Him throwing it away the magically mad it disappear since based on tracking and message time he "threw it away" right before sending the message.

[funkocollectables]

No I typed that incorrectly because I wasn't in the best mood during this. I know feedback is not the end of the world but the lack of help from eBay considering what they make off sellers is a real issue. 

I was meaning that to get a refund you need to return the item. However as shown in the message he is not willing to return the item. Him throwing it away the magically mad it disappear since based on tracking and message time he "threw it away" right before sending the message.

[femmefan1946]

No returns does not mean no refunds.

But you are within your rights to demand the return of the perfume before refunding.

Tell him to open a Claim.

Send a return shipping label.

If he doesn't use it because he tossed it, you win the claim.

[gurlcat]

---

@funkocollectables wrote:

2. Ebays response to my reporting was to take the item back. Clearly they didnt read my report because I said I would refund if the item was returned. Pretty sure they run off AI now and we get no real help.

---

I'm sorry but you are STILL not making sense.  Please explain exactly what you mean when you say  their response "was to take the item back"  HOW did eBay take the item back?  You said the seller is unwilling to return it, so how did eBay get a hold of it? 

Are you saying eBay started a return AGAINST THE BUYER'S WILL?  -That cannot happen. 

Please provide a screenshot of eBay's response, or at least a copy/paste of what they said.  

[ocesecu_0]

There must be some check on this type of circumstances, its not always the buyer is true. 

[funkocollectables]

Im mostly venting about being extorted. I offered to refund but wanted the item back. He refused to return and wanted the refund. Since I wouldnt without receiving the item he did the - feedback. I just dont like feedback being used to get a refund and keep the item.

[funkocollectables]

I disputed the feedback with ebay. I explained the buyer refused to return the item and wanted their refund anyway and if I did not do a full refund without receiving a return that they would leave - feedback. Ebays response was to refund the item (They are not reading the dispute). So again eBay doesnt read the complaint or they would see I offered to refund the item if it was returned. 

[mam98031]

@funkocollectables 

I'm unsure why others are having an issue understanding what your issue has been all along about this transaction.

Personally I think you should try again to have the feedback removed.  I would however suggest you contact Ebay on Facebook.  But before doing so, make yourself a few notes so you make sure you cover the important points.

1.  The buyer threatened negative feedback if you didn't give them a refund.

2.  You offered to take the return on the item and you'd refund the buyer.  The buyer did not want to return the item.

3.  Part of what they say in the feedback they left is completely untrue and can be validated through the emails.  The statement that you would not issue a refund is an untruth.  You offered upon the return of the item but the buyer did not want to return the item.

4.  Specifically ask them to review the emails between you and the buyer.

https://www.facebook.com/ebay

At least those are things I see.

[gurlcat]

---

@funkocollectables wrote:

I disputed the feedback with ebay. I explained the buyer refused to return the item and wanted their refund anyway and if I did not do a full refund without receiving a return that they would leave - feedback. Ebays response was to refund the item (They are not reading the dispute). So again eBay doesnt read the complaint or they would see I offered to refund the item if it was returned. 

---

WHOA.  Before you said that eBay took the item back, which was non-sensical enough, but now you are saying they refunded the item ....... I'm sorry but I call beeeeee esssss.  There is NO way they took the money from your account and gave it back to the buyer, when the buyer never even initiated a request to return, just YOU reporting the buyer which allegedly triggered this refund. 

NO WAY that happened, and I don't know why you are trying to claim it did, especially after giving a different story before.  But hey, if I'm wrong , prove it.  Screenshots. 

[mam98031]

---

@gurlcat wrote:

---

@funkocollectables wrote:

I disputed the feedback with ebay. I explained the buyer refused to return the item and wanted their refund anyway and if I did not do a full refund without receiving a return that they would leave - feedback. Ebays response was to refund the item (They are not reading the dispute). So again eBay doesnt read the complaint or they would see I offered to refund the item if it was returned. 

---

WHOA.  Before you said that eBay took the item back, which was non-sensical enough, but now you are saying they refunded the item ....... I'm sorry but I call beeeeee esssss.  There is NO way they took the money from your account and gave it back to the buyer, when the buyer never even initiated a request to return, just YOU reporting the buyer which allegedly triggered this refund. 

NO WAY that happened, and I don't know why you are trying to claim it did, especially after giving a different story before.  But hey, if I'm wrong , prove it.  Screenshots. 

---

I think there is just some miscommunication here.

The OP didn't say that Ebay refunded the item.  They said the CSR advised them to refund the item.

"...in fact it was YOU reporting the buyer that allegedly triggered this refund."  I'm unsure of your comment about a refund getting "triggered".  The OP never refunded the buyer nor did Ebay force a refund.