Request to revise neutral feedback

RHemmings

I ordered an item from Hong Kong. It didn't arrive, and very annoyingly the predicted delivery time was over a month from the time of dispatch. Which meant that I felt that I had to keep waiting until the end of the predicted delivery window before I could contact the seller for non-delivery. The seller did refund, but as I delayed buying the item (I've just re-ordered from a UK seller), I've been without for weeks longer than I think I should have been.

I left a neutral (the first non-positive feedback I've left). The seller has just contacted me saying that since they refunded me, could I please revise my feedback. They did first ask me to undertake that should the product turn up, that I would pay again. As I'm a very honest type, if the product turns up I will definitely pay again.

While I'm aware that sellers do not like negative or neutral feedback, and that Ebay policies affect that, I really do not feel happy about my purchase. And even with the quick refund, there is still the chance that the Hong Kong product will turn up, in which case I will have and will have paid for two of the product when I only want one.

Hence, I feel that the neutral feedback is an accurate representation of how I feel about the purchase. So, I don't feel inclined to revise my feedback. But, what do other people think?

likelyfran

I think that's fair enough, personally.

bxboards

Personally I would not have a left a neutral for that as you were made well aware of the delivery timescales, and once past the seller has refunded promptly. Your gripe really is with customs and postal services, not the seller, who appears to have behaved impeccably.

Items can and do take 3 or so months to arrive from HK / China. I had items arrive in November last year that I'd ordered in August. I only order low value items that I can afford not to turn up, and don't need in a hurry. I never raise Claims as they always finally turn up I find.

The damage has already been done to their account, whether you revise or not.

19lottie82

I agree with bxboards in the sense that you do take a chance with delivery times / customs, when ordering items from HK, hence why you pay a lower price than if you buy from a UK seller.

Personally, I wouldn't have left any feedback, rather than a neutral.
It sounds like the events were outwith the sellers control.

campdave

It's more of a neutral for the postal service than the buyer really. You've had a refund, you're no worse off, and had you needed the item sooner, shouldn't have bought it from the other side of the world.

I can see why you left a neutral, though I don't agree with it.

RHemmings

It is not just the postal service. It is also that the seller asked me to take on the risk of the product arriving very late. It's not my fault, and hence I don't feel happy about being asked to take the financial responsibility for this. That's what tipped me into feeling that it deserves a neutral, rather than not leaving feedback at all which is what I would have done otherwise.

RFW

RHemmings wrote: »

It is not just the postal service. It is also that the seller asked me to take on the risk of the product arriving very late. It's not my fault, and hence I don't feel happy about being asked to take the financial responsibility for this. That's what tipped me into feeling that it deserves a neutral, rather than not leaving feedback at all which is what I would have done otherwise.

I'd guess it was how the seller handled it. Some Far East sellers are great at communication and posting, others not so.
It's up to you how you leave and interpret feedback.
Do you even know if the seller sent the item? You may be justified in warning other buyers, especially if there are several feedback along the same lines.

RFW

bxboards wrote: »

Items can and do take 3 or so months to arrive from HK / China. I had items arrive in November last year that I'd ordered in August. I only order low value items that I can afford not to turn up, and don't need in a hurry. I never raise Claims as they always finally turn up I find.

I bought some items with a similar frame of mind around Christmas time. The seller was suspended for not sending any items. Whilst my claim was a small amount others had larger purchases (all were refunded by Paypal) but if others had not complained the seller could still be actively conning people.

bxboards

RHemmings wrote: »

It is not just the postal service. It is also that the seller asked me to take on the risk of the product arriving very late. It's not my fault, and hence I don't feel happy about being asked to take the financial responsibility for this. That's what tipped me into feeling that it deserves a neutral, rather than not leaving feedback at all which is what I would have done otherwise.

Well I think it's pretty mean spirited as Ebay have been running announcement that postage is SLOW for ages:

02 October, 2013 Changes to Hong Kong mail regulations may cause delayed shipments
14 May, 2014 Changes to Chinese mail regulations may cause delivery delays

You agreed to the delivery timeframe, and have your money back, so not really sure what you are hoping to achieve with a neutral, other that to damage the seller. You won't be warning others, as the slow delivery estimate is already on the listing, for those you can and will read them.

RHemmings

RFW wrote: »

I'd guess it was how the seller handled it. Some Far East sellers are great at communication and posting, others not so.
It's up to you how you leave and interpret feedback.
Do you even know if the seller sent the item? You may be justified in warning other buyers, especially if there are several feedback along the same lines.

I don't know if the seller sent the item. I had a look at his/her feedback. It's 98% positives in the last month (though rates higher). I had a look at the positives, and didn't find any saying that the item didn't arrive but the seller had refunded. Many said super-fast delivery etc. Because of the scale of the business, there are still hundreds of negatives and neutrals in the last month, many of which mention non-delivery. I'd guess that it was sent, but lost/delayed in the post. The seller certainly communicates well, and follows up all negative and neutral feedback with reasonable comments. I'm just dissatisfied that the quick response to my saying that the item hadn't arrived was to ask me to take responsibility should it arrive late.

@bxboards - you aren't addressing my main point which is that I feel it is unfair that in this situation the seller asked me to effectively be the one who will take financial responsibility should the item arrive late, after I've given up, been refunded, and bought a replacement item. If it was just a case of being late, I would not have left a neutral. I have said this several times in this thread, including in my first post. So, I don't know why you are ignoring it.

RFW

RHemmings wrote: »

@bxboards - you aren't addressing my main point which is that I feel it is unfair that in this situation the seller asked me to effectively be the one who will take financial responsibility should the item arrive late, after I've given up, been refunded, and bought a replacement item. If it was just a case of being late, I would not have left a neutral. I have said this several times in this thread, including in my first post. So, I don't know why you are ignoring it.

Depending on what it is/value I ask that they let me know if it arrives but I'm happy for them to keep it or return at my expense. Most Chinese sellers are quite good at helping so from what you've said I'd say they were lucky to not get a neg.
If they have a lot of negs and neutrals then they must be having account issues to ask for a neutral to be removed.