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Should I leave neutral feedback for this?

62 replies

firefly11 · 30/11/2012 18:18

I bought a second hand Asus EEEPC for my daughter off Ebay. It was poorly packaged. Although it shipped in the original box, the part of the original box that secures the netbook so it doesn't slip and slide around the box during transit is missing. So when it arrived the netbook was just bumping around all over the place when the box was carried by the postman and us. I was half expecting it not to work but I opened the packaging and charged up the netbook and tried reinstalling Windows on it to see what happened.

Luckily it worked fine. The seller didn't forget to include anything listed in the auction. But the entire package stank heavily of ciggie smoke. The soft foamy fabric protective ASUS pouch that comes with it was so smelly I gagged. I think I might try to wash it in the machine to see if its salvageable. The seller didn't mention anything about this of course but I sort of don't expect him to, as I've never seen Ebay sellers mention their items smell of ciggies.

The item luckily sold at quite a low price compared to other simipar models. The photo on the auction wasn't great and the seller mentioned putting this up for sale on other sites so auction "may end early"... All factors which I think may have affected the final auction price.

So I don't feel like leaving a neg. But I feel I should leave a neutral. What do you think? I have just emailed the seller about this although I wasn't angry or rude, just said the item stank of ciggie smoke and the item was poirly packaged. I don't know if the seller is going to reply. I didn't ask for a refund or return and have no intention of doing so because it still works and if the pouch isn't salvageable I will consider buying a new one.

OP posts:
firefly11 · 30/11/2012 18:21

Seller just replied. Said "I'm so sorry about that."

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fergoose · 30/11/2012 18:33

I would leave a neg! Sorry but you don't know what damage has happened in transit - what if it stops working in a month. A seller needs to get an item to you safely and working - plus stinking of fags. Why would you want to keep such an item?

I would open a not as described and send it back and spend my hard earned cash elsewhere

Oh and if you want stars to count mark them low, leaving them blank does not count as a low star, it just doesn't count at all

sleepyhead · 30/11/2012 18:36

I always assume that if a listing doesn't say "from a smoke-free home" or "pet-free home" then it probably does. I don't think you can leave a neutral for that. Smokers tend to have no idea how much it makes things stink to non-smokers.

Packaging wasn't great obv, but if there wasn't any damage done then again, I'm not sure you can really complain about what might have happened (but didn't).

I think you can leave a star rating for packaging anyway can't you?

purpleraindance · 30/11/2012 18:45

negative is harsh - positive with low stars.

firefly11 · 30/11/2012 20:04

So its either neg or positive with low stars?

I'm curious as to what neutrals are to be used for.

DD is playing games happily on it for now. Don't know if I want to spoil it for her by taking the laptop back. Though fergoose makes a good point about internal components possibly damaged in transit and we may not know until much later if that is the case.

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fergoose · 30/11/2012 20:08

up to you - if you want to use a neutral then do. If it does break you only have 45 days to open a not as described case so worth bearing in mind.

I think the sellers' response to you was woeful to be honest!

purpleraindance · 30/11/2012 20:08

send it back rather than leave neg. leave a neutrul rather than negative. next time if it doesnt say from smoke free home, ask dont presume. leave the net for packaging. really no pleasing people on ebay, this is why ive stopped selling.

firefly11 · 01/12/2012 09:32

Hmm... My home isn't a smoke free home. My DH smokes. But to have things stink of ciggies to the point of making me gag... That's a first. I don't know. I suppose people's expectations of what is acceptable "smoke" smell or not differs. I may not expect something to be smoke free but this is bad. Even my DH said I should put it in the wash.

The computer itself or the components aren't smelly though. But that carry case/pouch for it, as well as the box, just reeks.

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fergoose · 01/12/2012 11:24

well I don't think it is unreasonable to expect items to not smell of smoke - and I don't presume sellers are smokers or pet owners because it isn't mentioned on the listing.

I would not be happy to keep the item if I were you - smelly and potentially damaged due to inadequate packaging. What if it breaks in a month and you are too late to open a claim - you would be v disappointed.

lljkk · 01/12/2012 11:40

Sellers are allowed to advertise elsewhere. You may not like it, but official Ebay policy sanctions it, so you can't have a legit grievance there.

Stinking of smoke... urk, I would think that's a mark down on stars thing, unless they stated smoke-free home. I have a poor sense of smell so wouldn't even notice.

You don't want to return it. and you haven't even tried to get money off for the risk of damage, so I can't see a neg justified.

I would probably ask for a small partial rebate on purchase price (small because you got it for good price anyway), to cover risk it might not last as long as expected, & if that was agreed I'd then give no f/back at all.

firefly11 · 01/12/2012 15:49

Sellers are allowed to advertise elsewhere. You may not like it, but official Ebay policy sanctions it, so you can't have a legit grievance there.

I've never said I had a problem with that. I just said that I thought that was a possible reason why the auction attracted low bids and hence I got it at a good price!

You don't want to return it. and you haven't even tried to get money off for the risk of damage, so I can't see a neg justified.

Totally agree. Which is why the subject title of this thread was "Should I leave a Neutral?"

As an Ebay seller sometimes myself, I have encountered buyers who wanted refunds and returns. I don't mind that hassle. If you choose to sell on Ebay, you take that risk. It is not my problem if some Ebay sellers get upset that they are getting negs. Obviously the smoke thing is subjective. Maybe I have a finer sense of smell than some. That doesn't mean that it would be unfair for me to then want to criticise the extent of smoke smell on an item I received. It's not like there is a universally-accepted standard for the smell test is it?

I would probably ask for a small partial rebate on purchase price (small because you got it for good price anyway), to cover risk it might not last as long as expected, & if that was agreed I'd then give no f/back at all.

The seller has a 99.3% rating and it was because he received a neg for not sending out an installation disc with his computer which he promised to. I am not banking on him being happy to do anything else for me at all. I am still deliberating whether to ask for a small partial rebate for the poor packaging, or to send it back outright. It's more trouble for me to send it back of course, since the post office is a 40 minute walk to and fro for me or a bus ride. And obviously I don't always get my return postage reimbursed.

OP posts:
fergoose · 01/12/2012 16:05

a courier like Hermes or Collect Plus may be cheaper and less hassle for the return?

firefly11 · 01/12/2012 16:20

Thanks *fergoose", I hadn't known about Hermes doing parcel deliveries for occasional users like me. Seems cheaper than Royal Mail too. So if I open a "Not As Described" case, what should I put down there on the resolution centre form under "What was the item condition on delivery to you?"
There are only a few options : damaged; counterfeit; missing parts or pieces; wrong; unusable; empty box

OP posts:
purpleraindance · 01/12/2012 16:29

youve already used the goods so why not just leave neutrul fb? id be mighty annoyed if someone used & then returned. also, dont ask for a partial refund - this used to really piss me off. itsthings like this that made me stop selling on ebay. youve already admitted you got the item really cheap so just leave the fb & worry about important things in life - ps whats your ebay name so i can block you please - pm if you prefer.

fergoose · 01/12/2012 16:50

in the item condition you can state not properly packaged, loose in packaging with no protection plus stinking of cigarette smoke. I think that is plenty to complain about. I would choose damaged I think from that list.

trueblood1fan · 01/12/2012 16:54

but its not damaged & i really cant see how electronics "stink of smoke" - op hasused goods has she not? packaging is the only thing she has to complain about. i bloody hate ebay with buyers like this. pay full price in the shops & buy brand new, that way you get a warentee & smoke free goods. you got it really cheap so just suck it up.

LilQueenie · 01/12/2012 16:57

sellers are not allowed to advertise elsewhere on ebay. Although lots of sellers do ebay dont allow it.

lljkk · 01/12/2012 17:38

Sorry if I sounded harsh, firefly, I think you took it that way. I was trying to keep my words few & simple. I never thought you had written anything unreasonable.

firefly11 · 01/12/2012 18:40

purple and trueblood you obviously have a personal axe to grind and are using ad hominem attacks. Well that means I won't be bothering with your replies any longer. Thanks, bye!

lljkk its okay. I think it was a bit of misunderstanding. As online discussions sometimes can be..

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firefly11 · 01/12/2012 18:44

lilqueenie... If that's true then the seller was breaking the auction rules?

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trueblood1fan · 01/12/2012 18:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by Mumsnet for breaking our Talk Guidelines. Replies may also be deleted.

trueblood1fan · 01/12/2012 18:46

lilqueen whats is matter now? op won the auction & recvd the goods - sigh.....

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firefly11 · 01/12/2012 18:47

Have reported you trueblood. Carry on with your vitriol and I'll keep reporting you.

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calypso2008 · 01/12/2012 18:49

I wouldn't. I have recently bought something and it came stinking of smoke (and I smoke!) but it was as described and as someone said upthread, if it does not specify 'from a smoke and pet free home' it won't be!

Unless you want to return it - I would not leave neg or neutral feedback. I would leave lower star rating for the packaging - that's it. Smile

firefly11 · 01/12/2012 18:50

Thanks fergoose. Will do.

OP posts:
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