12-14-2025 12:35 PM
Hello all,
I am new to the eBay world and unfortunately have received my first negative review today. After reading the buyers feedback, I can understand that they may not be happy but I had not received any messages from them at all before the review was given. The item had been indicated by them to have been covered in dust and they had to repair two parts of it. One of those parts was indicated in the description as having been an issue but the other repair they said they made was not an issue when I had the item as I reviewed it carefully, so I'm not sure how I could have addressed that one when writing the description. The third issue was dust, which I cleaned as best I could but also indicated there may be more dust that wasn't as visible in the pictures.
It sounds like they've already corrected the issues they had so I don't know if they'd want to return the item at this point (but I'll never know without asking I suppose).
As a new buyer, should I attempt any resolution at this point for something like this or just take it as a learning opportunity to learn from and move on?
Thank you!
Solved! Go to Best Answer
12-14-2025 01:34 PM - edited 12-14-2025 01:39 PM
This is a disgusting thing to do to a buyer so new that a single neg could drop them to a sales-endangering 87.5% score. The listing clearly shows and describes the minor damage needing repair, and I see NO dust whatsoever, never mind being "so dusty it had to be scrubbed." Give me a bleepin break.
@geoep-35 -Tell us, what does their feedback left for others look like? Do you see a lot of negatives left for other sellers? I agree it doesn't sound like they'd be interested in doing a return. Matter of fact I believe they are LYING, that they were not disappointed at all, because I strongly suspect that what you have here is a low down scummy partial refund scammer. They either write before leaving feedback, hinting at wanting a partial refund "or else," or they just go ahead and give the neg, knowing that some sellers will do anything to get them to revise it. Even with as drastic as this neg's impact is to your score, I hope you won't cow to that tactic. I know that's easy for me to say with my shiny 100%, but here's the good news: help is on the way. What I mean is, that 87.5 will quickly rise as you continue to sell and get positive feedbacks to count against this one neg.
You are the perfect example of why eBay implemented a wonderful change just a few months ago. Up to that point, you didn't get any "credit" for sales that went fine but the buyers didn't bother leaving feedback. But now if that happens, about a week after delivery you get an automated positive. You've had some already:
And these count toward your positive percent just the same as if the buyers hand-wrote them!
In the meantime, I would encourage you to click the blue Reply on the right end of the feedback line, and write a brief, professional response to that neg. And this is key: Write as if talking to that person, but SAY what you want others to know, all the potential future buyers who will go to your feedback to see what your neg was about, and how you handled it. Don't accuse that buyer of anything, don't say they should have contacted you or anything else that could look like blame-casting, instead take the high road and "empathize" ... while not admitting fault on your own part.
Something along the lines of: I am so sorry this was disappointing. I did attempt to make the condition very clear in my photos and description, but I will try even harder moving forward. -Then if any reader wants to see what all the fuss was about, they can click on the item number displayed right there, and SEE that this buyer made a mountain out of a mole hill, and that your listings are actually fantastic.
LOL believe it or not, a neg can be a blessing in disguise. -One thing this one will do for the whole next year: show future partial refund scammers that you don't flinch, that you stand your ground, so if they want to pull scams they should look for a weaker seller.
12-14-2025 12:43 PM
Don't ask. Keep the $$.
Damage is already done.
Lesson learned and use that info for future listings.
12-14-2025 01:14 PM
I agree with Stainless. You've got the money, she fixed the piece. She didn't ask for a partial refund or indicate she wanted to return it. Just leave it be.
One thing you can do is go to her feedback and click on "left for others". That will show all the feedback she has left for other sellers. You will be able to see if she's a picky buyer that is always going to find something wrong with an item, or if yours is an isolated case which would indicate you might want to be a little more careful with listing your items.
12-14-2025 01:34 PM - edited 12-14-2025 01:39 PM
This is a disgusting thing to do to a buyer so new that a single neg could drop them to a sales-endangering 87.5% score. The listing clearly shows and describes the minor damage needing repair, and I see NO dust whatsoever, never mind being "so dusty it had to be scrubbed." Give me a bleepin break.
@geoep-35 -Tell us, what does their feedback left for others look like? Do you see a lot of negatives left for other sellers? I agree it doesn't sound like they'd be interested in doing a return. Matter of fact I believe they are LYING, that they were not disappointed at all, because I strongly suspect that what you have here is a low down scummy partial refund scammer. They either write before leaving feedback, hinting at wanting a partial refund "or else," or they just go ahead and give the neg, knowing that some sellers will do anything to get them to revise it. Even with as drastic as this neg's impact is to your score, I hope you won't cow to that tactic. I know that's easy for me to say with my shiny 100%, but here's the good news: help is on the way. What I mean is, that 87.5 will quickly rise as you continue to sell and get positive feedbacks to count against this one neg.
You are the perfect example of why eBay implemented a wonderful change just a few months ago. Up to that point, you didn't get any "credit" for sales that went fine but the buyers didn't bother leaving feedback. But now if that happens, about a week after delivery you get an automated positive. You've had some already:
And these count toward your positive percent just the same as if the buyers hand-wrote them!
In the meantime, I would encourage you to click the blue Reply on the right end of the feedback line, and write a brief, professional response to that neg. And this is key: Write as if talking to that person, but SAY what you want others to know, all the potential future buyers who will go to your feedback to see what your neg was about, and how you handled it. Don't accuse that buyer of anything, don't say they should have contacted you or anything else that could look like blame-casting, instead take the high road and "empathize" ... while not admitting fault on your own part.
Something along the lines of: I am so sorry this was disappointing. I did attempt to make the condition very clear in my photos and description, but I will try even harder moving forward. -Then if any reader wants to see what all the fuss was about, they can click on the item number displayed right there, and SEE that this buyer made a mountain out of a mole hill, and that your listings are actually fantastic.
LOL believe it or not, a neg can be a blessing in disguise. -One thing this one will do for the whole next year: show future partial refund scammers that you don't flinch, that you stand your ground, so if they want to pull scams they should look for a weaker seller.
12-14-2025 01:58 PM
Strongly agree with @stainlessenginecovers and @pickapaper . Unfortunate circumstances, but move past it.
12-14-2025 02:06 PM
I'm not sure how I could have addressed that one when writing the description
Your listing says "Item is pre-owned and may have other minor dirt or surface wear not clearly seen in pictures. It does no good to say it "might", because buyers will hope it does not. It clearly did, so say that it "does" and take away any expectation that it does not.
a learning opportunity to learn from and move on?
That is the right attitude.
12-14-2025 02:09 PM
You might want to make a note that there is no eBay requirement that an unhappy buyer has to contact the seller before leaving FB or before opening an NAD case.
12-14-2025 02:18 PM
@soh.maryl wrote:You might want to make a note that there is no eBay requirement that an unhappy buyer has to contact the seller before leaving FB or before opening an NAD case.
Good point (by the way 'NAD' stands for 'Not As Described' meaning the kind of return where it doesn't matter if you have a 'No Returns' policy; eBay's money back guarantee trumps that when the buyer claims NAD, even if they are lying through their teeth).
In fact, choosing 'No Returns' for your listings makes it even more likely for buyers to act without contacting you, because No Returns makes it appear you are not open to discuss anything anyway. @geoep-35 I would highly advise reconsidering your return policy. There are many benefits to allowing them, even more if you offer free returns.
12-14-2025 02:43 PM
Sellers should ALWAYS try getting unfair feedback removed by eBay.
If it were me I would choose: reason - policy violation; remarks: Buyer never contacted me or requested a return. Buyer used negative mark but left positive comments.
Always be simple and to the point, you're dealing with AI or off shore CS most likely.
I just had one removed where I fully believed my reasoning was a stretch and I would be denied. It's always worth a try.
12-14-2025 02:51 PM
But the item was dirty! Am I the only one who looked at the ears? That looks accumulated.
ᓚᘏᗢ
12-14-2025 03:29 PM
That looks like the black paint is worn off the very edges of the ears, and the grayishness is just light reflection.
Even if there was some dust, it is ABSURD to leave negative feedback for it.
12-14-2025 03:59 PM
@gurlcat wrote: "Even if there was some dust, it is ABSURD to leave negative feedback for it."
But the buyer had to SCRUB it! When I think of "scrub", I think of using a scouring or steel wool pad and really putting elbow grease behind it, something of that nature. This buyer probably had to go to all the trouble of dampening a paper towel with water or cleaner and wiping across those ears.
I agree that it is absurd to leave a negative for being dusty. That's why I was curious when I asked earlier if the buyer is a serial neg leaver. Now that I think about it, @bdmh-enterprises is probably right; @geoep-35 should try to get the neg removed.
12-14-2025 04:09 PM
Sorry, but how is it a policy violation that buyer neither contacted the seller nor requested a return? Those are not eBay requirements.
12-14-2025 04:58 PM
@soh.maryl wrote:Sorry, but how is it a policy violation that buyer neither contacted the seller nor requested a return? Those are not eBay requirements.
It may not be a requirement, but it has always been eBay's top recommendation that buyers and sellers try and work things out before getting eBay involved. IME it is absolutely accounted for if the buyer goes straight to case and vice versa if the seller is unwilling to work with a buyer.
The actual policy violation I'd be going for here though is negative FB with positive comments.
12-14-2025 05:07 PM
If it were me...
I'd probably just make a sourpuss lemon face
every day
when I logged on
for the next year
until it naturally rolls off.
...but that's probably just me.