Buyer won't return money or product - should I leave neg feedback

[ychireau]

This was a learning experience after 20 plus years. I sold a lot of three bottles of perfume. Buyer messages me that one of the bottles leaked and she was dissatisfied. Because I am hyper sensitive about my 100% feedback rating, I refunded all of the money immediately. Asked her to return the bottles and I would pay shipping. Buyer says she is invalid and can't get to the post office. My mistake was refunding the entire thing before getting a return. Asked buyer to send back part of the refund if she can't return the items. She ignores my messages. 

I am screwed. Called ebay, they say I am screwed, I should block this buyer, but returned my final value fee.

I am still screwed but angry at myself and this buyer. So unkind. Should I leave her negative feedback? 

[lacemaker3]

@ychireau;

You can't leave anything but positive feedback for buyers, since about 2011, IIRC. It's a basic rule of retail: don't shame the customers.

As you said, it was your mistake. I'm sorry that you ran into an entitled, unfair buyer, but if you wanted the items returned, then you should have accepted the return, and waited until you got them back before you refunded. That's the standard procedure.

FYI, it's a policy violation to leave negative comments in a positive feedback, so don't try that.

[68barbie]

Sellers are unable to leave negative feedback for buyers nor are they allowed to cloak negative comments with positive feedback. Unfortunately not all buyers are honest, as you found out by refunding ahead of a return. Definitely block that buyer and chalk this up as a lesson learned. 

-C

[soh.maryl]

"My mistake was refunding the entire thing before getting a return".  Exactly.

"Should I leave her negative feedback?" 

Sellers haven't been allowed to leave negative feedback for buyers for many, many years, maybe 10-12.

[dirk12955]

Tagging on:

1)  eBay rule #1      Anything out of the ordinary,  stop what you're doing ask ask yourself.............

[1tuna]

you are literally selling snake oil

is this stuff perfume or is it for a mans libido

ther are lots of rules on an opened bottle of product.  I am not sying its used but used perfume cant be sold.

whats the real deal with what you are selling and who is it for

is this some niche product.............is it mainstream

you took care of the seller so you are good to go.feedback is so overrated until the negs pile up

keep on selling!

[*madison]

Since May 2008, sellers haven't had the option to leave neg feedback for buyers.

[congaridmavisuch_0]

sellers can't leave a negative feedback for buyers. Its so sad to hear about these kind of buyers.

[ychireau · Accepted solution]

Alright thanks guys!

I didn't know that sellers couldn't leave negative feedback. I have been with Ebay since the days of selling Pez. I also fondly recall the kindness of the help community, you have all the answers!

thanks fam

[soh.maryl]

Indeed you have been on eBay since 1999 and didn't know that you can't leave negative feedback for buyers? 

[muttlymob]

@ychireau wrote:

Because I am hyper sensitive about my 100% feedback rating, I refunded all of the money immediately.

.....

I am screwed.

---

Do you see the connection here?

Obsession with feedback is expensive.

[anglbear123]

I remember the "good old days" when sellers could leave negative feedbacks.  They should bring it back.  After all, eBay should not want these types of buyers here either, right?  They are nothing but disruptive.  I do not think that sellers would abuse the privilege, after all they want the sale to go smoothly.  It would help to control the rampant thievery going on by letting sellers see buyers bad activities and giving buyers consequences for their actions.   As for now, it is a buyers market.

[ychireau]

I thought I said that, but yes, I have been on Ebay since 1999 and I didn't know that you can't leave negative feedback for buyers.  It is obviously one of the greatest problems in my life!

[jonathankirkland]

---

@ychireau wrote:

I thought I said that, but yes, I have been on Ebay since 1999 and I didn't know that you can't leave negative feedback for buyers.  It is obviously one of the greatest problems in my life!

---

Honestly, I can get where you are coming from. In the old days, feedback was much more important.

Now though if you get a random neg or two I really doubt it's going to stop being from buying from you. And if/when you ever do receive a neg the most important thing to do is not panic.

Take some time to compose yourself and respond to said neg with factual, appropriate information, such as: "Offered refund for return of product, buyer was not interested" if it's one of those nasty ones who finds a reason to demand a partial refund and then leaves a neg if you don't do it.

Hopefully you won't have to do that ever, and it's great to provide good customer service and do your best, but in the end you simply cannot please everyone. Since feedback is a buyers 'opinion' of the transaction you just have to deal with it in the end.

Best of luck to you.

[postingid7659]

I was about to ask the same, that was a huge deal when they made the change, I don't know how anyone could not be aware of it.