To leave negative or neutral...?

Olly1_2

I purchased and paid for some items from a seller on 1st Sept.
I heard nothing from the seller so emailed them on 9th (no reply) and again on 10th - received reply saying:

"Hi!
Thanks for your mail. and sorry to hear that you have not yet rec. the item. Kindly wait I will inquire from my local post office.
My other buyers also face same problem but dont worry i will sort it out from my postoffice as I am having proof of postage.
sorry! for inconv. some time it happens....
regards "

I took this to mean item was dispatched around time of payment and that they had proof of postage and I would hear back from seller once they had spoken to post office or had some update. A few days later after hearing nothing I emailed again asking politely if they had any further information or if order had been returned to them - this time I received:

"Hi!
thanks for your purchase.
Your item was disathed by 12th sep, afternoon mail.
I am having proof of postage aswell.
kindly wait you will rec. your item soon.
regards"

I queried dispatch on 12th Sept for order paid on 1st Sept and said as they mentioned proof of postage before then I think they had me mixed up with a different customer and could they check again please. I then received:

"Hi!
For last couple of days my very close friend had seviour road accident and I have to take care for him and my partner was handling this ebay purchase who dont have enough knowledge of computer....That was the main reason i was not even able to reply you promptly.

May I request not to leave -ve feedback, as I really work hard to manage this .....I do accept this delay caused by me....
sorry again! "

I checked their listings and new items were added during this time, ok could be automatic listing, but all their feedback over past two weeks says things like great delivery, superfast delivery, ordered one day received next etc which I dont see how this is possible if they have not done deliveries since I ordered on 1st Sept (all these auctions were sold over past two weeks and delivered promptly). Also I was originally told items had been dispatch on 1st Sept (or there abouts) and that they had proof of postage - this was on 10th, after the supposed accident so why would they not mention accident and time away from pc and also why say they have proof of postage if they were not sending orders? All in all I think i'm being fed a crock here and after two weeks with no money or items (which were needed for weekend past) I have filed a dispute on paypal to try and get a refund instead as I dont think I believe the items have even been dispatched at all.

So although I would normally not leave feedback or leave neutral if pushed I am annoyed this person would lie so blatently about different posting dates, make me chase them continually for updates, possibly lie about an accident and then ask me not to leave -ve feedback for them! So should I neutral or neg them?

Their rating currently over 1600 / 100% / 3 neutrals
I would like to neg (first for me) as the obvious different stories and then lying about a road accident is sick to me (if not lying then messaging me with proof of postage messages and then managing to send everyone else's out on time is a puzzle). On otherhand I feel bad as it would be their first neg but if everyone thinks like that no-one would receive a neg. Their auctions also had fast delivery on them which is why I paid a little more for these buy it now rather than bid on cheaper auctions - So would you neg or neutral?

Bromley86

Whilst there do seem to be a statistically improbable number of accidents/dying children on eBay, that doesn't mean this one is lying. even if you don't believe them, they've bothered to respond, haven't told you to !!!!!! off and have (hopefully) sent the parcel soon after your chaser email.

Personally, a neg is for a situation where I have to chase to get a refund. Chasing to get delivery isn't even an automatic neutral, especially as eBay rules would have allowed them to wait until the 8th to post. So we're actually only talking about you losing 4 days here.

grunnie

I personally would not leave feedback till you either get your money back or receive the item you bought. Then I would leave a negative. If for no other reason they may have loads of other customers with the same senario as you who are not leaving a negative. Negatives are there to warn a buyer that something has not gone right with this sale. When I get my money back from a similar situation I just write - After many emails Refund given as no goods arrived within 3 weeks - or something like that. I don't leave a neg if the seller sounds genuine( no dying cats or cancer or accidents) but if a seller does sound as tho they tried to help. Saying they have proof of posting in my opinion is a waste of time as that isn't taken by paypal as proof item was posted. As a buyer I have had several items recently where the sellers have taken more than a week to post the item.

steviebabes

I would wait and see when/if the goods arrive before deciding on a feedback rating, you have 45 days from the date of sale.

grannybiker

Hopefully your item will arrive now you've chased them. Give it a couple of days, then file an "Item Not Received," through Paypal, assuming you paid through them. Tend to find this the most effective prompt!
Whatever you decide, don't leave feedback until the transaction is over- ie, you have either goods or full refund.
If they refund without you having to claim through Paypal, or you get your goods, then I'd give positive, but mention the problem in your comments.
Negative if you need to go down the Paypal claim route.
Don't think this one really qualifies for a neutral imho.
(Your seller and their "Friend" who're now handling their Ebay obviously learnt English from the same teacher!)

downs523

negative feedback. poor service, waited too long, if the seller had problems at home he should of informed you earlier.

Bromley86

Where were all you negative people when the sellers could leave negs?

grunnie

Bromley86 wrote: »

Where were all you negative people when the sellers could leave negs?

Only left a negative once in my life as a seller. It was to an American dealer who sent me back the fake version of the item I sold him. I watched his profile for months after and he was in the habit of buying an item and returning a fake item. I wonder if he is still buying and selling on ebay uk now that sellers can't leave a negative. He obviously new that paypal always sided with the buyer and took full advantage of that.

Bromley86

Fair enough - to my mind exactly what a negative is for. I've only left one myself for pirated software (well, the CD was authentic, but the code was hacked).

The OP's situation is very different, which is why I'm surprised you advocate a neg for it.

Olly1_2

Thanks for all the replies - the reason I was considering a neg was due to the fact all other orders during this period seemed to have been dispatched on time and great feedback left regarding fast delivery etc, so was puzzled why mines was only (possibly) posted two weeks later after a few chasing emails (some unanswered). I started a paypal dispute and seller started emailing and phoning sayin ebay said that I had to close the dispute so they could refund me.....! Yeah, like I was gonna fall for that one. I said I would not close dispute but if they wanted to re-send the goods (or send for the first time I suspect) then I would cancel the paypal claim once goods received - they said they no longer have these items, but on checking their listings they have 61 of the exact same item for sale on their auctions - all in all very weird and suspicious.

Alls well in the end and I just received a full refund (still no sign of the goods supposedly posted on 1st and/or 12th Sept). As I have a refund I definately wont neg but am still considering a neutral (as they now wont affect feedback rating) - the reason for neutral is due to all the emails, chasing for delivery, misleading info, wrong dispatch info, saying no more in stock with 61 on ebay at present, having to fend of phone calls and several daily emails and then having to open paypal dispute to get refund. I seriously dont think a positive is suitable and leaving nothing means they could be doing this time and again and nobody knows - so question now is, is a neutral ok or too much since I have had refund now?

fraz_babe

I would leave a neutral.

EDIT: was the item worth much ? Maybe they dont want the hassle of while looking after a friend .. ?