Vent, my first negative. What I learned

[lgonzalez28]

So maybe I am just venting because I am truly embarrassed for my error. 

I listed a bedskirt that I used on my Queen bed at some point in the past. Without thinking to measure (my first mistake) I listed it as queen sized.

About a week after delivery I notice my FB has a neg. and that I listed a king as a queen. 

Not hearing from my buyer, I felt horrible and apologized profusely, offered a return for full refund, offered a partial to keep. I take full responsibility for my mistake and as a buyer, I understand the frustration. The buyer is acting as though I am lying and deceitful purposefully. Prior to the accusations I may have just refunded fully, but this still wouldn't be enough 

She states she had it dry cleaned right after delivery costing $35 because "she trusted my size" without inspecting it. 

I take responsibility for my error, but I can't also take responsibility for extra costs that had nothing to do with my listing. This was sent clean and pressed, nor is she stating it required dry cleaning due to anything other than her preference to do so.

So I went from feeling really embarrassed and reaching out to do what I thought was the right thing, to feeling completely belittled.

Should I have left well enough alone? Or do you all offer to fix it if you acknowledge an error?

I may do things differently if that were to ever occur. AND ALSO MEASURE. These are my take-aways.

Thanks for letting me vent. 

[fern*wood]

I imagine most of us that have sold for awhile have made silly errors.  I know I have.  You handled it just fine and I wouldn't worry any about it.  I see no reason to give them money back without getting the item back first, because you could resell it.  It's not like a broken item.  I also received bad feedback for an error I made, but I felt I deserved it.  They weren't rude--just factual. 

Since they didn't even contact you first concerning the measurements, my instinct tells me they made it work regardless and liked it enough to keep.

[immortalfigures]

I would like to add that I looked at your feedback profile and your reply was perfect. When I am buying something on Ebay and I take a look at a sellers negative I always look at their reply. Depending on what they say I add more or less weight to their negative profile. Things that are "turn offs" are:

Rudeness and insults.

Blaming the buyer in a non professional matter, rather than professionally explaining inaccuracies.  

Replying in such a way that I feel completely white washes the problem, in a way that suggests dishonesty.

If I see any of those types of replies, and particularly multiple ones, I may look at a profile with 500 good review and 3 negatives the same way I would look at a profile with 500 good reviews and 100 negatives. It might be unlikely that there could be a problem with my order, but if there was I would get the feeling it would be an annoying chore to deal with. 

In the case of your feedback, in the limited amount of space Ebay gives you, you politely admitted a mistake, presented your solution and described the resolution. In your case I wouldn't even consider it a negative review when looking at your profile. In fact,it shows that if I purchased from you and there was an issue, I would feel confident a resolution could be reached.

Good Job!

[lgonzalez28]

Well that was kind. I took the advice of some more experienced sellers who offered me solid advice. That is why we come to this forum.
Thanks again to all of you. Even Unlucky, although I disagree with most of what you say on these forum posts. 😆😉 It's good to see all perspectives and use the knowledge in the future

[myboardid]

To unlucky & the other poster who said they would immediately give a full refund to their buyer who had left a negative without contacting them about a problem - I respect both of you, but in this situation I do not agree with your approach.  I would certainly take responsibility but would require a return at my expense before refunding.  There are too many unscrupulous buyers out there that would set up that scenario solely for the purpose of getting their purchase for free.  And I especially would not refund if the buyer was demanding additional money. 

Actually my usual situation is that the item was either broken or I sent the wrong one.  In those cases I send the correct/replacement item first with a return label included, and the buyer sends back the mistake after getting their correct item.  I have only had a few who never returned the damaged/wrong item but there have been some. 

Everyone has to handle these problems in their own way. 

[valuestore]

This sounds like 'shock and awe' shakedown; your being played.  The size was probably correct based on the antics buyer is displaying, odd behavior is a give away. . Dont fall for it, or get emotional.. just take your neg and direct them to how to  'return for refund',  block them, report them...move on. 

[soh.maryl]

To clarify -- It was not a bed sheet, but a dust ruffle.  A dust ruffle is more of an ornamental item for a bed.

You do not sleep on it or under it.

[lgonzalez28]

So this is fun! I've been on eBay for years and possibly getting another neg for a simple purse strap sold last month

Buyer was a red flag from the start, 

Saturday late afternoon purchase for a BIN w IPR first message "I just paid you right away, now ship right away'.

I responded that the PO opens on Monday and will be shipped then.

Buyer received purse strap, "I am not sure if it's real" 

I respond that it is, but I'd be more than happy to refund if she'd like to return. Silence.

A week later "i want to keep it, but refund 80 percent to my PayPal"

Please return for a refund. Silence.

This went on every week since mid November. eBay cs told me just to continue my response the same way.

Forward 30 days, PayPal dispute. Buyer wants to keep, but claims it's not Authentic.

Her feedback is atrocious! 

I have never ever had problems selling anywhere else. 

Sigh. Neg #2 possibly in days of each other. eBay is so stressful and I will not just refund automatically for every buyers claim. 

I should not take this personally, I know, but it's a tough blow. 

[city*satins]

Wow.  That buyer certainly has the worst luck!  Funny how that seems to happen over and over again!

Sorry this happened to you!  You might want to REPORT THIS BUYER citing the messages sent demanding 80% refund.

The good news is that having now opened a SNAD, your RETURN FOR REFUND response paints the buyer into a corner.  She actually wants to keep it. I would not be surprised if she doesn't return it.

If she doesn't get is off you you by tracked mail by the deadline (you've responded to the Return request, right?) you can get customer service to close the case.  You just call them.  Do not escalate the return request.  Phone.

FYI in case you haven't been through this before:

1. They close the return request and you get an email saying this

2. They open a CASE  which can look scary

3. A short while later they close the CASE

4. you don't get any kind of a defect

[lgonzalez28]

Yes, I called in my response. It seemed odd that she opted for a PayPal dispute when I've offered an easy return on eBay 5 different times. I reported her after the third message went silent on her end week after week. it's just silly, yet so damaging to a small selling account.

[vanman1029]

---

@flo_mingo wrote:

ARe you sure, I haven't had that experience. 

---

@vanman1029 wrote:

If the buyer left you a neg without first contacting you, c/s will remove the feedback.

---

---

Flo-mingo, I sold a vintage magazine that had some wear & tear which I noted and took pictures of. The buyer left a neg claiming there were several pages missing (which wasn't true) and never contacted me beforehand. (I offer 30 day returns). I called c/s and stated my case, they put me on hold for a minute and when they returned they said the neg was removed.

[vanman1029]

---

@fern*wood wrote:

---

@vanman1029 wrote:

If the buyer left you a neg without first contacting you, c/s will remove the feedback.

---

Where did you come up with that one?  I bet there would be a whole lot fewer negs out there if that was true.

---

Personal experience is where I came up with that one. Guess it didn't go so well for you.