posted on January 5, 2003 09:12:19 AM new
I sold a number of items to a bidder, shipped them last week. Just got an email that they were dirty, ripoff, etc. etc....I know for a fact they were not dirty, etc. as they were new, fresh from the packaging when I shipped. She says that if I don't give a full refund for them on return, she will leave multiple negs. I just emailed complaint to eBay re feedback extortion for this bidder. I emailed her and offered refund anyway as looks like she has me over a barrel. Her email was in very poor broken English; I had a bidder leave multiple negs a couple of months ago (different part of the country) after I gave a full refund to her. Does eBay do ANYTHING regarding fb extortion or what? More and more they are not meeting their (as I perceive them) obligation to help the process stay ethical....no matter how unethical etc. fb is they will not...in most cases...remove it.
posted on January 5, 2003 09:25:58 AM new
Is there a chance that these items got dirty while being shipped? If no...if you're main concern is to avoid negative feedback, I wouldn't refund the money then since as you found out that does NOT protect you from neg feedback.
If there is any chance at all that you might have made a mistake, refund and take it as a learning experience. If you are sure that this is a bid for feedback extortion, stick by your guns. Remember, you can't complain about being treated like a doormat if you allow your customers to walk all over you.
"Who's tending the bar? Sniping works up a thirst"
posted on January 5, 2003 09:33:11 AM new
Never count on ebay to do anything. This sounds like a case of buyers remorse. No refund till you see the goods and you had a chance to inspect them. Make sure these are your items.
Were you silly enough to leave feedback upon payment? If so, this is a good reason to wait till you hear from them first.
If the goods are in good shape then refund item cost only, no return on shipping costs!
You can try to complain to ebay under the heading "feedback bombing" if they leave you so many negs. Never hurts to try.
For the time being, just sit back and see how this plays out.
posted on January 5, 2003 11:28:54 AM new
There is a chance that the items to be mailed back are not yours, then what does she do. Do you wait to inspect the merchandise before you refund? What you can do is tell a little white lie and say you have a special mark on your items and if they would return them you will check for the mark. I bet they are never returned. Does anyone use the black light marker? I guess if the buyer can cheat us we can lie alittle...Opps did I say that...
posted on January 5, 2003 11:57:36 AM new
OK, so you have a difference of opinion on the quality of the item? Why should eBay believe you?
This is basically the purpose of negative feedback, when two parties cannot agree. If it's less than 1-2%, who's really gonna care? What's the obsession with avoiding all instances of negative feedback? In real life, people have disagreements. If it becomes too difficult to leave negative feedback, then the whole system falls apart. In other words, if it's MUCH easier to leave positive feedback than negative feedback, what would a high feedback rating mean?
posted on January 6, 2003 08:58:10 AM new
What did the buyer use to pay you? If credit card or paypal, when you accept the return you are now obligated to give a refund even if you receive an empty box. Buyer can now "prove" that the item was returned and you have it.
Sniping works up a thirst"