unfair negative feedback

[vanpatrick2005]

Well, once again EBAY does NOTHING to back up the seller! As a twenty-year seller (TOP-RATED PLUS) who has always been blessed with 100% feedback (I go the extra mile to keep it, believe me!), I received my first negative feedback today, which at my request EBAY did not remove, and here is my story...

I ship the item, a large book, on time and USPS tracking confirms that it was delivered today,  11/23 (Saturday)  at 3:42 p.m. IN THE MAILBOX.  Within an hour, with NO notification from the buyer, I see that I receive a negative feedback from said buyer stating that the 'item was stolen off  their front porch.' Not only did I get blindsided, I didn't even have time to send them a refund (which I did immediately thereafter) before they left the negative- but EBAY customer service or whatever it is (or isn't) would not remove the negative! What is EBAY coming too? How can an event beyond a seller's control be our fault? Did I steal the item 'off the front porch?' The buyer is probably lying anyway being a scammer, but that's not the point. The point is that this negative FB injustice is so infuriating, I don't know what to do. Its hard enough getting sales on this platform, I have to scratch and claw and use every artifice to make one measly sale, every little advantage helps, and I believe 100% feedback is a necessary tool for more sales. I personally feel more secure buying from a seller with top FB, so I assume that's the case with most buyers! I feel like just closing up my EBAY store and saying screw it, because obviously EBAY doesn't have your back and hasn't for MANY YEARS NOW!!!

[mam98031]

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@vanpatrick2005 wrote:

Very well said.  I agree completely, I wish EBAY did!

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@vanpatrick2005 

Have you contacted Ebay to appeal this and get it removed.  Ebay should remove it since what they state in the feedback is something sellers are NOT held responsible for.  You should be able to get this removed.  If you have appealed it and they still tell you that it can't be removed, would you please share that with us and what method you used to contact Ebay.

[vanpatrick2005]

Well, the negative feedback was like the straw that broke the camel's back... I have been selling on here for 20 years and have been lucky with not having scammy buyers, but I saw red yesterday- I wasn't thinking straight. With all the issues all of us have been having on this site, sometimes it makes you think "Is it worth it?" I am more angry with eBay not taking this stupid feedback off, and I stand by my statement that sellers are getting screwed right and left. I shouldn't have refunded this buyer the money, but in my listing description it states "I will do everything in my power to absolutely satisfy my customers". This refund is a one timer, believe me- it won't start a trend, because I 'got my dander up' and am fighting mad-- CAVEAT EMPTOR--

BUYERS BEWARE!!

[vanpatrick2005]

I appreciate your input- spot on! Believe me, I 'got my dander up' and am ready for any more scammy buyers- CAVEAT EMPTOR- BUYERS BEWARE!

[vanpatrick2005]

Wow thank you for the best response! YOU ARE AWESOME!! Thank you thank you!!

[mam98031]

You are welcome.  Let us know how it goes.

[luckythewinner]

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@vanpatrick2005 wrote:

You are right, I was thinking by issuing a refund that it would bribe that idiot buyer to remove the false, negative feedback...

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I am confused. 

In the original post you said you wanted EBAY to remove the feedback. Now you say you wanted the BUYER to to remove the feedback. 

A buyer cannot remove his feedback unless you send a feedback revision request through the eBay system. Did you do that? 

[vanpatrick2005]

Customer service just called me after I contacted them... we will see buy I don't have my hopes up

[mam98031]

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@vanpatrick2005 wrote:

Customer service just called me after I contacted them... we will see buy I don't have my hopes up

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What did they say?  Your post is too brief to understand what happened when you called.

[vanpatrick2005]

Ebay customer service just called me back- and took my report. I sure don't have my hopes up, but I have done my best. That's all I can do. And customer service DID ask me if I refunded the customer and she did say that the refund MIGHT be the deciding factor in the feedback removal.  Whats a $17 book refund versus 100 percent feedback, right?

[mam98031]

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@vanpatrick2005 wrote:

Ebay customer service just called me back- and took my report. I sure don't have my hopes up, but I have done my best. That's all I can do. And customer service DID ask me if I refunded the customer and she did say that the refund MIGHT be the deciding factor in the feedback removal.  Whats a $17 book refund versus 100 percent feedback, right?

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They took your report and are going to do what with it?  Give it to the Feedback team or just file a report?

If you didn't come across convincing to the CSR you talked with, likely the report they filed will come across the same way.  It is always important to come across in firm belief that it breaks one of the feedback rules, because the buyer is trying to hold you responsible for something that Ebay does NOT hold any seller responsible for.

This could take up to 48 hours.  If it hasn't been removed by then, find me again.  I'm not sure if I can help, but I'm willing to try.  The worse they can say is no.

[tsme35]

I got a negative removed this week "never got it". I filed though ebay and marked the one stating "beyond my control", also included they said it was not delivered and the tracking number showing it was. It was gone in less then 3 minutes. 

 I'd go the face book route now, phone reps are useless, they act like they care but nothing gets done. One call I heard a baby crying and another there was a rooster crowing in the back ground.

 I agree with you, I believe bad feed back hurt sales, at least when I'm buying.

[badgerfan1]

I too recently received my first negative feedback.  A buyer purchased two raw trading cards from me, then claimed one of them was damaged (a small dent in one corner of the front).  My pictures did show a tiny mark on the back of the card in that same corner.  I suspect that when he received it he attempted to fix the back dent and damaged the front in the process or totally switch out cards on me.  He claimed no damage to the packaging or to the other card at all.  Yet Ebay allowed him to leave negative feedback on BOTH items that he purchased and they are refusing to remove the negative content.  He called me a scammer and a fake.  Ebay sided with the buyer and I was forced to refund.  I am now awaiting the return of the card and hopefully I'll be able to get rid of it at a card show.   Right now I am chalking this up to the cost of doing business on Ebay because the rest of my sales have been absolutely fine.  Don't let one person ruin it for you.

Ebay needs to have an option for sellers to give buyers negative feedback.  I fear there are MANY buyers out there who try to get something for nothing and unfortunately Ebay is buyer friendly, not protecting sellers at all!!

[johnrj1226]

Why don't  you just drop out of eBay buying and/or selling if you are so  miserable? - guess you like the company.as in fellows that think the  same.

[fern*wood]

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@badgerfan1 wrote:

I fear there are MANY buyers out there who try to get something for nothing ...

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Some buyers are getting something for nothing because some sellers are refunding without requiring a return as soon as they get bad feedback.   I see you are at least supposed to get your item returned, so I hope you haven't already refunded.  

[aproudparent2010]

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@vanpatrick2005 wrote:

Of course, the automated appeal process denied my request for removal of the stupid feedback, as the feedback 'did not violate EBAY policies'. Well, it sure violated my policy of fairness and of common decency! Now I expect my listings will get kicked down the ladder as I have often heard negative feedback screws with the visibility of the listings, which I can believe. Maybe all buyers should leave all sellers negative feedback as the feedback system is a piece of sh#!t!!! 

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Contact eBay through Facebook and explain the situation clearly and calmly.

I have gotten lots of feedbacks removed that way