Threatening e-mails from buyer - Please help!

redmandarin

I'm newly registered with ebay and I've started selling a few items that I don't need, to make a bit of money (I had to give up work recently). I'm an honest person and I've been trying to make sure that I play by the rules. I'm keen to build up good feedback and I'm selling items in good condition, well-packaged, posting promptly, communicating with buyers, etc. I sold an item - face cream, (at a low price) that was in new condition, the buyer paid and I sent the item. But today I received two threatening e-mails:

1) "You said that you had only tested a little of it on your hand. When I hold it up to a light, I can see a third is missing. So if you make a statement, make sure you can back it up. I await your reply before leaving feedback."

2) "This is your last chance to reply to my emails before leaving feed back. If no answer from you by 9pm Friday, then I will leave negative feedback."

I'm horrified by this, it's completely untrue. The item has not been used and I'm really upset and annoyed - and I don't take kindly to threats! How can people be so nasty? My concern is that as I currently have a feedback score of only two (both positive and glowing with praise, thankfully!) obviously I don't want a negative, but I don't want to be taken for a ride either. It feels as though I'm the victim of someone who feels they can take advantage of a new and inexperienced seller. The person has positive feedback, but maybe others have had the same experience as me (and have been afraid of getting a negative, so they've given positive feedback). I'd really appreciate any advice on how I might deal with this to achieve a positive outcome?

Sorry I've gone a bit paranoid - it's occurred to me that the person could be a member of MSE and might be reading this - Could you possibly pm me with any helpful suggestions? Thank you in advance - I'll press your (old) thanks buttons, of course!
rm

snu

When moisturiser comes in a tube with the screw bit at the bottom, alot of it lives in the lid bit... so it appears that its got less in it as there is a gap at the top...
Stand your ground... tell them that you stick with your original statement and that you know it's true, if you do get a negative feedback, neg them back too saying that they were blackmailing you.

AlexisV

I'm afraid there are a few bad apples on ebay and it seems like you've been unlucky in coming across one. I sold something last year and three months later he came back demanding a refund, saying it didn't work. I offered help but he became rude and gave me -ve feedback. To be honest though, one or two negatives don't affect who buys or sells to you - it's not the end of your ebay career!

Just send an email back saying you refute the claims and that no refund will be forthcoming. Just take the -ve feedback on the chin and hopefully you haven't left positive feedback for them. If you have, you can post a follow up below your original postive comments (caps are good)e.g.

"I WITHDRAW THIS POSITIVE FEEDBACK.BUYER UNREASONABLE+COMPLAINING.AVOID."

frod_2

Unfortunately you are always going to get this kind of person on e-bay, I would tell them it hasn't been used, but as a goodwill gester tell them you will refund the cost of the item, and I expect that won't be good enough either, so if they want to send it back you will probably have to cough up the postage. I know it stinks but a similar thing has happened to me , to save my feedback I gave into what they wanted. Unless of course your not bothered about selling anything else on e-bay(sometimes more trouble than its worth in my experience) then ignore it.

farmersboy

If you do get -ve feedback it's pretty easy to set up a new e-bay account and start again if it bothers you. If you've only just begun trading you've not a lot to lose. As the earlier post though, the odd negative isn't that bad - people read through and decide for themselves, everyone is aware there are a lot of unreasonable people out there!

AlexisV

How did you get on?

jasmineswhiskers

I had some face cream samples (5ml) I decided to sell on Ebay. Couldn't remember whether I had used them - was pretty sure I hadn't - but they were about 3/4 full when held up to the light. Anyway I actually squeezed one out to measure it on a 5ml medicine spoon. And it was 5ml. My point is that these tubes are not always filled to the top. Also maybe if they weigh it they will see that there's not loads missing. If its a full size item then suggest they check with a totally unused item from a department store/Boots etc to compare.
Good Luck.

i_love_it

How much money are you talking about. What about a partial refund? Does the buyer appear to complain regularly in other feedback.
Buyer could feel geniunely mis sold if tube appears used.

Why not email and ask what he /she wants as a solution as this isn't clear from the emails you have been sent...

If you feel sure he / she is being unreasonable, then accept the neg and leave feedback accordingly.

It will have little effect on any future trading you wish to do.

Good luck

John_T_5

I would email the buyer and suggest that they weigh the contents, I would also contact ebay as they are blackmailing you into a reponse by threatening bad feedback which is against their terms & conditions.

redmandarin

Thanks for all of your good advice. It really helped me to think things through. I was very annoyed and wrestled with what to do for ages. I'm not the type to give in to threats, but this person didn't seem very reasonable (or stable?) and I felt that they might get really nasty if I challenged them and give me neg feedback, anyway. It was only a low value item and I didn't want the situation drag on. So I decided to cut my losses and "generously" offer a partial refund - which was accepted. It may seem that I've given in too easily, but if I'd got a neg through no fault of my own, then everytime I looked at it I would have been incensed! Ebay's fun and I'm not going to let this guy spoil my enjoyment. This way, it's over and I can move on - and get back to dealing with reasonable ebayers, like all of you - I hope!

Thanks again, rm

ormus

ebay will ban memebers who make/send threatening emails etc..
and will remove the/any neg fb left for you.