Ebay Buyer Beware - Don't trust the feedback

SaudiMail

I bought my mum a pair of size clogs from Ebay the other night. Phoned my sister after the auction to tell her and she suggested I ask for size 6 as mums feet are a bit swollen. So I emailed the seller asking if they had them in a size 6. Received an email back to the effect 'Tough, you've paid and your getting what you ordered'. I would have been quite happy with a 'no sorry we can't do that. Anyway, the mules arrived quickly, were as described, but I wasn't happy with the aggressive nature of the seller, so I left neutral feedback, stating I was happy with the goods but not the seller's attitude. Anyway, the gave me negative feedback in a tit for tat response.

The point I'm making is that, as a buyer I paid for the goods immediately, made an enquiry which was rejected by the seller and accepted the goods as I ordered - so why is my reputation as a buyer being slurred?

This means customers are afraid to give negative feedback when it's due in fear of disgruntled sellers retaliating. So you cannot trust the Ebay feedback system and sellers can act in any way they please knowing they can act vindictively if they don't like the truth.

Dave_Brooker

SaudiMail wrote: »

I bought my mum a pair of size clogs from Ebay the other night. Phoned my sister after the auction to tell her and she suggested I ask for size 6 as mums feet are a bit swollen. So I emailed the seller asking if they had them in a size 6. Received an email back to the effect 'Tough, you've paid and your getting what you ordered'. I would have been quite happy with a 'no sorry we can't do that. Anyway, the mules arrived quickly, were as described, but I wasn't happy with the aggressive nature of the seller, so I left neutral feedback, stating I was happy with the goods but not the seller's attitude. Anyway, the gave me negative feedback in a tit for tat response.

The point I'm making is that, as a buyer I paid for the goods immediately, made an enquiry which was rejected by the seller and accepted the goods as I ordered - so why is my reputation as a buyer being slurred?

This means customers are afraid to give negative feedback when it's due in fear of disgruntled sellers retaliating. So you cannot trust the Ebay feedback system and sellers can act in any way they please knowing they can act vindictively if they don't like the truth.

Did the seller list the same footwear in size 6?

Time2Go_25

This is one of the problems with the feedback system, it would be better if feedback didn't show until after both parties had left it or until it had expired.

soolin

This is not a problem with the feedback system. I understand that you felt the seller was aggressive in their comments, but you left a neutral as you were unhappy with something that had happened outside the terms of the sale. Your seller has merely done the same, except that he/she left a neg.

By your own argument a neutral was not warranted, you bid on something, you got it as stated...if you wish to use the system to make comments about what happened outside the routine of the auction then you must expect the seller to do the same.

If I had been the seller I would obviously have tried to be politer in my response, but if I had got a neutral I would have left a neutral back as my experience of the whole transaction would have been soured.

StaffsSW

This is becoming more and more common now that eBay are penalising sellers for receiving neutrals, many of which are completely unjust (not saying that the OP necessarily is though)

It may be that the seller has had a few neutrals left as a result of postal delays or mis-read descriptions, and the neutral the OP left has pushed them close to their performance limit. A neg has been left in the hope that a mutual withdrawal will be agreed to, and what eBay are actively pushing as a means of resolution.

See more on my original thread - http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=507925

Personally I think this is a slippery slope - sellers are going to become much more defensive, and buyers will be afraid to leave accurate feedback, totally undermining what remains of the integrity of the feedback system.

hbk2006

I agree with Soo, the seller may not have handled it very well but did nothing wrong - you should have checked with your sister before buying not after.

Feedback is a person's opinion on how a transaction went - EVERYONE is entitled to their opinion!

Asher

I think you are the one who is out of order. You bought and got what you paid for and yet still did not leave positive feedback! How can you do that? Let alone complain about it?

Millionaire

I have to agree with soolin as well on this.

You should of given the seller a positive as the item was as described and received in good time.

steviebabes

I don't condone stroppy sellers but he was in the right. if he had sent you a different pair you could have opened and won a not as described dispute.

wigglebeena

Customer service is part of what you're paying for with any good or service. Crappy impolite service is relevant information for other buyers: do you go back to cafes with rude sloppy waitresses?

By this argument no-one should comment 'Lovely friendly seller' or 'Courteous, fantastic seller' etc on feedback. Which I see all the time. Is it irrelevant?

wigglebeena

And I wouldn't tell anyone what feedback they 'should' or 'shouldn't' leave. It's their experience not mine.