neutral feedback or not?

elsien

I'm new to e-bay and would appreciate some advice.
I recently bought a barometer that was "vintage" and described as in perfect working order. When it arrived, it clearly wasn't working, hadn't been for a while, and I found out that a part needed replacing. The seller eventually responded after 5 messages through email and ebay with a curt message saying send it back - no offer of a postage refund.
I decided to keep it, as it was worth getting repaired, but that was just luck on my part. If it hadn't been worth anything, I'd have been well out of pocket as there was a £7 postage charge, plus the cost of me returning it.
Do you think I'd be justified with a neutral feedback, because of the 2 weeks it took to get a reply, the rip off postage charges, and the fact that the seller must have known the barometer was faulty - the needle didn't move once!

frivolous_fay

You accepted the rip-off postal charges when you bid, so it would be churlish of you to complain about them just because the transaction has since soured.

If you paid with paypal ultimately he would have had to refund you the initial postage costs, but not your return costs.

I'd say a neutral is in order but word it carefully.

mishkanorman

I would personally give a neg, when considering how successful a sale was i consider the following,

1: was it as described ? (nope it didnt work)
2: did it arrive by the paid for postal service and in the timeframe quoted by seller ( ie were you charged for 1st class and he sent it by 2nd)
3: communication recieved from seller (well you feel he was rude so no marks there !)

Generally if all 3 are right, its a positive, 2/3 a neutral and 1/3 a neg.

Its a bit of a vague guideline to go by, but it always seems fair to me. If the seller manages to turn things around by being helpful etc negs arent always neccessary.


mishka

elsien

If you paid with paypal ultimately he would have had to refund you the initial postage costs, but not your return costs.

thanks, I didn't know that if paypal was used, then the initial postage would be refunded. I agree that I accepted the charges in the first place, but that was when I thought I knew what I was getting.

rdwarr

I can't believe you're considering leaving positive feedback for the seller. Would you really describe your experience as positive? As item was clearly not as described it's surely a negative.

FloFlo

Why not ask for a partial refund?

elsien

to the last two replies, because it turned out to be worth more than I thought, and the seller did eventually offer to take it back, negative feedback seems OTT.

Elliesmum

elsien wrote:

I'm new to e-bay and would appreciate some advice.
I recently bought a barometer that was "vintage" and described as in perfect working order. When it arrived, it clearly wasn't working, hadn't been for a while, and I found out that a part needed replacing. The seller eventually responded after 5 messages through email and ebay with a curt message saying send it back - no offer of a postage refund.
I decided to keep it, as it was worth getting repaired, but that was just luck on my part. If it hadn't been worth anything, I'd have been well out of pocket as there was a £7 postage charge, plus the cost of me returning it.
Do you think I'd be justified with a neutral feedback, because of the 2 weeks it took to get a reply, the rip off postage charges, and the fact that the seller must have known the barometer was faulty - the needle didn't move once!

I wouldn't post negative. If you wish to leave feedback, leave neutral but as another poster said, word it carefully.

HTH's