Negative feedback for package still on the way...

[packratville]

I received an order at 4:37 pm on December 4 and took it to the post office on December 5. It took two days for USPS to get it to the regional center, then it apparently got hung up in Memphis. It's still enroute to the buyer.

I just got home a short time ago and had a message from the buyer, simply "Still has not arrived," and apparently he immediately left me a negative feedback, "Has not arrived."

I don't know if he's checked tracking or just assumes a seller has some kind of magic they can wave to move a package along. I understand his disappointment, I'm not happy about the status either, but it would be nice if people would at least have the courtesy to contact me first and give me time to respond before leaving a negative.

Anyway, sorry for the little bit of a rant. I'll respond to the negative feedback politely and professionally. But what should I do about the feedback? Can I contact eBay yet to have it removed or does it need to be delivered first? What's the best course of action? 

Thanks!

[kyle@ebay]

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@robbie31415 wrote:

I'm going to laugh because it doesn't work.

I'm not even sure you understand what the feature is, or how it works, or what it does.

Require RMA does NOT stop eBay from automatically approving a return.

Ever since 2020 when eBay implemented their 'streamlining' of the return process with their automatically approving per eBay policy.

I would expect a mentor to have some understanding to these processes. I'm quite shocked.

kyle@ebay Care to correct me, 'Require RMA' blocks eBay from automatically approving returns? With the 2020 change eBay implemented? 

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Hey @robbie31415 there's actually a bunch of criteria that is taken into consideration when determining if eBay will auto-approve a return.  The RMA is one of those criteria, but it is not as simple as "require RMA blocks auto-approval".  Here is the criteria we can share:   

• Does the seller offers free returns?
• Was the return opened inside the seller's return policy?
• Is it a buyer-paid remorse return?
• The return reason
• The value of the item 
• The location of the buyer and seller 
• The category the item was listed in
• Does the return qualify for eMBG protection?
• Does the seller use RMA?

Note:  This is not the full list of considerations.

[robbie31415]

I offer free returns on everything, so I'm never going to be able to communicate via a return. 

So adding to my BBL means I can never communicate with customers who are returning.

Pretty much it comes down to what would be covered under the eBay MBG.

Remorse returns when the buyer offers 'No Returns' wouldnt' fall under the MBG so they wouldn't be automatically approved.

However, a seller with Free returns, even if it's a Remorse reason, falls under the MBG, as the MBG covers sellers not fullfilling their return policy, which would be INAD.

I get all that, but for the most part, almost all returns are approved automatically at least for me.

I think I had 1 return that wasn't automatically approved.

[mam98031]

Thank you kyle@ebay , very kind of you to pop in and explain this in detail.  My apologies as I started this firestorm of posts on this subject.  I did make it sound like it was as simple as requiring an RMA that the seller assigns, but that wasn't what I meant to say.  Still my fault as I should have been more careful in my wording.   For me and I only speak for myself, I haven't had an Request for Return automatically approved in a very long time.  I've had Return requests, just not auto decided for me.  Fortunately I don't get a lot of returns anyway. 

[kyle@ebay]

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@mam98031 wrote:

Thank you kyle@ebay , very kind of you to pop in and explain this in detail.  My apologies as I started this firestorm of posts on this subject.  I did make it sound like it was as simple as requiring an RMA that the seller assigns, but that wasn't what I meant to say.  Still my fault as I should have been more careful in my wording.   For me and I only speak for myself, I haven't had an Request for Return automatically approved in a very long time.  I've had Return requests, just not auto decided for me.  Fortunately I don't get a lot of returns anyway. 

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Hey @mam98031 no worries at all!  It was still a great opportunity to share experiences and what works for each individual.  I wouldn't call it a firestorm; I'd call it a healthy and educational conversation!

[bisbeeminerals]

Welcome to the world of negative feedback. Sorry you had to stress out over this. I've been there myself. Just remember that there are other outlets for selling things. The only way sellers can fight eBay's draconian feedback rules against sellers is to effect their bottom line.

[mam98031]

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@bisbeeminerals wrote:

Welcome to the world of negative feedback. Sorry you had to stress out over this. I've been there myself. Just remember that there are other outlets for selling things. The only way sellers can fight eBay's draconian feedback rules against sellers is to effect their bottom line.

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@bisbeeminerals 

Maybe you didn't read, the OP got the feedback removed.  Ebay removed it.

You may think other sites might be better on this issue, but it is going to depend on what site you are considering, as there is at least one site that is worse.

How are Ebay's feedback rules "draconian"?  I hope you will elaborate.