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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be really upset I have recieved my first negative feedback on Ebay?

52 replies

BoobleBeep · 20/11/2011 18:20

I have an ebay business which I have worked really hard to build up over the last year (yes I pay tax) and I have almost 2000 transactions and up until today 100% f/b.

A buyer has left me negative because they changed their mind about an item and I didn't refund their return postage, I wasn't even asked to...

All my competitors have 100% and I am so upset, AIBU?!

OP posts:
ZillionChocolate · 20/11/2011 18:22

No you're not BU to be upset. Can you reply to their feedback?

Original poster
BoobleBeep · 20/11/2011 18:23

Yes, I have calmly stated what happened under their f/b

OP posts:
hiddenhome · 20/11/2011 18:23

Yes, life's too short. Learn from this and move on.

I don't even think you have to refund return postage unless there's a problem with the item. If they've just changed their mind, then they need to fund it.

They're obviously just mean minded.

CokeFan · 20/11/2011 18:24

Oh no. That's really horrible of them. I think you can add a comment after the negative to explain though, can't you? It won't change your percentage and they won't remove the neg but at least you can respond.

If I was a buyer and I saw someone with 99.9% feedback and 2000 transactions then I'd assume it was a numpty buyer who'd scuppered them so don't worry too much.

Original poster
BoobleBeep · 20/11/2011 18:24

Do you think buyers are bothered by negative f/b on a sellers profile?

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 20/11/2011 18:25

the first one always stings, especially when it seems unfair.. but one neg will not put buyers off if you have 2000 positives.

LeoTheLateBloomer · 20/11/2011 18:27

Reasonable buyers would look at your feedback, see that you've got 2000 transactions and that the one negative is fairly pointless.

I know it must be really annoying, but I shouldn't think you need to worry about it effecting your business.

blackoutthesun · 20/11/2011 18:27

i remember my first one, moaning that he had paid too much for the item...

as a buyer it wouldn't put me off

Tomorrowslookingfine · 20/11/2011 18:27

YANBU but I wouldn't worry about it harming your business prospect too much.
I am a regular buyer on ebay, and will buy from sellers with 96% + if they have over 1000 transactions (and I look what the negs are, and how the seller has responded).

dreamfeeder · 20/11/2011 18:27

I'd buy from you with 2000 positives, without blinking. Chin up

thousandDenier · 20/11/2011 18:29

FWIW, if a seller has a neg, it's not always off-putting if they have responded to it as you have done - calmly and honestly.

Most Ebayers know that there are some dishonest / unreasonable / unhinged buyers and will take their neg with a pinch of salt. Don't worry too much, OP.

Clossaintjacques · 20/11/2011 18:31

I would also buy from you, I always check the one or two negatives and read the sellers response. It's normally some stupid person being mean. Really don't worry.

Oakmaiden · 20/11/2011 18:35

to be honest as long as the feedback is above around 98% I would be happy to buy.

EricNorthmansMistress · 20/11/2011 18:36

Don't worry, a couple of negatives amongst hundreds of positives is fine.

ChippingInNeedsSleep · 20/11/2011 18:38

I always check the negatives because I'm nosey it's important but if I read that I'd just think that your buyer was a twat and actually be more inclined to buy from you, especially if you respond clearly but politely.

I know it's horrible to have your unblemished record ruined - but you have to be a bit philosopical - it was going to happen eventually!

What do you sell?

OldGreyWassailTest · 20/11/2011 18:40

It honestly wouldn't bother me, and I buy a lot from EBay. It is not nice, though, to have someone do this.

eminencegrise · 20/11/2011 18:43

I neg'd someone for the first time yesterday. On 10 October, I won and auction for an item, paid immediately via PayPal including the £1 postage. After a fortnight, I messaged the seller 'Where was my item?'. He responded he'd posted it 11 October. In early Nov., I got a notice from the post office that there was an item with insufficient postage to collect. It was my item, with a first class stamp postmarked 15 October, due 12p postage + £1.00 handling.

I messaged seller about it, attached a photo of the envelope, which had a sticker on it with the notice for 12p postage + £1 handling fee.

He messaged back asking did I want the £1.12 back. Um, yes, please.

Two weeks went by. No money. Messaged seller twice more . No response or money.

So neg'd the person.

mummymccar · 20/11/2011 18:52

Honestly, 99.99% is pretty good! I'd probably be more inclined to buy from you - 100% ratings make me a bit suspicious to be honest. Especially since Royal Mail are so unreliable!
Don't worry about it, people will just look at the neg and think the guy was being an idiot.
My mum was gutted after her first neg - she'd ordered a CD, paid by cheque ( wish was deposited and cleared). He never sent CD and gave her a negative for complaining about it! His defence was that it was unreasonable for her to complain since he'd only forgotten about it for a couple of months. There will always be some odd people about!

EmmaBemma · 20/11/2011 18:53

I wouldn't be put off by one neg, not at all - especially if there was a reasonable sounding response from the seller.

notcitrus · 20/11/2011 19:36

There is a link in the Ebay HelpCentre to ask for feedback to be removed - first step is they contact the buyer and ask them to agree but they can look at what happened and do it themselves if the buyer won't.

I had this recently and YANBU - it is really hard not to take it personally!
Though eventually the numpty who had opened and then closed a case (why???) and then left a neg without even asking for a refund agreed to return the item, I refunded in full, and he changed it to a glowing positive! Bonkers!

BabeRuthless · 20/11/2011 19:55

When dp or I check for feedback and see someone has a positive of 99% we always say "there's always one whinging bastard". Like another poster said, it stings but don't worry about people not wanting to use you. Smile

survivingsummer · 20/11/2011 20:20

YANBU and it sounds totally unfair of the buyer.

I wouldn't be worried about it at all if I was buying from you tbh.

I left ebay after getting a neg feedback from a buyer which was also totally unfair. Just pissed me off too much!

Original poster
BoobleBeep · 22/11/2011 18:52

God I fel like crying now, have just recieved my second.... it seems once one is left others are happier to leave one too.

This one is because there was a faint mark on the coat I send, I apologised & refunded them incl return postage but they still left me negative f/b.

It's now at 99.8%, I might just open a new account!!

OP posts:
exoticfruits · 22/11/2011 19:08

YANBU. I would put a very polite, reasonable reply next to it-don't be tempted to be rude. If I see negative feedback I look to see the comments and would be quite likely to conclude that you were were a very reasonable person who was unlucky with your buyer(who was a pain).

squeakytoy · 22/11/2011 19:19

Dont be daft to think of opening a new account. Just put a reply under that second neg saying "buyer was offered and received full refund" .

I have 3 negs on my account which has over 600 positives and it doesnt put people off. All 3 were for items which went missing in the post and all the buyers were fully refunded. There is nothing you can do if an item goes missing and any buyer knows that. Decent buyers would not neg you for it either.

Most of the time, the neg says a lot more about the buyer than it does about the seller. It is a disgrace that as sellers we can no longer leave negative feedback.

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