My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

eBay

Being told to change feedback when I think it is appropriate?

32 replies

TheSecretCervixDNCOP · 01/02/2013 09:28

Bought something on ebay before christmas, as it was coming from Hong Kong gave it the decent amount of time to arrive before contacting seller to say sadly it has not arrived.

VERY reluctantly they refunded me. Yesterday I left feedback on all my recent purchases, I gave neutral to this one (as I didn't recieve it) and simply said item did not arrive but refund given. I felt this was appropriate and was not doing it out of spite, this is the whole reason of the feedback system yes?

Apparently not. I have logged into Ebay this morning to this message from the seller:

dear buyer
sorry to bother you
we noticed the feedback you leave for us
sorry for the delay
we can experience your mood
but as you know that the shippment is out of our control
the only things we can do is send your item out asap
really hope you can understand
we have finished refund.
as many customers may do not know that the netural feedback still affect us a lot
could you pls kindly help us change it to a good one ?
or just withdraw it ?
many thanks for your help
waiting for your reply
nice day

I have messaged back the following:

No. You need to understand that your customers are entitled to leave a feedback appropriate to their experience with you. I felt the feedback left is acceptable given that I did not recieve item and refund was reluctantly given. Good day.


Okay I was probably a bit harsh, but I'm sorry I am not going to be coerced into making their business look better. It doesn't benefit me does it? It benefits them and I don't see why I should comply.

OP posts:
Report
Trills · 01/02/2013 09:31

The reason of the feedback system is to give buyers information about sellers.

It's not unreasonable to leave neutral in general, but I don't know if it is appropriate in this case. Things do sometimes get lost in the post and if they gave you a refund promptly and were polite and professional and timely in their communication then they have done the best they possibly can in the circumstances.

Would you buy from this seller again?

Report
TheSecretCervixDNCOP · 01/02/2013 09:51

They really ummed and arred about the refund. I didn't demand one. Took a few messages back and forth before they said okay, there isn't anything we can really do and they said they would not send another (fine by me of course) then they refunded.

OP posts:
Report
fergoose · 01/02/2013 10:04

feedback is your opinion, so if I were you I would ignore.

Or agree to change it and now give a neg!

Report
Chopstheduck · 01/02/2013 10:06

I think a neutral is a bit harsh tbh

Report
LittleChimneyDroppings · 01/02/2013 10:08

Well I guess the shipment is out of their control. And they did refund you. I probably would have ticked positive but still said the same thing. I can see their point.

Report
TheSecretCervixDNCOP · 01/02/2013 10:10

I thought neutral was less harsh than negative?

OP posts:
Report
germyrabbit · 01/02/2013 10:16

they did refund you and have opened discussions. i would have positived but with details.

wish the feedback system would work for sellers too, had two winning bidders cancel on me this week. one bid accidentally (??) one wanted to cancle as probs with account apparently. they both deserved negs but all sellers can do is report them. they can happily bid again and much people about

Report
germyrabbit · 01/02/2013 10:17

the 'cancle' was their typo not mine just made me Hmm

Report
BinarySolo · 01/02/2013 10:30

I think neutral's fair enough if they were reluctant to refund.

I agree with others tho, that eBay is rediculous weighted in favour of the buyer. I had someone bid on an item I was selling then drop all communication and failed to pay and collect. They then bid again on the relisted item using a different account (delivery address the same). I contacted ebay who told me I had to wait to see if they payed. Again no contact, but I sold the item via second chance offer. Two weeks later the original buyer contacted me to ask if they could collect the item!!

They could now leave me negative feedback, but I can't do the same to them. I couldn't cancel their bids as they used a bid sniper each time and if I'd blocked them it wouldn't have helped as they had multiple accounts.

Sorry for the rant but it makes me so cross.

Report
fergoose · 01/02/2013 10:39

Binary - you can open a non paying bidder case to get your fees back and stop them leaving feedback

Report
germyrabbit · 01/02/2013 10:48

happened to me with a car i was selling too, with investigation found out the the 'buyer' was bidding on lots of cars and winning them the same day. I contacted the other sellers and they all had times he would collect etc then would hear nothing more. totaly waste of time and we all reported to ebay, yet he is still there buying.

Report
Branleuse · 01/02/2013 10:59

id have given a neutral too. Ignore

Report
Letmeintroducemyself · 01/02/2013 11:04

neutral is harsh - it affects your ability to use free listing says etc

Report
BinarySolo · 01/02/2013 11:21

I think I've left it too long Fergoose as I sold immediately via a second chance offer. And it was about a month ago now. I don't want to open a case against them, as then they can claim that they tried to pay but I had already sold the item. I should have opened the case at the time, but it was close to Xmas and fell by the wayside . . .

Report
AngelWreakinHavoc · 01/02/2013 11:23

I run an ebay business and I would have requested change of feedback if I was left neutral after I had refunded. I sell all over the world and items do go missing from time to time.

Report
millymae · 01/02/2013 11:51

I'm another who would have done exactly the same. If they'd been helpful over the refund I would certainly have fed back positively but as they didn't exactly fall over backwards to help then neutral is fair enough. Part of the problem in my view is that Ebay don't provide enough space/options to give a meaningful feedback so you have no choice but to pick the option that is nearest to how you feel. I don't see any point in being other than honest - it's not helpful to others who might be thinking of buying from the same place.

Report
TheSecretCervixDNCOP · 02/02/2013 09:47

Well to those who would have requested I change it, if I said no, would you continue to message me and push the matter? They have! Here is the message I have received today:


Dear buyer,

Thanks for your reply.
Sorry for the inconvenience again.
Your item may delay or lost on the way,as you know that the shippment is out of our control.
We just hope everything will be ok with your order.
We will improve our shippment service.
Could you pls give us a change ?
How about we send your a free gift in your future order and could you pls help us change your feedback to a positive one ?
Many thanks for your help.

Waiting for your reply.
Nice day.


Come on, surely I made myself clear in the first response?

OP posts:
Report
CajaDeLaMemoria · 02/02/2013 09:56

They need to be careful... They'll be coming dangerously close to what ebay regard as feedback extortion.

People who badger you to change feedback drive me mad. It's truthful and fair, so they should leave it. Changing it would be misleading to future customers who need to know if this is a regular occurrence.

Report
whatyoulookinat · 02/02/2013 10:01

If they have refunded I would have left positive as its not their fault the item got lost. put yourself in thier shoes, its very frustrating to get neg/ neutral feedback for something you have no control over.

Report
Stropzilla · 02/02/2013 10:02

Given that the refund was done reluctantly I'd leave neutral too. With the messages after I would change to a neg now and say was being harassed. Im mean tho!

Report
TheSecretCervixDNCOP · 02/02/2013 10:07

Anyone actually know how to do it? I'm thinking of changing it to positive but leaving a message on it saying I was harrassed into it!

OP posts:
Report
Stropzilla · 02/02/2013 10:10

Why would you change it to positive if that wasnt your experience? All people will look at is the positive not the comments surely?

Report

Newsletters you might like

Discover Exclusive Savings!

Sign up to our Money Saver newsletter now and receive exclusive deals and hot tips on where to find the biggest online bargains, tailored just for Mumsnetters.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

Parent-Approved Gems Await!

Subscribe to our weekly Swears By newsletter and receive handpicked recommendations for parents, by parents, every Sunday.

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

SummerRainIsADistantMemory · 02/02/2013 10:15

They sound like the crowd I had endless hassle with before I insisted dp stop ordering parts from them.

Most recent was when they took the PayPal payment twice for one item. I opened a dispute with PayPal and they found in our favour. The seller emailed me in the same style of broken English as the op to tell me that the bank had obviously made a mistake, could I please transfer the money straight back to them Hmm

Report
WeAllHaveWings · 02/02/2013 10:21

They might have a 100 customers a month with items not being delivered because they are "missing in post" how will anyone know this if appropriate feedback is not left? I would want to know this as a potential customer. Its what feedback is for.

I think neutral feedback and the comments left are spot on for your experience.

Their reply would make me think this is maybe a regular occurrence.

Report
BinarySolo · 02/02/2013 10:36

I would reply saying that they are harassing you and if they continue you will be contacting ebay. In all honesty, their behaviour since you left he feedback would make me more convinced that neutral/negative was fair.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.