Advice/Opinion re Neutral Recieved

Fakefurbabe_2

Just wanted to seek opinion/advice before I press the send button on an email I have just written to a buyer who has given me a neutral. The reason being I don't know if I am thinking rationally as my DS is very unwell so I am a bit stresed at the mo.

Thinking rationally I really wouldn't care about the neutral (I have had a positive since) and the feedback is of a nit picking nature in that they "loved" the item but the good ol' stain fairy had paid a visit during it's transit! There were no stains and I had posted a number of photos of this item which clearly reflets this. The item by they way cost 99p. They also had a pop about P&P when I had charged Postage plus 68p for padded envelope and fair bit of tissue paper but given all the lovely feedback I have (over 350) the neutral feedback really does look daft.

However, the reason I am posting is that I can't get over the fact that the buyer at no point contacted me to resolve any issues they had and under ebay's policy I thought they had to before they could leave a neg or neutral. The feedback they left about P&P is really unfair as they agreed to these charges when they bid. So do I send this email asking them to remove the feedback or should I just let it go? Also will a neutral affect me in the future in any way?

Thanks for letting me get this of my chest :A

cally6008

just let it go, its not worth the stress

soolin

Non positives hurt and it can be like a bad tooth that you just can't leave alone.

Think bad thought about the buyer, block them in case they bid on anything else and also respond to feedback..then leave it. Your blood pressure is more important than a neutral.

For ebay purposes though a neutral can be bad news, get a few cheap and cheerful listings up for a quick sale to wipe that neutral into oblivion.

Fakefurbabe_2

Thanks guys you are stars - I have no one to speak to re ebay as I don't know anyone else who does it so being able to come on here is so brilliant!

Soolin, I was thinking about responding to the feedback but was worried that it may just highlight it even more! and also not really sure how to word it. However I will mull that over as it may help my head if I at least feel like I have done something.

Will take your advice re listing lot's of stuff.

Thanks again,

pinkshoes

Don't bother emailing them, as it won't achieve anything.

Just calmly reply to the neutral saying something like "packaging cost was exactly cost of postage and jiffy bag, not a penny more". Any future buyers who see this will not bat an eye lid!

Have you looked to see what feedback this buyer has left for others?

soolin

Another thought, check your expanded seller dashboard in case the buyer has left any 1 or 2 * ratings. I'm not sure how often the expanded dashboard updates though.

marklv

Fakefurbabe wrote: »

Just wanted to seek opinion/advice before I press the send button on an email I have just written to a buyer who has given me a neutral. The reason being I don't know if I am thinking rationally as my DS is very unwell so I am a bit stresed at the mo.

Thinking rationally I really wouldn't care about the neutral (I have had a positive since) and the feedback is of a nit picking nature in that they "loved" the item but the good ol' stain fairy had paid a visit during it's transit! There were no stains and I had posted a number of photos of this item which clearly reflets this. The item by they way cost 99p. They also had a pop about P&P when I had charged Postage plus 68p for padded envelope and fair bit of tissue paper but given all the lovely feedback I have (over 350) the neutral feedback really does look daft.

However, the reason I am posting is that I can't get over the fact that the buyer at no point contacted me to resolve any issues they had and under ebay's policy I thought they had to before they could leave a neg or neutral. The feedback they left about P&P is really unfair as they agreed to these charges when they bid. So do I send this email asking them to remove the feedback or should I just let it go? Also will a neutral affect me in the future in any way?

Thanks for letting me get this of my chest :A

Let it go! If you harass a buyer because he didn't leave you positive feedback then you are in the wrong - and rightly so. Nobody is obliged to leave you positive feedback, and you have no automatic right to such feedback.

Fakefurbabe_2

soolin wrote: »

Another thought, check your expanded seller dashboard in case the buyer has left any 1 or 2 * ratings. I'm not sure how often the expanded dashboard updates though.

Just checked by DSR and they have left me a 1 * rating for P+P which now takes my DSR to 4.9, 4.8, 4.9, 4.64 at what point will this have an adverse effect as I average around 4 sales per month although last month it was 19 due to a clear out. I do tend to buy more than sell.

I think I will now respond to the feedback as I don't think 68p for a padded envelope and lot's of tissue paper is justified to leave me a 1 *.

Having looked at their feedback this buyer has previously left sporadic neutrals before.

Fakefurbabe_2

marklv wrote: »

Let it go! If you harass a buyer because he didn't leave you positive feedback then you are in the wrong - and rightly so. Nobody is obliged to leave you positive feedback, and you have no automatic right to such feedback.

I am not in the market for harrassing people I would just have liked out of courtesey the right to have rectified their issues before they left their feedback. As I mentioned Ebay policy states that they must contact the buyer before leaving neutral or negative feedback as stated here http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/feedback/howitworks.html#should If they had contacted me I would not have seen it as harrassment.

Well the bigger question is then why do ebay have this policy (which I have always followed) and not enforce it?

marklv

Fakefurbabe wrote: »

I am not in the market for harrassing people I would just have liked out of courtesey the right to have rectified their issues before they left their feedback. As I mentioned Ebay policy states that they must contact the buyer before leaving neutral or negative feedback as stated here http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/feedback/howitworks.html#should If they had contacted me I would not have seen it as harrassment.

Well the bigger question is then why do ebay have this policy (which I have always followed) and not enforce it?

Ok, ok. But even so, sending a message to the buyer complaining about having received neutral or negative feedback can be interpreted in the wrong way. Just be careful.

soolin

Fakefurbabe wrote: »

Just checked by DSR and they have left me a 1 * rating for P+P which now takes my DSR to 4.9, 4.8, 4.9, 4.64 at what point will this have an adverse effect as I average around 4 sales per month although last month it was 19 due to a clear out. I do tend to buy more than sell.

I think I will now respond to the feedback as I don't think 68p for a padded envelope and lot's of tissue paper is justified to leave me a 1 *.

Having looked at their feedback this buyer has previously left sporadic neutrals before.

That one star under the new rules may mean your items will be nigh on invisible on ebay. If you check in a few days it should reflect in your 'standing' on ebay and will show whether you have a lowered stauts or not.

For details of the new 'penalties' for 1 or 2 * see my sticky thread about current changes on ebay. I have two lots of 1 or 2 * ratings in the past year.