item not received, got refund, - what feedback?

bluedog

Sorry if this sounds dumb, but I won an item mid-february and paid by paypal. The item hasn't been received (this has never happened to me before ,) so I contacted the seller directly to see what we could do about it. I think it's churlish to wade in via the dispute routes, courtsey of ebay, without asking first! The seller has refunded me immediately without any questions and deemed the item to be lost in the post. Their feedback is good and they appear to be all above board so I've no question about leaving positive feedback even though I didn't get the item.

I've gone round in circles looking for ideas on what to say in feedback as I don't want to give any opportunist scammers ideas. Has anyone else been in this boat and how should feedback be worded please?

pinkgem

you could use any comments like good seller, good communication, friendly?

i'm sure you would even be ok to say item not received but full refund received promptly

Lilaclily_2

I refunded a payment this month that was lost in the post. Reason being I forwarded proof of postage, and then the buyer told me to follow through with Royal Mail. The item was only a couple of pound so instead of receiving unwanted grief like unfortunately you do I just refunded the money for a quiet life.

Even though you have proof of postage etc, if just makes you feel uneasy even though you have done everything you are suppose to do. Since I have refunded payment I haven't heard a thing, no thank you, and definately no feedback !

alooof

i would hesitate in leaving a negative
the seller has a good policy for when things do go wrong. in fact they should be praised for giving a full and complete refund

however, sometimes not having that item could put you out, and you had fulfilled everything on your side. i have seen this happen in the past when a seller has not got what they wanted for an item, they find a way to back out of the transaction any way possible. but it could have all been innocent and above-board

blue_monkey_2

Just a little input as a seller. Sure, things go wrong and I would have done the same as the seller did in your case - if I did not have a replacement I would have sent a refund if the 15 days had passed. It is down to the seller to claim for a lost parcel so make sure you get free P&P.

In regard to the feedback question though, people have left for me, great communication, little probelms sorted out right away, good seller, promt answers to emails, etc... I don't like people saying 'gave me a refund when it did not arrive' as I get worried that it might make people take advantage of my policies, but as I am a business seller I have to have this policy in place and it is stated on my shop terms so they can see it anyway. If you was happy with the way the tranaction went then leave a positive, if you were not happy then take this up with the seller first.

I like to think that most people are honest about the items not arrving, but there is always one which makes you very suspicious but you can't be judgemental, if you claim then it is because you have been told it has not arrived.

Oh, and I have a reminder email set up to send after 21 days after payment has been made for the buyer to leave feedback. If there are any problems they will mail me and we can get it soted out. I hope that helps.

I just wanted to add, good for you in not involving Paypal, most of us sellers are happy to help when things go wrong. It does infuriate me when people go straight to Paypal after a a week and do not even let me know there is a problem. I had one woman take 5 weeks to pay me (I had gone through NPB) and then sent the money when I was 4 days into a 2 1/2 week holiday (despite me telling her this) then 7 days later she goes to Paypal to say it had not arrived. So, I made her wait the full 10 days for a refund, and then it takes 7 days for the money to get back to her. If they escalate after an going to Paypal so I cannot even reply then I make them wait the full 10 days until Paypal finds in their favour and so they have to wait longer for a refund. Naughty yes, but they should have mailed me if there were problems and not gone running off without giving me a chance to even offer some way of sorting it out!

pinkgem

alooof wrote:

i would hesitate in leaving a negative
the seller has a good policy for when things do go wrong. in fact they should be praised for giving a full and complete refund

however, sometimes not having that item could put you out, and you had fulfilled everything on your side. i have seen this happen in the past when a seller has not got what they wanted for an item, they find a way to back out of the transaction any way possible. but it could have all been innocent and above-board

i think the OP wants to leave positive but wants advice on how to word it

colin79666

I said this:
"Excellent Service resolved a minor hic-up. Recommended "
as positive feedback when the seller forgot to send a cd which was part of the product. They sent the cd on the following day when I complained. Hop that helps

bluedog

Thank you all!

I definitely want to leave positive feedback and have no qualms about the integrity of the seller at all. Maybe I'm over cautious to some but I don't want to feed any unscrupulous buyers the idea that the seller refunds easily thus unintentionally rendering them wide open to it and possibly out of pocket for the sake of a few words - or being taken advantage of as blue-monkey says.

Feedback is now left and thanks again for all your help.

Jo_D_4

I had the same problem with a book I sold on Ebay which got lost in the post. I refunded immediately I was aware of the problem and received the following positive feedback:

"Item lost in the post but refunded without a problem many thanks"

I was really chuffed to get a positive feedback. At the end of the day though it wasn't anyone's fault and sometimes it's nice to be nice. Makes a nice change infact.

Contains_Mild_Peril

It's nice that you've been so considerate in considering what comment to leave. I once had a positive feedback which, as well as expressing satisfaction with their purchase, said something like "very patient with late payment", which I was, but it's not necessarily something I want to advertise to other potential customers!