Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
eBay

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

Original poster

What feedback to leave?

31 replies

HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 12/12/2012 12:54

I bought a large item on 18th November. In the item description it said collection or courier. I asked in advance whether the seller would arrange the courier or the winning bidder. They replied saying the winning bidder would have to organise it.

I won the auction for a very good price, paid and arranged for the courier to collect on a day convenient to the seller.

The courier refused to take it because it hadn't been packed and, as they hadn't folded it up, was too big for their max dimension limit.

I offered an extra payment to the seller to cover packaging costs (the auction price was so low that even adding this on would still mean I was getting a bargain). They accepted but then took a week to email me their Paypal address. Then another week to tell me what the dimensions were so that I could re-book (and pay for again) the courier.

It's taken almost 4 weeks from winning the item to receiving it (today). The seller's communication has been the worst of any ebayer I have ever experienced in almost a decade of ebaying. If it weren't for the fact that I had won the item for considerably less than others are going for, I would have cancelled the transaction after the failed courier collection and cut my losses.

I feel this deserves a neg because they stated in the description that courier collection was an option so should have been prepared to have it in a suitable condition for a courier to take and also for the appalling lack of communication.

Just wanted some other opinions...incase I am being unfair to the seller.

OP posts:
fergoose · 12/12/2012 14:14

leave a neg - you paid postage twice and you had to wait weeks

Low stars too I reckon

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 12/12/2012 15:35

I'm wavering now Blush. I don't think I've ever left a neg before.

The item itself is great (although, needs a very good clean) which is why I'm dithering.

Should I contact them first to warn them I'm going to leave neg or neutral?

OP posts:
TeWisBeenNargledByTheMistletoe · 12/12/2012 15:37

I wouldn't neg, neg is for pure criminals imo!

I'd leave a neutral, and explain why in comments.

Maybe I'm too nice though.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 12/12/2012 15:41

TeWis - I know! I think that's what's stopping me. Smile

OP posts:
TeWisBeenNargledByTheMistletoe · 12/12/2012 15:49

Did you get charged for the courier twice? I think that would tip me into neg. The should have known items need packing for courier collection.

fergoose · 12/12/2012 16:26

I am astounded you paid 2 lots of postage, waited 4 weeks for a dirty item and think a neg is too harsh. Feedback is to warn other buyers - and I do think your seller was pretty rubbish.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 12/12/2012 16:47

Yes, I did pay twice Blush!

Fergoose - I know, I'm a wimp BlushBlush.

If it helps...I paid £85 (+ £30 p&p) and it usually sells on eBay for £200+)

OP posts:
fergoose · 12/12/2012 17:19

no you are not a wimp - leave the neg - it will warn other buyers

seller is very silly letting you send own courier anyway - but that is by the by.

MrsChristmasVamos · 12/12/2012 17:25

Completely agree with fergoose, of course you should leave a negative !

You wouldn't tolerate business like this from a shop, or a company, so why from an ebay seller ?

It doesn't matter that you got a bargain, in no way does that mean you should expect a lesser service !

I would not have had the patience you have and would have opened a case by now, cut my losses and got a refund !

TeWisBeenNargledByTheMistletoe · 12/12/2012 17:32

Okay, I agree too! Give then a negatiVE!

MrsChristmasVamos · 12/12/2012 17:50

TeWis

Ahhh, we haven't gung-ho'd you into saying give a neg have we ? Xmas Grin

I know lots of sellers get annoyed with buyers, but I am one of the good ones (honest) and I always contact sellers to tell them I've paid, always email when the item arrives and leave feedback the day it arrives, as long as all is well.

I get hugely fed up, especially with BIN's that have postage dates set, then items don't arrive, and you only get communication when you email to ask where the item is...and the excuses are always the same, "sorry, I've had a cold", "sorry, a family member is ill"...which is fine, but it is really so hard to send a courteous emailing explaining that ? I don't mind waiting for things at all, as long as I know they will arrive, it's when you get no explanation or communication. For the first time in 7 years I had to open a case this year, and I felt rotten, but sellers do have as much responsibility as buyers to be quick with posting and polite.

Floralnomad · 12/12/2012 17:54

Did you know it was going to need cleaning ? I think I'd leave a a negative as well.

TeWisBeenNargledByTheMistletoe · 12/12/2012 17:56

I always feel a bit sorry for sellers, but I would be grovelling and horrified if my service had been that bad... so you are really right!

MrsChristmasVamos · 12/12/2012 18:30
Xmas Smile

I treat all sellers, well people, in the same way that I hope to be treated. Perhaps that's all it comes down to really...when people aren't as you expected them to be, it's disappointing.

lljkk · 12/12/2012 18:46

Let me be the last person on MN (as I usually am) to state you MUST leave a neg. I can't believe you even felt need to ask. The only thing that would stop me leaving a neg would be if she already had a dozen recently to her name & I couldn't be arsed to click thru the Ebay f/back menus.

I bet there's no way you'll get the postage or courier fees back, either?

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 12/12/2012 23:09

Thanks, fellow ebayers!

I've done it.

OP posts:
Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 16/12/2012 20:29

I've just received a long, ranty message (through eBay) from the seller Sad. He says he's reported my negative comments Confused.

It'll be interesting to see what ebay do.

OP posts:
Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 16/12/2012 21:32

Seller has responded to my neg...should I follow up or just leave it as it is?

OP posts:
MrsChristmasVamos · 16/12/2012 23:04

Hiccup

I'd love to know what he's written in response...silly person. He knows he's done wrong and not shown himself in a very good light, I honestly wouldn't worry about him reporting !

It really depends if you want to respond ? To be honest, I would just completely ignore, and respond to ebay if needed and let them deal with it.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 17/12/2012 00:15

Thanks! My first readtion was to ignore but part of me feels i want to defend myself.

He's put 'You didn't pay correct courier fees, didn't reply to emails for a week-Joker!!'

The email is quite long and goes on about me not paying enough for the courier to take the buggy (I paid the same amount the second time it had to be collected), the fact that he had to pack it after the courier refused to take it the first time, his wife had to take time off to be in for the courier, I didn't reply to emails (the longest I went without repling was 36hours because I was flying to America!!).

Also, I commented on the buggy being dirty and he told me I should have expected a certain amount of dirt and food on a second hand buggy and, because it had cost over £300 new, I should be grateful I'd got it at such a low price.

There were other things aswell but I don't think I want to open the message again to read it.

OP posts:
MrsChristmasVamos · 17/12/2012 00:23

Don't respond to the email, it sounds to me like you want to report him to ebay. Play the fool at his own game ! No-one is allowed to be rude, insulting or aggressive in their tone and ebay take a dim view of it, I have found.

I think I would feel inclined to write in response something like "Paid courier fees twice, and the time between winning bid and receiving item is not satisfactory for ebay. Will let ebay resolve matter".

Try not to rise to it, he's trying to wind you up. I would report and let ebay deal with him. They will be able to see all contact between you, so I can't imagine anything going in his favour.

lljkk · 17/12/2012 07:43

What MCV said is good.

Respond to his actual points via Ebay, don't respond direct to him. He's an idiot not to have fallen over to help you and is now paying the price.

fergoose · 17/12/2012 08:34

sounds a horrid seller - and his nasty response to your feedback speaks volumes about him and not you.

Take comfort that his feedback reply will damage him and will prevent future buyers wanting to buy from him - so he has really shot himself in the foot

If you do leave follow up feedback my advice is wait 24 hours until you do, and if you do make sure it is measured and calm and if possible humorous. For now I would advise you to ignore him and do not reply to his email at all. How grim to send something out dirty too - regardless of price paid he should never send out a dirty item, that is just foul.

Original poster
HiccupHaddockHorrendous · 17/12/2012 09:37

Thanks for the replies!

I've just re-read his email and he's saying it's my fault the courier wouldn't take it the first time because I didn't tell him to wrap the buggy...he's tied it together with a piece of string ShockHmm.

I think what's annoyed me the most is that he's making out he was doing me a favour by letting me arrange a courier when he'd written in the description that courier collection was fine. I would then assume that the sender would realise it needed to be packed up and not sent unwrapped.

I definitely won't reply to his email but I'm a little concerned that his reply makes me out to be in the wrong...or am I doing that over-thinking-thing again?! Grin

If eBay do take his complaint seriously, would they contact me first to discuss removing my neg FB or would they just do it?

OP posts:
lljkk · 17/12/2012 09:41

The worse Ebay can do is remove your neg, which I doubt they will do, anyway.
The worse he can do is put you on his blocked bidders list, which frankly is doing you a favour, since buyers can't make blocked sellers lists.

Just calmly state your side & try to forget about it. You've wasted too much of your life on this guy already.

Who has time to read details of feedback, so don't worry about it putting other Ebayers off of doing business with you.