FEEDBACK EXTORTION CLEARLY SHOWN BAD FEEDBACK STILL THERE! NO HELP FROM EBAY!!

[coolhandluke830]

Hello all,

I was lucky enough to go to the Masters this year.  I got a free ticket from work.  I decided to sell here

a brand of shirts called PETER MILLAR.  I have great feedback from all until this person bought this one.

Item number 256480284101.

I am going to post the messages he sent me, but not all for some are redundant.  I also state in my listings I do not give discounts for anyone claiming cigarette smoke or jet fuel etc, for I have a seller friend who told me to do this on clothing, for the people who try and get discounts for smoke smells is high.  I would take a return, but not give a discount for this.  Keep in mind, these shirts are brand new, sealed in plastic, went from the Masters to my home, then listed here and I do not smoke.  Trust me, I would post his name all over this if I could, but I can other places.

I am not good at screenshots.  So I will post the messages he sent in order.  And I will interject what I thought.

1. Hello, this item sells strongly of coverage smoke. I would like a partial refund as item is described as new, 25% i believe is appropriate

(he is telling us how much he wants)

2. Cigarette smoke

3. Smells*

4. Yes your listing says new and this is not a new product I received. I’ve paid a premium for this item and it is not the quality that your listing characterized. This is not a shipping issue

(note he said cigarette smoke above, then later changes it to campfire smoke, acting like it was not brand new and sealed in plastic that you would have to cut off)

5. Someone else described the smell as camp fire, it is overwhelming and not a result of the shipping

(I had said that sometimes items sent by plane can have a jet fuel smell, but that was pretty impossible with these, for like I said sealed in plastic, all of them together, then triple sealed in Master bags plastic, then boxed, and no one else had any issue, he was just lying and did not read my listings about smoke, for next it was made pretty clear to us that he did not like the profit he thought we made)

6. If you purchase it from Augusta directly then you have room in your margin to accommodate

(He paid $189, I left the tag on the shirt, $110, so in his mind, we made $80.  Seems he didn't like that.  He didn't factor in the tax when bought, $10, fees on item, $30, fees on his taxes and shipping, almost a $50 reduction, I believe this was the whole reason he did this thinking we were making out, we were lucky to make $30)  

(I had told him I put it in my listing I do not give discounts for smoke smells, he was not being honest anyway, and STILL had not read my listing all the way thru, he was not going to accept me telling him to return it, and kept on bothering me, so here comes the THREAT)

7. You didn’t put it in your listing it would smell like any sort of smoke, camp fire smoke, cigarette smoke or otherwise. I’d hate to have to give my first negative review in 20 years of eBay but this is not being handled in a satisfactory manner.

(adding the messages together, this was not a veiled threat, this was FEEDBACK EXTORTION clearly.  So to get him to stop bothering me I told him 10%, knowing I would immediately call ebay and report him, he stated after I give him a partial refund, he would leave me good feedback, more feedback extortion talk)

So I called ebay, they said it was clearly feedback extortion, and that they would report him, I asked about if he would be able to leave bad feedback, they said he will be penalized and should not be able to leave me any feedback!  Or if he did, it would be immediately removed.  So to my distress, he was able to leave this bad feedback!  Telling me NOTHING HAPPENED TO HIM!!!  So I called yet again, was told yet again that this feedback would be removed and this guy would be penalized.  I was told 48 hours, that was yesterday.  So I called yesterday, it changed to 72 hours and that they work on Saturdays.  

I do not trust them now. At all, all the reps agreed this was a clear cut case of FEEDBACK EXTORTION, but yet this feedback is still sitting there tarnishing me!  

WHERE IS SELLERS PROTECTION???  When it is this blatant, it should have been removed immediately while they do there so called investigation.  Is there anyone here who can help me with this?  I am considering pulling my last 2 items and never selling here again.  

Oh by the way, I see he has purchased from at least 6 others by his feedback, and they are ALL high end designer types of clothing, ALSO high end CAMPING CLOTHING!!!  

Is this it for sellers?  Has it come down to this, ZERO PROTECTION  for blatant feedback extortion?

Thank you

[sextons-sweet-deals]

I will take a guess that you were entertained by a vendor or vendors for your company. 

Did you really purchase all those Master's items that you have sold and active listing or did your vendors gift them to you? Maybe on the last day, the gift shop had a blowout sale. I don't know and many others probably don't know. 

As far as smoke, I'm guessing there was a lot of drinking, cigars, and entertainment going on. 

Smoke coats everything. If the buyer received and opened the package and smelled smoke. That would be logical. Especially if they are a nonsmoker. 

The simple solution is the buyer gives it a gentle wash and all is good. Who really wears a new item with washing first? 

It could be they are playing you based on your notes on the listings about odor. 

[coolhandluke830]

I have been to the masters, the store there is not a bar, it is a store and they will ship your items home right from the shop.  

He told you he doesn't smoke, how they were packaged, how they went straight to his home, but yet, you are somehow trying to blame him for a lying thief of a buyer?

Anyway, this post REALLY concerns me for all of sellers.  If they won't remove it for such awful feedback extortion like this, what protection do we have?

Is there an ebay rep around here who will help him?  Get this removed?

[coolhandluke830]

I am his wife!  

[coolhandluke830]

It is me, OP and not wife, there was ZERO odor of smoke on these.  I had 7 good feedback already on these shirts and they were ALL in one box, and they is no chance smoke got into it with how well it was packed, and how they were paid for is not a concern, and Peter Millar does not have blowout sales, why are you trying to blame me for Feedback Extortion?  Or project they sell booze and cigars and smoke and drink where they sell clothing at such a prestigious event!

Ridiculous.  Almost as bad as them not removing the feedback, yet, or at all.  

[southern*sweet*tea]

NEVER get into a back and forth with a buyer.

NEVER, no matter how much you may want to justify some problem, be it real or imaginary.

If someone has a problem with something they bought from you, tell them to return it.  Don't get into a back and forth with the buyer, just send them this:

"Dear buyer,

I'm sorry you're not happy with the <doohickey>. Please return it for a full refund.

Thank you,

Seller"

Send it once. Period, the end. Put the ball in their court and leave it there until they open a return (if that even happens).

If they are truly unhappy they'll open a return.  If they do, send the return label and wait for them to return it.

If they are just fishing for a post-sale discount they'll most likely go away.  There are many buyers who will threaten a seller with leaving a negative just so they'll get a discount or a free item.  This behavior would STOP if sellers would STOP giving in.  Never cow down to feedback threats, ever.

Also, if a buyer is threatening you with bad feedback if you don't do something, that is feedback extortion.  Report the buyer:  https://www.ebay.com/sellerhelp    Do not call customer service, they are unable to help and are notorious for saying whatever it takes to get you off the phone so they can move on to their next victim client.

Report an issue with a buyer>choose buyer>Buyer made a false claim>Claimed the item was not as described when that wasn't true

In the comments box use the words FEEDBACK EXTORTION and reference the messages.  Be sure to add the buyer to your block list:  https://offer.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?BidderBlockLogin

[coolhandluke830]

I am not a rookie and I do not need your help.

They didn't want to return.  They wanted cash money back or they were going to leave me bad feedback.

They are a thief.  

FEEDBACK EXTORTION.

I don't need advice, I am here looking for a ebay rep to help.  I will keep posting this until I get it.  

[ltldpr]

@coolhandluke830 , the customer service reps you spoke to are contractors in another country - and they lie in order to get you off the phone or chat. Try contacting eBay customer service (actual employees) via social media and show them the feedback extortion messages. Keep it short, simple, and to the point. 

Here are the links that another eBay member posted elsewhere, and I bookmarked:

-----------------------------------------------------

Here are your options for contacting Ebay Customer Service.  Please be aware that for social media CS, you send them a Private Message and briefly explain what your problem or issue is.  Feel free to leave your Name, address, phone number and/or your email address in this message.  It is private and secure and it may help to speed up the response for you.

https://twitter.com/askebay

https://www.facebook.com/eBay/

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

[sextons-sweet-deals]

Not going to get in an argument especially if two people are responding to comments. 

I also stated that the buyer could be playing you on your comment in listings about potential smell. 

I don't expect smoking is allowed in the gift shop. That is normal anywhere. Malls, retail stores, grocery, drug stores, doctors' office, hospitals, airplanes and so on. 

it could be more tied to the hotel room or the outside entertainment tent / venue. You did state something about campfire. 

[coolhandluke830]

Thank you so much!  I don't have any social media but my wife has facebook.  This is actually helps.

I have also seen ebay reps here and thought maybe I could get help that way.

I did some follow up on the one who took the report of the bad feedback and extortion, he did state the day

and time the report was sent and it was correct, but that is why I am here, I do not trust any customer service here, even American reps.  I believe they are told just to get us off the phone anyway possible.

Others should be concerned about this, for it can happen to them as well.

Thank you so much!

[tinsoldierunderground]

Ebay reps almost never show up on these boards, or pay attention to what goes on here.

Your best bet would be to contact ebay for business on facebook, but these days I'm told even they have lost the ability to remove bad feedback.  In any case, they are far more knowledgeable than CS reps contacted through this site.  I don't know how you "called" ebay, but if you found a contact number on line, it's a scam number. 

[theteamsetguy]

@coolhandluke830 ,

I'm sorry you ran into a difficult customer. You can keep posting as much as you want but this board is not monitored by eBay employees. 

Like others have suggested get on social media and contact eBay is your best option. 

[mtgraves7984]

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@coolhandluke830 wrote:

I am not a rookie and I do not need your help.

They didn't want to return.  They wanted cash money back or they were going to leave me bad feedback.

They are a thief.  

FEEDBACK EXTORTION.

I don't need advice, I am here looking for a ebay rep to help.  I will keep posting this until I get it.  

---

@coolhandluke830 

So we (sellers and buyers) are kinda done here. Go to the facebook link and see if you get satisfaction. Good luck.

[coolhandluke830]

Hello again

I sent the facebook message.  I hope they help.  So what it boils down to is we are just at the total mercy of discount seekers?  That they are going to be able to just leave bad feedback after stating extortion?

Have you found this is how it is now?  I mean every rep said "very clear cut case of feedback extortions".

If this is how it is, we are toast here.  Definitely if buyers find out.  So if you have the chance and you know that we won't get help, please let me know.  Thank you

[coolhandluke830]

If you go to the contact page and do there automated assistant, you have to first do Selling, then Listing an item, when you get the assistant, you say selling, then something else, and put in agent, a thing will pop up for them to call you.  Not a scam.  I did it right thru ebay, not online.