To message seller before leaving negative feedback or not?

[MrsDimples]

I won several auctions of megabloks from one seller. The pictures were quite dark but all the items looked fine. No mention of missing or broken bits in the description.

In one lot there is a door missing off a car and in another the propeller is broken on a plane, leaving a very sharp bit of plastic.

Neither of these is visible from the photo's.

I don't want to send them back and get a refund, but I do want to leave negative feedback. So should I message the seller first or just go ahead and leave the feedback?

I think YABU to not give them a chance to refund. Mistakes are made when listing - I occasionally miss a mark or tear on an item - when this has happened I am genuinely sorry and refund both the item cost and their postage.

agree with peggy, you should try and sort it with the seller first. they may be willing to give a partial refund

very unfair to just leave negative without giving them a chance to sort it out for you

Thanks for your responses, I don't think I'm being unreasonable but I will message them first.

I had some others the week before - different seller - took weeks to arrive and they were filthy. Not just dusty, caked in unidentified crap. I messaged the seller before leaving negative feedback and got a ton a grief. Clearly that is skewing my judgement here, but certainly not unreasonable. This isn't a small scratch it's an obvious, large piece broken off, leaving a sharp bit.

ok but the seller could make good by refunding you couldn't they?

but you don't want that you want to keep it, so it can't be that bad can it?

if you tell them the problem they have the option to offer you a partial refund and you keep the items. wouldn't that be better?

I think it I'd message seller first as it is only fair to allow them to offer u a refund. If response inadequate then get eBay involved

I think it's only fair to contact the seller first and give them a chance of providing a resolution.
Is it at all possible that the propeller on the plane could have been broken in transit ?
Also regarding the door missing on a car - I'm not sure I'd even know with my children's toys which cars have/had doors and which didn't so that could be an honest mistake.

As you have bought several sets from the same seller perhaps they will be happy to partially refund you for the two items that have issues.
Your only other option would be to open an item not as described case, and then you would be required to return all the items in each batch back to the seller.

I have to be honest though I don't get your eagerness to leave negative feedback. You say you don't want to return the items but you do want to leave negative comments.
If you are unhappy then really you should return the item, if you are happy enough to keep the items then you should not be leaving negative feedback. There is a neutral button which you could use instead, but again I'd say that should only be done after contact with the seller.

Agree with the others - def contact the seller! She may not have noticed. If you're happy to keep the items then you don;t need to leave a negative. ;-)

I always ask buyers to contact me before leaving neg/neutral feedback - I'm honest in my listings and if someone is less than happy I want to put it right.

Some buyers will contact, some don't. The ones that don't and then leave a neg are just rude chancers; as bets are there's nothing wrong with the item they've bought.

I think YABU if you do not message seller first, if I sell something and it breaks in transit I would refund if I failed to notice small mistake you offer full refund on return or partial refund.

I don't think it is fair to neg this seller without a chance because of behaviour of completely different seller