Buyer Threatening to Leave Neg. Feedback

[nee_nee27]

I’ve been fortunate to not have to deal with scammers or unreasonable buyers in the last two years. I recently made a sale of a men’s sweater that I took detailed pictures of and inspected before shipping. To my surprise, today I get this message. (Side note I offer 30 days returns).

“Why you would NOT describe the garments condition in full? On the left sleeve it has a 14" tare along the seam. Quite frankly this is dishonest and I shall be taking this further” , and then the buyer sends a separate message of a picture  of their eBay feedback page (where they’d be leaving feedback for me). Showing 1 star in each area, and a message saying “see below, this is what I’ll be leaving if I don’t get a refund”.

I replied saying that if they looked at my feedback I’m an honest seller, and I inspected the garnet meticulously before shipping, but if I overlooked something I apologize. I asked for the buyer to send me pictures of the garment. And haven’t gotten a reply.

Obviously the buyer can open a return, which I’d automatically accept. But I’m pretty sure I sent a 100% accurately described garment. No way I’d miss a 14” tear.

My question is, would anyone consider this feedback extortion? How would you handle this?

[katzrul15]

@nee_nee27

I would report your Buyer from the Transaction view and indicate you received an email that if you do not refund them in full, they will extort you and leave you negative feedback.

I would first put this buyer on your BBL.

If you reply to this buyer (I would wait and not yet reply), it is "Return for a Full Refund".  No partials.

Good luck with this.  This is not your Buyer's first rodeo on these type(s) of deals.

[nee_nee27]

Thank you on the tip of reporting the buyer though the transaction view! 

I definitely think this is not their first rodeo. Why not just ask to return vs. taking a picture of the feedback they’re threatening to leave. 

[fab_finds4u]

I'd let him know there's no need to threaten you or any seller  to get a refund,  that when a buyer wants a refund

they need to go to their purchase history Return this item button. Then you will receive a refund or a prepaid return label to return it for a refund.  Threats are never necessary, especially when the threat is given before you're aware there's a problem with the item.

[southern*sweet*tea · Accepted solution]

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@nee_nee27 wrote:

 Why not just ask to return vs. taking a picture of the feedback they’re threatening to leave. 

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Because they want you to cower in fear of the neg and refund them in full without them opening a case. They are either a scammer who wants to stay off Ebay's radar or they have already lost their MBG privilege and cannot open a case.  Either way it's a strong arm tactic that only works if sellers allow it to.

Send this once, then NO MORE conversation:

"Dear buyer,

Please return the sweater for a full refund.

Thank you,

seller"

Never, ever fear a neg.

[dogchow747]

Some people are real jerks and can not help behaving this way.

They decide they (for what ever reason) should not have bought this, so they provide a foolproof reason for return. (even if it is dishonest)

I hope that is not the case, but if it is, there is no figuring it out.

Maybe it is a honest oversight, and since they are already having a bad day they bark at you.

As stated, take the return and consider blocking them.

They could be 100% honest...

Good luck.

[nee_nee27]

I took your advice and replied with your suggested verbiage. Now the buyer is saying the sweater is in poor condition, but he still got a good deal so he’s going to take it to the tailor and keep it. Gave a huge eye roll when I read the message. 

I definitely think the buyer thought I was going to partially refund. So crossing my fingers he got the message, and won’t try it again.

[chapeau-noir]

He's a cheap bully - you're gonna get some of these.  Eye roll  is right!

[stackers_xag]

I had a buyer use a cutter that's used in the seamstress world for cutting and removing stitching when they make a mistake, they then correct and re-stitch their error. That's what my buyer tried to do. He sent me a picture and I could tell right away that, that's what he did. Unbeknownst to him, my mother was a seamstress so I knew a few things.

They'll ask for a partial refund then the buyer simply re-stitches and has a perfectly good garment.

My buyer did same as yours, I told him no and that he would need to return it for a full refund. He decided to keep it with no refund.

[luckythewinner]

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@nee_nee27 wrote:

I’m pretty sure I sent a 100% accurately described garment

How would you handle this?

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If I was only "pretty sure" I was right, I would refund. 

[southern*sweet*tea]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@nee_nee27 wrote:

I’m pretty sure I sent a 100% accurately described garment

How would you handle this?

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If I was only "pretty sure" I was right, I would refund. 

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Agreed, after I got the item back they would get a full refund. Not before.

[katzrul15]

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@southern*sweet*tea wrote:

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@nee_nee27 wrote:

I’m pretty sure I sent a 100% accurately described garment

How would you handle this?

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If I was only "pretty sure" I was right, I would refund. 

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Agreed, after I got the item back they would get a full refund. Not before.

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Agreed....make them return it.  You are correct that Buyers that abuse the system are often out of return options.  Normal people do not respond with rage over a parcel received with a damaged item.  This was written as a "tactic" to intimidate the Seller.

Unfortunately, they are probably on to their next Seller prey.......

[monster-deals]

Textbook feedback extortion.

Ignore the threat because if they leave it, it will be easily removed 

[chapeau-noir]

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@luckythewinner wrote:

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@nee_nee27 wrote:

I’m pretty sure I sent a 100% accurately described garment

How would you handle this?

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If I was only "pretty sure" I was right, I would refund. 

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In context I read that as sarcasm, as missing a 14" 'tare' would be absurd and I'm 100% sure the OP would have seen something like that.

The dude is not only a bully, but he's a ham-fisted one.

[nee_nee27]

Yes, update form the other day. 

Buyer changes his total tune after I reported him to eBay. Got a message on Friday saying “No worries! I'll NOT take this any further, but will not give any feedback negative or positive. Thank you and have a good weekend”

Never mentioned refund after I told him to return it. 

Just added him to my blocked list.