Passive Aggressive Feedback Extortion / Discounted Transaction

[oddsonfun]

I'm just throwing this out there.  Maybe its a coincidence.

Lately I've run into a few transactions with a buyer that go like this.

1. I receive a lowball offer. Decline.  

2. Buyer buys the item anyway.

3. Upon receipt I get negative feedback for a problem that is highly unlikely to be true.  I'm not being arrogant.  Selling on Ebay since the 1990s.

4. I inquire with the buyer to make right for a problem probably non existent in the first place.  

5. They are vague about the issue, just repeat that x is missing or is broken.  No photos or proof if requested "I threw the piece out already"  example

6. Give them a partial refund.

7.  They remove the negative.

I feel like I'm getting some routine where people work the feedback to get the price they want or get something cheaper on the backend.  Getting frustrating.  Is it me? Is this normal?  Or was I lucky to not get these type of transactions before?  I've had a handful with this back and forth this year.   

Thank you.

[evry1nositswindy]

If I get an offensive low ball offer, I block the buyer for this very reason.

[pjcdn2005]

I don't think that is normal but there are people out there who are fishing for a partial refund. If you had told them to open a return, you might not have heard from them again.  Or, you might have ended up  paying for the return shipping. You have to decide how it best for you to handle situations like that.

Perhaps that's why some people block a buyer when they make a lowball offer.

[oddsonfun]

I also want to note that every buyer in these situations does not contact me before leaving a negative to express any disappointment.  It is straight to a harsh negative only to remove it with a super positive one in exchange for a partial refund.

I'm usually contacted when something isn't up to expectations.

In any case, keep what I'm experiencing in mind.  Thanks.

[richards*collection]

It is better to just deal with what happens and do not ever give money back, take the negative and help expose the rascal with a honest reply, if your sincere, it will show. I would rather have honor. I would rather have negative than a false positive, I want honor, I would rather have things returned, call his bluff I say and at least have your self respect.

[richards*collection]

Recently, I just started over and tanked out, I came back with three listings taking advise from the people and just made 3 good listings. buy it now, no best offer. I figure 3 is enough and If I cant sell something the way I listed these three....then I am not low enough. Then I just about blocked the whole world that sells the same stuff. Am I bitter? No, because looking after 3 listings is all I can take, really. If a person who is blocked can email me and talk to me about buying and say that they are blocked and are nice, I will gladly unblock them, and sell to them. Now, I am ready to take what ever feedback they are to leave, I don't care any more I will just reply below their feedback with what is truth to me, and not get upset, No one is going to chisel me, I have ethics, and it is the principle of the thing. eBay is just a hobby, I have been selling since I was a kid. I want to go and drive school bus because they NEED people to do it, eBay is just a side hustle and a challenge. I believe in people. If you don't expose this rascal eBay will never find out, go ahead and report him, that is all I have. You have to live with your decisions in this short life...

[richards*collection]

This is your fault, dont take it. I sound harsh, but that is what I learned. Be diligent in your work, get tired and take a break.

[soh.maryl]

Why refund without requiring and receiving the return? 

[kensgiftshop]

I don't do offers or give partial refunds.

If a buyer has a problem, I tell them to return for a refund and most of the time, don't hear any more from them.

[laserpartshq2]

When I get crazy lowball offers, I decline and proceed to block them, so they won't but and leave me a neg

[onlinecentral]

You had mistakenly thought that the price was etched in stone because the buyer had sent payment. That would be true for the vast majority of buyers.

Unfortunately, you got a dishonest, defective and unscrupulous buyer. In their mind, the price negotiation continues even AFTER delivery had occured.

Is it me? Is this normal? Or was I lucky to not get these type of transactions before? I've had a handful with this back and forth this year.
Other sellers have written about this behavior. To protect yourself and not repeat this scenario, decline the low-ball offer and add the buyer to your Blocked Bidder List. That will disable these buyers from getting the underserved discount on the backend.

[vintagecraze50]

If they cannot get their discount one way they find another way AFTER the sale to accomplish it. I call them partial refund scammers and there are plenty who attempt that here at times.

[vintagecraze50]

You handle partial refund scammers with RETURN FOR REFUND. That’s it folks.

[vintagecraze50]

The return for FULL REFUND , discourages this type of behavior.

[vintagecraze50]

Offer free returns as well so that if your partial refund person sends back nothing or something broken etc you can deduct up to 50 percent off the refund. That will also discourage this behavior.