Vile eBay Feedback Policy

[gegeomc.9d1ixjpvb]

Just got off the phone with an eBay representative.   Absolutely vomit-inducing.

We try to be so **bleep** careful about our descriptions.  Got negative feedback from a buyer who called the man-made product silly and random.  Um, the product IS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT WAY.  It's in **bleep** English in the description - something a middle schooler would make.  

The rep said because it's the buyer's opinion, it can't be taken off.  Really?  So if I sold a board book and the buyer says - I didn't like the topic and gave negative feedback, that's perfectly okay?  Does eBay not want sellers?  Is that the end goal here?  

I'm going to look into something else.  This is absolutely, unbelievably sickening.

[gegeomc.9d1ixjpvb]

Thank you.  We try very hard.  We are very careful.  It's extremely discouraging and maddening to have a situation equivalent to a buyer buying a movie, disliking the plot, then giving the seller negative feedback.  And that's perfectly fine with eBay because it's the seller's "opinion".   

[judydu2]

That very first negative is like a stake to the heart, but now that it has happened, you can move on. Always remember that you are/will be dealing with a myriad of complex customers, all with different expectations (and intelligence levels) and that negatives can be a possibility, no matter what. Should it happen again (let's hope not) it will hurt, but it will not hurt quite as badly. Your descriptions seem to reflect that you have a wonderful sense of humor, so just call this guy a moron, cuss him, flip him the bird or do whatever makes you feel better (all to yourself), and then get back to work listing. Your record on eBay to date is just fine even with the negative, so, step back, have a cool, refreshing drink, let your blood pressure go down and then continue on doing what you have been doing.

[inhawaii]

I totally feel for you.  I totally agree with you. But this is nothing new for ebay. I'm surprised you're so upset.

I've told this story many times on the boards. I once sold a EXPIRED Ruths Chris gift card. "Expired" was in the title. "Expired" was in the description several times in bold letters, underlined and in bright red font.  It even talked about how "i checked with my local Ruths Chris restaurant and they said they would still honor this expired card. Please check with your local Ruths Chris before buying this item."

The first thing that my buyer did when she received the card was message me that  THIS CARD IS EXPIRED!!!

[emerald1830]

I asked my son who knows your item well if he would still buy from you with that negative feedback and he said " absolutely"...some buyers are just dumb..

[gegeomc.9d1ixjpvb]

What an incredibly sweet response!  Thank you so much!  You really hit the nail on the head with how I'm feeling and why.  Thank you so much.  It helps enormously just for people to understand.  

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

[gegeomc.9d1ixjpvb]

GOOD GRIEF!!   It's eBay's policies, clearly.  It's absolutely insane.  

[myangelandmyprincess]

I don’t see a negative 

[gegeomc.9d1ixjpvb]

Update:  eBay took off the negative feedback.  I called back and asked for clarification of eBay's policy.   I said if I bought a movie from an eBay seller and didn't like the plot, is it okay if I give the seller negative feedback?  She tried to say that was different, that eBay allows feedback based on the transaction.  I said that's not in this case at all.  It had nothing to do with the transaction.  It had everything to do with the "plot".  Thankfully, she understood and agreed.  I think there was a misunderstanding with the first person plus we kind of had an uneven phone line.  

I apologize for my initial post.  I was so stunned and flummoxed that someone could be so deliberately obtuse and deliberately hurtful.  I guess I'm naïve.  Then for the initial decision to be okay with someone providing neg feedback that had nothing to do with the transaction itself. . . .

This is a very, very small business that does help my family.  And we're so careful!  We look over our items obsessively.  We package extremely carefully.  I just wish eBay's policies would be humane for sellers.  

Thank you everybody and Merry Christmas.

[emerald1830]

I'm happy for you!! The first cut is always the deepest...I remember being so paranoid of getting that first scratch on my brand new car...UNTIL it happened..left me livid, cursing the automobile gods, etc..the second scratch didn't even bother me..

Happy holidays to you guys..Flummoxed is a word I use daily..as well as maggot...lol..

[inhawaii]

Good for you! 

It's nice to see ebay customer service using a little common sense in their decision making.

[myboardid]

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@fern*wood wrote:

There are new protections for Top Rated Sellers that offer 30 day returns for faulty returns.  I don't think the protections apply to just feedback without a return being involved.

The protection DOES apply without a return being involved - I just had it happen to me.  Buyer wanted a refund after the 30 day time period, I refused, they negged.  After a few days eBay removed the neg.  The buyer didn't return the item and I didn't supply a return label.

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[fern*wood]

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@myboardid wrote:

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@fern*wood wrote:

There are new protections for Top Rated Sellers that offer 30 day returns for faulty returns.  I don't think the protections apply to just feedback without a return being involved.

The protection DOES apply without a return being involved - I just had it happen to me.  Buyer wanted a refund after the 30 day time period, I refused, they negged.  After a few days eBay removed the neg.  The buyer didn't return the item and I didn't supply a return label.

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That involved a return---a faulty one.  

[myboardid]

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@gegeomc.9d1ixjpvb wrote:

I guess I'm at a loss as to why eBay insists on destroying sellers.  Without sellers, there would be no eBay.  It's inexplicable.  

Forgive me, so what you're saying is if I change my return policy to 30 day returns, that feedback would be scrubbed?

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No it wouldn't be scrubbed.  It is not retroactive. 

All that said, eBay almost always sides with a buyer and when confronted with a "he said, she said" situation, eBay takes the buyer over the seller every time.  they want to keep the buyers happy because if there are buyers, the sellers will come. 

[myboardid]

No, there was no attempt to return, no case opened, only a few messages back and forth. 

[aramintaca]

It's been done! Their feedback wasn't removed either. This was discussed on these boards a few years ago.