Arrrgh! Mad!

Angie74

Someone just left me a neutral on ebay for a cardigan that they bought, that was brand new, never been worn EVER! Still had the tag on it, and was in PERFECT condition. Now they are saying it arrived with a broken belt loop! How the hell can a belt loop just 'break' in a plastic bag? and not just one plastic bag, but TWO plastic bags. I know it wasn't broken when I sent it, because I actually undid the belt and if it was broken, the belt would have fallen down, but it didn't. Also on the photos, you can see it's intact. I checked their fb left for others and they've left a few neutrals for people, one not far down from mine saying arrived with a button missing, and another saying not immaculate as described. That's just in the first two pages.

They didn't contact me to mention the belt loop being broken and I would have told them to send it back for a refund, even though I know it wasn't broken, but I wouldn't have paid the return postage for it, because I KNOW for a fact it wasn't broken and I know the chances of it breaking in two plastic bags is close to zero!

I've messaged the buyer telling them they could have sent it back for a refund if they weren't happy with it, and that I would like to see photos of the broken belt loop. I don't believe them for a minute that it was broken, but I don't understand why they would leave me neutral fb saying it was, if they're not after a refund or something.

I've reported the fb asking for it to be removed as it's unfair and not true. I don't know if they will remove it, but I'm not leaving them feedback! Can I reply on my feedback to their neutral feedback? I can't see how I do this? Does anyone know please?

(Edit) It's ok, I've found how to reply. I'm so mad! Grrrrr!

(Edit no2) Does anyone know if Ebay remove neutral feedback or is it just negatives they remove?

The reason I'm so mad is because they never contacted me before leaving feedback. They bought the cardigan on the 2nd october, and left fb on the 14th. I've only just noticed it as it was a neutral so didn't show up. I sent it on the 3rd, so they had plenty of time to contact me about it. Why would I send out a cardigan with a defect that would be so easy to repair without being noticeable? I double check things before I send them, because I'm so paranoid about people complaining about something. The reason I am so adamant that the loop wasn't broken is because I undid it so I could fold it up easier. Its a long cardigan with a tie belt on it. It has a loop either side. I undid the belt while it was hanging up on the wardrobe door. If the loop was broken, the belt would have fallen down. I then folded it up on the bed and put into a clear plastic bag, then into a grey plastic bag. So there is no way, unless the packaging was damaged when they got it that it could have broken. It's not like I rammed it into the bags. They either broke it themselves wearing it, or they broke it when getting it out of the bag. Either way, they could have messaged me first. This is why I am so mad! They gave me no chance to resolve it. Now anything I sell BNWT, people are going to assume it might arrive with a defect, when I would never knowingly send anything out with something wrong with it. I already removed a top that was brand new with tag because I noticed there was a tiny metal stick on stud thing missing from it, which was barely noticeable, and probably came off in the wardrobe (or was like that when I bought it) but I refuse to sell it, as it's not perfect. I'd rather keep it and wear it myself now than sell it for pennies because of something barely noticeable anyway. I only found it by looking for it. If I was that dishonest, I'd just put it back on there and say it was BNWT no defects and hope no one notices. Ebay just winds me up, I don't think it's good for my health to either buy or sell on there lately lol.

Angie74

I just thought of something else as well that would suggest they know it wasn't sent out with a broken belt loop. The neutral fb they left for the other person said it had a button missing but that wasn't mentioned in the listing. The fb they left for me just said Nice item but arrived with a broken belt loop. Why would they not say it wasn't mentioned in the listing on mine? Because they know that I know the belt loop wasn't broken when I sent it. They're trying to make out it must have been done in the post, when if it was true, it could quite easily have already been like that when I sent it.

Does anyone agree with this logic or am I just over thinking this now?

JethroUK

Angie74 wrote: »

....They bought the cardigan on the 2nd october, and left fb on the 14th. ....

before you explode

They may have received it in perfect condition - worn it for those 2 weeks during which time the belt loop broke - and feedback reflects that experience - which they would be entitled to do

Do you think it's realistic to feedback purely based on the condition on the day it was received??????

Personally i never give feedback until I'm satisfied the item is good - maybe a few weeks - in the case of more expensive items it might be 6 weeks or more before i'm satisfied enough to give feedback

I have never given anything but good feedback - but i've never given feedback within 2 weeks of owning/using a purchase - that would be pointless - obviously

Angie74

Except that they said "IT ARRIVED with a belt loop broken" So obviously, they are saying I sent it like that. It didn't break from them wearing it, and even if it did, that's hardly my fault is it? I didn't break it, they did. It was in perfect condition when I sent it and I know this 100% otherwise I wouldn't be so mad about it. I'd just give them the benefit of the doubt that I overlooked it, but I know it wasn't broken when I packed it and you can see clearly on the photos that it isn't broken.

I don't know what their motives are for leaving me a neutral, but if I was them, and it was true, I'd have contacted me first, and if I didn't do anything I'd have then left me a negative.

Oh and the amount of time inbetween them receiving the item and then leaving me feedback, isn't the issue. It's the fact that they had all that time to contact me and say the loop was broken when it arrived. I know it wasn't, but I can't prove otherwise, and they know that, otherwise they probably would have said that it wasn't mentioned in the listing.

JethroUK

Angie74 wrote: »

Except that they said "IT ARRIVED with a belt loop broken" So obviously, they are saying I sent it like that. It didn't break from them wearing it,...

Then they shouldn't have done

but you cant go on to qualify this:

Angie74 wrote: »

.....and even if it did[break whilst they were wearing it], that's hardly my fault is it? I didn't break it,....

They dont give feedback just for the transaction - which is why you are getting upset - and why you need an explanation

You seemed to think that because you have sent a brand new item in sealed packet, on time = you get good feedback

The feedback is also for the product performance (as law would be from any seller/shop in the UK)

If they dont think it performed reasonably (button fell off within 2 weeks or belt or whatever) - they are entitled (nay bound!) to reflect that in their feedback

not suggesting you are selling poor quality, but your point of view suggests it shouldn't matter - and not be considered in feedback

and of course - product performance should be considered and it is!

I've just had a car battery (£80) delivered today - and it came in sealed box and was delivered on time - but if you think deserves good feedback you're wrong - hopefully for obvious reasons you can see

I mean, honestly and truthfully, would you give someone good feedback based purely on that?

I can tell you for free - it will be 6 weeks before they get any feedback from me - and I'm sure it will be glowing

Angie74

Yes I do think I deserve good feedback because they never contacted me first! Had they contacted me, I would have given them a refund because I can't prove I sent the item in perfect condition, even though I did. You're completely missing my point. It didn't break from them wearing it, but if it did, that's still not my fault! If they didn't message me to say it broke after wearing it, then there's nothing I can do to resolve it is there? They left me neutral feedback without contacting me first to either ask for a refund or a partial refund. If something I bought arrived damaged, I would contact the seller first before leaving feedback.

Angie74

JethroUK wrote: »

not suggesting you are selling poor quality, but your point of view suggests it shouldn't matter - and not be considered in feedback

Good because I'm not!

theonlywayisup

The belt loop may have been caught on one of the machines used to sort the mail, it could have been caught on their letterbox, or caught as they pulled the package open. At the end of the day you won't know.

No it won't be removed as it doesn't breach any policy. I have two grey feedbacks which say 'great' and 'thanks'.

Get over it and move on.

The worse thing you could have done is reply as it doesn't sound like you were particularly calm when you did it.

Angie74

theonlywayisup wrote: »

The worse thing you could have done is reply as it doesn't sound like you were particularly calm when you did it.

My reply to them was factual. Saying it wasn't broken when sent. No contact from buyer. Would have refunded.

The whole reason I'm peed off, is because they didn't contact me first, whether it was damaged as they say or not. I know the way it was packaged that unless the packet was mangled in the post and completely ripped open, it didn't happen in the post.

If you buy something from a shop, that's damaged, you take it back for a refund. You don't just stand outside the shop with a sandwich board saying "don't shop here, it's !!!!!!!" do you

You'd be removed and quite rightly so!

starrybee

If it's the kind of belt loop I am thinking of, they break SO easily I wouldn't be surprised if something happened to it when you were packing it/she was opening it.

Yes it is annoying she didn't contact you, but maybe she was happy with the item (belt loops aren't the be all and end all) and so she thought there wasn't any point as she didn't want to actually return it.

Neutral feedback doesn't affect your percentage anyway (I think, someone correct me if I'm wrong) the only issue would be if she has damaged your stars.

Mindless_Clone

Angie74 wrote: »

Does anyone agree with this logic or am I just over thinking this now?

To be honest, yes you are. Sorry!
Although I understand if you have perfect feedback, having it tarnished like this is quite upsetting. Unfortunately, if you want to buy and sell on ebay, it'll happen at some point, regardless of how hard you try.

It's a neutral, not a negative; in the long run it won't do you much harm and won't affect your overall rating.

Your more savvy buyers will likely look at this buyer's other feedback left and see it's not unusual for them to be less than satisfied and weigh it accordingly. The less savvy buyers won't look beyond your 100%.

You can (and probably should) email her poilitely and say you're sorry she was not happy and had she contacted you you would have been happy to refund on return and offer to rectify now if possible.

You can leave a similar note in your reply to the feedback. Something like "Sorry you had problems. I would have been happy to rectify had you contacted me". Again, your savvy buyers will see this and realise you are a reasonable seller.

Overall, if you sell lots of stuff, then I think most buyers will expect you to have the occasional quality issue, particularly with clothing where there's so many variables/stages in the production process. Even the top branded retailers have the occasional dud item. You probably already go above and beyond what most of them to to check your items before sale.

Take a chill pill and jot it down to experience.