Opinions please?? Regarding threatening feedback?

Char1986

My sister asked me to sell a cardigan of hers which I did...she told me she's never worn it and it looked like she hadn't.

Anyway recieved the following email...

Just recieved jumper- very disappointed- unwearable! nO WAY IS THIS NEW WITHOUT TAGS. Appears to have been washed and now shrunk several sizes below a monsoon size 10. Wanting total refund please. Await your reply before leaving feedback or taking issue further.
Regards


I replied the following:

Please do not threaten me with regards to feedback as Ebay do not take too kindly to this.

I'm sorry you were not happy with the cardigan.

Please send it back and I will issue you a FULL REFUND plus RETURNED POSTAGE!

Thank you...


Then this back.....

i have not threatened you in any way i have merely stated i have given you an opportunity to rectify a situation of your making, prior to leaving any feedback. Cardigan will be returned Saturday.


I have contacted ebay regarding this...but still waiting to hear back..

Is it me or does it sound slightly threatening? Really does put me off selling on ebay as some people come across SOOOO rude!!

Mrs_justjohn

I guess it was a veiled threat...however I would not have responded in the manner you did.

Just keep it polite and proffesional. After all you don't seem to be 100% sure that it wasn't washed and shrunk (the joys of selling for someone else!)

I am afraid you will need a thicker skin if you want to sell on ebay. Politeness isn't always forthcoming....LOL

Char1986

Thats the last time I sell for anyone else! That's for sure!!

Just her first email seemed to be very rude! I would never speak or email anymore like that as a buyer if I had a problem as I know people make mistakes.

Mrs_justjohn

Also I don't think Ebay would have seen that as 'threatening'. It needs to be more blatant than that.

Unless they say - Send me an extra game (for example) or refund me or I will leave negative feedback then ebay don't usually take action

Char1986

Yeah straight to the point rather than just a hint?

There is nothing else I can do than offer a full refund which I've done.

Mrs_justjohn

Char1986 wrote: »

Yeah straight to the point rather than just a hint?

There is nothing else I can do than offer a full refund which I've done.

Well put it this way....

I sold a mobile phone. It was listed as spares or repair. The description stated that the screen was very dark. The item specifics stated 'for parts or not working' and it said *faulty* in the title. Buyer received phone and sent me an email along the lines of....

"this fone dont work proper - u send me a woking fone or ill neg u"

I couldn't be bothered dealing with the muppet so just told him to keep the phone and I'd refund him (a whole £7). He still negged me...LOL

It took 2 live chats, 2 emails and 3 phonecalls to ebay to get them to remove the feedback....LOL

Char1986

Ooh they sound charming and good 'proper' english!

It just makes you think why do I bother....

I think people need to understand and realise that yes in life people make mistakes.

Thanks for your advice.

techspec

Manners cost nothing, but quite a few people don't have any.

This sort of email is not uncommon on Ebay. Then they think you've only responded because they threatened you - when the truth is you would have done it anyway, with just a polite email.

soapyjoe

There are many of us on here, who are grateful for the chance to sort things out rather than the buyer jump straight in and leave uneccesary feedback. Perhaps it was a threat or perhaps the chance to sort out the problem. Unfortunately, some buyers think sellers are just out there to get one over on them and are immediately on the defence when something doesnt go right.

Was the item particulary small for the listed size (I had a cardy given me by my sister in law and I thought about selling it on ebay but it was very very small for the size stated on the label, so I didnt dare list it.

I find the buyers message a little stroppy but ending politely, it's nowhere near as bad as some of the corkers I've received.

I'd use a gently gently approach and as you've done, offer a refund.

You just cant win them all.

Crowqueen

Unfortunately, some buyers think sellers are just out there to get one over on them and are immediately on the defence when something doesnt go right.

That's because some sellers on eBay aren't used to handling customers and aren't used to the responsibilities of selling - and yet are confronted with the general public and have to cope with their demands. Once bitten, twice shy.

Also, some people aren't very articulate, and if something goes wrong involving their money aren't likely to be very happy even if they do get their money back and the seller is helpful. I've had another INR worth all of about £4 and I must admit I'm not happy - I'll keep it polite, but it's something I was looking forward to reading and it hasn't really been a great purchase, so I'm not inclined to be very forgiving. It was a TRS, so I imagine at the volume they're selling at things go missing from time to time. All the same, it's still disappointing. Depending on their comms now, it's either a positive or a neutral.

After this, tell your sister to get her own account. It's a huge pitfall of selling for someone else and it's one of the reasons I won't do it even for close friends. Either people are unrealistic about what their items will tend to sell for (a friend was distraught when someone offered her a tenner for her sci-fi DVD collection, when she'd spent probably a hundred pounds and more on them, and desperately needed cash; though it is true to say they were a dealer and if she had been prepared to work at selling them she could probably have got quite a few quid for them selling direct through Amazon or Play - she was barred from eBay as she was in a dispute with her ex-partner over their Paypal account, which is why she asked me) or they have unrealistic expectations about what buyers are prepared to put up with. Even very cheap items have to be in tip-top nick for someone to be happy, again also why I don't sell clothes and only buy them occasionally and from pro sellers.

mikey72

"Please do not threaten me with regards to feedback as Ebay do not take too kindly to this.

I'm sorry you were not happy with the cardigan.

Please send it back and I will issue you a FULL REFUND plus RETURNED POSTAGE!

Thank you..."

You didn't need the first line, and you didn't need to shout at the end.

Not everything reads the same to eveyone, the buyer was abrupt, but I read the buyers email as
"you sold me used tat, I'm not happy, but I'm not going to leave you negative feedback or open a SNAD if we can sort this out amicably"