Is there anything I can do to protect from an abusive buyer that only leaves negative feedback?

[dr.kenzo.tenma]

INR case opened for an item sent media mail, shipped Dec. 23, two days before my stated handling time, still moving and just scanned today. No other communications from buyer.

I know I can get an extension of 10 days to resolve the INR due to the active scans, based on the temporary extended shipping protections. The issue is that this buyer has lots of buying "problems." 7 negative feedbacks left out of 11 total feedback given out in the past year.

Anything I can do to protect preemptively against an INAD or negative feedback? This is clearly a buyer that has no compunctions abusing the system as aggressively as possible to get free items.

[dbfolks166mt]

     You can report the buyer but you will never know if eBay actually does anything about it. Given the value they place on the buyers it is highly unlikely. You should for sure add them to you BBL and check the box to prevent them from messaging you. 

[dhbookds]

you can't do anything until something happens..........it doesn't sound like he's opened a case yet.......

[southern*sweet*tea]

How many feedback comments has he received?

I have a powerbuyer who only leaves negative feedback, never positive. He has over 45000 received and has left only 80 or so, all negative.  I have no problems whatsoever selling to him.

OR, he could be a serial negger. Hard to say unless one sees the comments and the context of the neg.

How do you connect leaving a neg to getting free items?

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@dr.kenzo.tenma. Yeah you got one of "those people". Get the extension now, make sure you communicate with them and be very nice, let them know you too are very concerned about the delivery. If you pull out of this intact then BBL. Sometimes you just have to " coddle" these types, had the same thing happen and it ended up ok. Good luck to you.

[dr.kenzo.tenma]

He has opened an INR case due to USPS delays in shipping. The item was mailed two days early, but USPS gave it a completely unrealistic delivery date (3 business days for media mail???), which reset the expected delivery date.

As for connecting the buyer to free items, the buyer negs for strange things - moldy DVDs, etc. - similar to messages that in the past I personally have seen being used to fish for free items or discounts.

[popblox]

Soothe them, but don't refund them early. It's actually a good thing that they opened an INR because you win the case once the item gets delivered. As the "winner", any associated negative feedback from the loser automatically qualifies for removal. If you refund early, the buyer wins the case and can still leave negs. As for getting an extension, eBay has been automatically extending my INR cases by 10 days if the buyer escalates (even in situations where I'm not real sure they should have). I also have a massive amount of open cases and this is definitely not normal behavior from eBay, but I think they're granting us some leeway right now, so I would ride it out. Don't let the buyer bully you. 

[fashunu4eeuh]

It is unlikely the buyer will open a Not As Described case since they have already opened an INR. They are not eligible to do both. (If you are worried they might convert the case to an INAD after delivery, afraid theres no way to preemptively address that.)  

To show concern on your end, reassure the buyer in the case notes that you are closely monitoring the package’s transit, and you anticipate its arrival to be on xxx, when you factor in the usual and actual time allowance for media mail. 

It is logical and good business to proactively address a developing issue. In this case, however, there is little to be done except to treat this transaction as you would any other.  When anticipating a problem, simply do your best. Pack well, ship quick, provide follow-up customer service as needed. That’s it.

On the whole, i avoid reading a buyer’s feedback during a transaction. Worry over white might happen can sometimes be counter-productive. So rather than have anxiety, i deal with the problem if it happens. And have confidence everything will shake out in everyone’s best interests.

[caldreamer]

If they leave negative feedback because shipment was delayed....you can contact EBAY and ask to have it removed.  

[luckythewinner]

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@dr.kenzo.tenma wrote:

the buyer negs for strange things - moldy DVDs, etc.

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Ick!

I might neg a seller for that too, depending upon how bad it was or of the inserts were damaged.  

[pburn]

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@fashunu4eeuh wrote:

It is unlikely the buyer will open a Not As Described case since they have already opened an INR. They are not eligible to do both.

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A buyer can open a SNAD after the INR closes.

[chadl285]

Add them to the Blocked Buyer List. You can edit the list in your account settings. Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do about negative feedback except challenge it after the fact with eBay. Very rarely will they remove it. If it is there it is there to stay. 

[ezezao-0]

Has this buyer contacted you?

If no, don't wake a sleeping lion.

No news is good news.

[reallynicestamps]

You can notify eBay of your concerns.

However, since there is a good chance that he will leave a neg, that's really very freeing for you isn't it?

No matter how you polish his apple, he will likely still leave the neg.

So.

If he demands a refund or a partial refund you can tell him to open the Dispute.... if he doesn't, no refund. Because he is going to leave the neg anyway, right?

If he files a Not Received dispute, which he can't for 24 hours after the last estimated date for delivery, you can enter the tracking and have another 10 days for the delivery. It would be a good idea to note the exact time of that deadline and refund 12 to 24 hours early. But he is going to leave the neg anyway, so why should you try to please him?

At the moment he is not communicating, so don't worry until he starts whinging. And mark your calendar with that last estimated date for arrival.

Be calm. Be kind. Be safe.

[soh.maryl]

Just curious:  Exactly what would YOU do if you received a moldy DVD?