What is enough to be considered feedback extortion?

[majesticcollectibles]

I had a buyer ask for a $100 partial refund on a mint condition $500 item that they did not want to send back and then leave negative feedback saying that I lied in the description, etc. Is there any way to get ebay to step in and help in a situation like this?

[mtgraves7984]

@majesticcollectibles 

I don't see a negative feedback... this ID shows 100%. Did you already have it removed?

[gwens*4saleitems*]

There is no negative feedback on this account.

[brightlightbookseller]

Yes, typically you can get that removed, if they were specific about the partial refund being demanded in exchange for not leaving negative feedback, or instead of a return, but it may take some work.  Have you tried the automated feedback removal request first?  That's sometimes enough.  If you have and it wasn't removed, try reaching out to them via chat and/or social media.

You can click the Help & Contact link and drill down to your issue, then begin a chat and type "Agent" to get to a live person.

Or you can contact them via Facebook, X, or Instagram:

https://www.facebook.com/eBay

https://x.com/askebay/

https://www.instagram.com/ebayforsellers/

[inhawaii]

What you described is NOT feedback extortion.

Feedback extortion is:

"If you don't give me a $100 partial refund I will leave you negative feedback."

[iamalwaysright]

I read the OP and understood it as they haven't gotten the negative yet and is asking the community what qualifies as feedback extortion so they can weigh their options on how to deal with their buyer.

@majesticcollectibles If I'm correct, then you can't have ebay to step in until the negative feedback has been left. CS can comment on if they believe it will qualify, but nothing is a guarantee until it actually happens and the review team takes a look at the feedback and circumstance. Sometimes the verbiage on the comment of the feedback matters.

And from what I know of what qualifies as extortion in ebay's eyes, it has to be pretty cut and dry. Like if the buyer said "If you don't give me a partial refund, then I will leave you a negative." Can you copy/paste the exact message the buyer sent to you? Only then we can tell you what we think. Many times people here misperceive the buyers message and jump to conclusions on what they think the buyer is saying.

PS. Awhile back I had a buyer say "I don't like the quality so I think I'm going to leave feedback about it. Any chance I can get a partial?" I checked with ebay and they said no, it isn't extortion because there is no ultimatum stated. The buyer didn't state if I do (or don't do) something, that they will leave a negative for it. Ebay is always very biased to give buyers benefit of any doubt.