Negative feedback retaliation - my experience

agdra

This is just a warning to other members of this forum about leaving negative feedback on an auction, and about eBay's (non-existent) feedback removal system.

I bought an item off a seller which was damaged. I sent it back, and the seller kicked up a stink saying I had damaged it, calling me a liar, threatening legal action, etc. After many e-mails, I finally accepted a partial refund from him (even though I should have received a full refund), but left negative feedback because of his unpleasant communications. (He had left me positive feedback early in the transaction as soon as I had paid him.) I saw early on that the seller was difficult to deal with, so I'd blocked him from bidding on any of my auctions, in case he tried to retaliate against me (this was before I left negative feedback).

A month later, I was selling a few items and one received a last minute bid from someone with zero feedback. The contact address was exactly the same as the bad seller, but the first name was different, as was the e-mail address. Within 36 hours I received a negative feedback mark. Clearly this was retaliatory feedback, since I couldn't have received his cheque in this time, let alone send the item.

I checked the eBay website and it gave some examples of when they can remove feedback. One was the case of a buyer who has had their account blocked from bidding on a seller's items, they then create a new account and use this to leave retaliatory feedback. This (I thought) was exactly the situation that had happened to me, so I reported it to eBay.

They replied saying that they wouldn't remove the feedback, and would not tell me why due to their privacy policy!

Up to this point I had a 100% feedback formed over 6 years and about 700 transactions, and this is the first time I've had a bad transaction. I've been very disappointed with eBay's "couldn't care less" customer relations (I'd reported the seller for his bullying tactics earlier, but received a dismissive reply).

In summary, I'd recommend that other eBayers think carefully before leaving negative feedback. It's very easy for the recipient to create a new account and leave retaliatory feedback for an item you sell, and eBay won't do anything about it (at least from my example).

Sugar_Coated_Owl

I really wouldn't worry too much. You're a well established eBay seller who has dealt with over 700 transactions. This particular eBayer who took the time to create a new account, bid on your auction and leave negative feedback obviously has far too much time on his/her hands. If I were you I would leave a factual reply to the feedback that you received.

Future bidders that take the time to look at your feedback will probably dismiss the negative because all your other transactions have received positive feedback and the only negative you have received was from some newbie zero rated eBayer. Follow up the feedback received and you should be fine.

frivolous_fay

Have you tried removing it under the grounds that they bid purely to leave a neg?

Murtle

leave a reply saying that goods hadn't yet been paid for etc. As a buyer on ebay that would satify me to buy your goods, although 700 positive and only one neg wouldn't have had me worried in the first place. Don't let it get you down, there are some nutcaes out there and for them it's easier to hide behind a keyboard then deal with reality in the *real world*

Happy ebaying

M

frivolous_fay

Would it be against the rules to leave a feedback saying 'This is [insert user name here]'s auction-wrecking ID. Cancel his bids!

essexhoney

Murtle wrote:

Don't let it get you down, there are some nutcaes out there and for them it's easier to hide behind a keyboard then deal with reality in the *real world*

Couldn't agree with that more - i seem to come across them more than most :rotfl:
Easier to take it on the chin and leave a good follow up comment anyone who looks into your feedback before buying from you would see that it was undeserved