I left negative feedback. Ebay removed it! WHY???!!

Robbo33

I left negative feedback for a seller recently. It was oh so very deserved: buy it now item returned and received, all following DSR, seller refusing to refund (see my previous thread).

These are the exact words I left:
"Buy it now item returned in perfect condition,received by seller, refund refused"

The seller has appealed it and ebay have removed it. ??????:mad:

Despite attempts to find out what/why/how the hell, ebay are continually fobbing me off. Won't tell me why it was removed, only that it breaches their policies re feedback!! Won't even tell me which bit of policy was breached.

During the many communications with the seller I did not mention feedback once, (even though I knew I would eventually be leaving neg as transaction was horrendous from start to finish).

Can anyone shed any light on why the seller was able to get this removed?? He's not a power seller (have seen a couple of people on the net saying that ebay 'look after' power sellers iyswim)

Crowqueen

Some people do find it easy to get negs removed but there was an urban myth going round a few years ago because of a big spat on the community boards. The fallout took months to clean up.

Some sellers are very canny and get things removed. I don't really see how that breaches policy, as it's not mentioning any kind of disputes or 'investigations'. You didn't make any threats/possible extortion by email did you, or make any comments that might sound like you were holding the seller to ransom? That is the only time I think eBay pay attention to some things.

Do you yourself have any policy breaches?

Toptips

I'd guess it was because he'd ticked 'no returns' on his original listing - he can't then get -ve for you breaking the contract I'm afraid.

Crowqueen

If he was a business seller and the OP was entitled to returns under the DSRs, he could not have legally done that and furthermore he could not enforce illegal terms and conditions.

The contract would have been void because of those illegal terms and conditions. You cannot expect a consumer to waive their statutory rights even by signing some sort of contract that ostensibly deprives OP of those rights. Moreover they accepted the return and then did not pay out - so they have both item and money and OP has no recourse.

That is bordering on the fraudulent - OP might need to go to court but it would be a judgement worth getting. If they are a business seller then there would also be a reason to go to Trading Standards about them not honouring their legal obligations.

Taadaa

I agree l think some sellers have got some special hotline going on. I requested fb removal recently and they would only remove the whole neg under special circumstances, which are available on their feedback abuse page. Circs such as a cease and desist letter has been served, legal stuff. Certainly not based on sellers opinion that the neg is unjustified, because eBay couldn't give a !!!! whether it is or not. And it doesn't sound like it was unjustified.

Crowqueen

I think eBay have a tremendously difficult balancing act to do. They are besieged from both sides and sellers at the moment are gaining a lot of tools to easily report feedback they consider unfair. I find it depressing that the people who shout the loudest at eBay get all the focus from the people dreaming up new schemes.

A method of trying to deal with scammer buyers is long overdue and might go some way to repairing a perceived 'us and them' mentality that pervades the site, but I hope the new easier reporting system is not going to exacerbate this sort of problem. I am finding it hard to sell much on eBay these days and I really hope it is not that buyers are having such poor experiences with private sellers - and some businesses - that they are just choosing to shop elsewhere. There is so much choice but eBay is becoming the home for a lot of rogues of all different shapes and sizes.

Robbo33

No mention of any feedback / threats etc in any comms between myself and seller, all very polite and succinct from me, can't say that for the seller though!

Yes indeed, DSR applies regardless of what a seller puts on their listing if it's buy it now; added to that I have more rights as a buyer as he is a business seller. I think that when I have won my case in court I will pursue this with ebay - how can they 'disallow' negative feedback when a judge finds him 'guilty' of breaching DSR?!

Robbo33

It's ridiculous isn't it?! I had a negative feedback a year or so ago, unjustified in my opinion, ebay refused to remove. Conclusion: someone's opinions are more valid than fact!!???? it makes me mad!!

Crowqueen

Yes indeed, DSR applies regardless of what a seller puts on their listing if it's buy it now

Just to make sure we are singing from the same hymn-sheet - if the item is buy-it-now then the seller also has to be a business for it to come under the DSRs. Private sellers are still unaffected (yes, I know this seller is a business, but just to make sure you are not labouring under any misconceptions here in general).

Next year all sales from business sellers are subject to the DSRs, but that still does not affect private sellers so be careful.

Robbo33

Deffo business seller.

Just been on ebay to check that, and noticed that he's now on 98.9% feedback as someone else has left negative feedback!!! It's made my day, how totally sad am I?! He totally deserves it. whether for this transaction or not, it's karma hee hee

Strapped

If you can't prove that the seller has received the item back, and he claims that he has not received it, then that's how he got it removed. If you have proof (I assume not or else you would've won your case) then ring eBay and ask them to reinstate your feedback.