Buyer trying to force a return - what will she try next - PayPal?

[TheoTheopolis23]

I have made the mistake of informing a buyer who left neutral feedback - thus breaking my long record of only positive feedback - that eBay had removed the feedback (as it was unreasonable), that I had blocked her as a buyer, and added that I hoped she didn't treat other sellers the same.

(Her feedback related to the delivery time. I checked and saw that I had sent the item on day 2 of my 3 day dispatch period, and that the carrier (Yodel) - when I looked at their tracking website - listed 3 attempts to deliver (with cards left) until the 3rd was successful).

I highlighted this in my message. In retrospect I wish I had not bothered messaging her and just been glad eBay removed the feedback and write her off as a bit of a dick.

Since receiving the message she had tried to force a return of the item - which she appears to have had for 6 days. On the basis that it is t "to small".
There was not a word about it being too small before now and the only feedback left was re delivery time.
The item is also a one size, loose, open poncho/cape (new with tags) and was listed as such.

eBay advised I could decline the return (since I have a no except if not as described policy) but that she could try to leave negative feedback. They said they didn't know if they could remove feedback twice. I asked why not, if it's clear it's malicious and dudbtgeealkt get a definite answer.

I have a feeling Ive not heard the last of her. She sent me an email I haven't fully read declaring what I said about the attempted deliveries to be untrue etc etc. I've double checked her dispatch label reference against at my receipt for posting and tracked it on the Yodel site. I even looked up the local depot mentioned in their tracking "report" and it's in her city

Is PayPal the only other thing she can go for now? Can she try to do a cashback/demand a refund?

So you didn’t list the dimensions of the “one size fits all” poncho and you think it was her responsibility to ask you the exact dimensions?

You also know all buyers are never too busy to try on items the second they arrive and never ever wait for a weekend or a few days.

In addition, most buyers who intend to return because something is too small do not leave feedback saying that. It is likely she wanted to return it when she left the feedback about the delivery, but didn’t put the size issue in because that isn’t a feedback issue like poor quality.

I'll try Google etx. re PayPal

Still your responsibility to select a good delivery provider and make good on refunding or compensating for any deliveries that they lose or are late.

To be honest, a seller who sends sanctimonious messages to buyers for leaving neutral feedback (which still leaves your feedback as 100% positive anyway, only negative feedback alters it) sounds quite dickish to me.

I was left a neutral once because the buyer didn't like the neckline of a dress, despite it being photographed and described in great detail. It was clearly so ridiculous and anyone who bothered to drill down into my feedback would have seen it as such (it was literally 'the neck of the dress didn't suit me, I will have to get it altered'). I contacted her and offered a refund if she returned it but she didn't want to which just goes to show how silly the feedback was. I did nothing else and eventually it dropped off my feedback.

It's really not worth stressing over and definitely not worth sending unpleasant messages to the buyer about. In fact I'd be concerned that the buyer would report me to eBay for doing so.

As I said, defensive.

Oh who's a good delivery provider?

They're all much if a muchness; whovhbyou must know if you've sold online to any extent.

And you wouldn't know they're not good til they are late or fail the first time.

That makes very little sense.

Do you compensate for your delivery providers delivering late?
You check every item in tracking and then claim and then compensate the buyer??

As I said, offensive.

Euch aggressive sellers on eBay. You tried to own her, she retaliated, so either accept the return or the negative feedback. 🤷🏻‍♀️

As you say, that was obvious to anyone with a brain that she was being ridiculous.

It would not be obvious to anyone with a brain that this buyer was being ridiculous. Be sure they would have no way of knowing that I dispatched early and that she was out and left cards twice before a third attempted delivery.

You tried to own her

Wtaf.

Lol

This.

On the rare occasions delivery has been an issue sellers have been absolutely brilliant and refunded me. On occasion they've even told me to keep the item when it eventually turned up. As a seller myself, this has happened to my buyers a couple of times and I've refunded immediately.

Well this escalated quickly.

"We will protect you by removing negative and neutral Feedback and defects when things happen outside your control, such as weather or carrier delays, or when the item arrives late but tracking shows you sent it on time."

eBay doesn't appear to agree with you there

Care to share your ebay username OP? I'm a prolific user of ebay, just want to make sure I don't buy anything off you as you sound like a seller to avoid..

I agree! I want to avoid like the plague!!

@TheoTheopolis23

You have deftly avoided my question about whether Yodel’s GPS tracking for the “missed deliveries” matches the GPS of the buyer’s home.

I think we’ve all had couriers say they tried to deliver, but actually never knocked.

OMG this

If I've ever been left neutral feedback I've apologised, not got shirty.

So you should have left it there.

Out of goodwill though most sellers will work with buyers and if an item is late or is unsuitable when it arrives, particularly after other issues with delivery have arisen, will refund. I certainly do.

And it's incredibly bad form to send snarky messages to a buyer for leaving honest feedback (particularly when it won't affect your overall score). As PP have pointed out some couriers have form for not going to the correct address or for saying they've attempted delivery when they haven't - in my experience Yodel and Evri are the absolute pits for this.

Honestly if you'd have sent a message like that to me I'd have reported you to eBay. You got the feedback removed, what more did you want?

Really hope this buyer finds a way to return the item/reverse the payment. OP will be apoplectic.

PayPal are actually brilliant at getting payments reversed/refunded. On the rare occasion I've had awful sellers like the OP they've stepped in immediately and got it sorted.

I hope the buyer does report OP to eBay, too - unpleasant sellers make shopping on eBay a fraught experience when it doesn't need to be. Nobody wants nasty messages for leaving appropriate feedback.

You should put measurements in the listing and not rely on people to ask. I no longer ask if people are too lazy to put them in, I buy from someone who can be bothered to help the buyers. So many badly listed items on there these days, and so many people on here syaing their stuff doesn't sell, well it won't if peple don't know what the measurements are. Ad you blame the buyer for not knowing if it will fit.

Neutral feedback doesn't affect your rating, and you can leave a reply regarding the failure of delivery, and learnt to use a different delivery service if necessary. Or, a novel idea, mention it in the listing so that people are aware of how things work.

In view of your attitude I hope you are aware that you might receive a damaged item if you insist or refusing a refund and the buyer does open a PayPal dispute.

There are actually boards on Ebay for buying and selling, which you can find by scrolling down the page and clicking on 'Community'. People who answer questions on there have been doing so for many years and will be able to give you the correct advice.

Maybe selling on Ebay isn't for you.

Sorry for typos, stiff fingers.

I assume you're selling personal items (as if you're buying and selling for profit you're legally a business and returns are not optional in the UK - that would be different conversation).

It sounds frustrating but tbh I'd just take the return at this point. Is the hassle worth it?

Though I'd have ignored the feedback in the first place - one neutral won't make much difference to an otherwise good account.

You should put measurements in the listing and not rely on people to ask

Absolutely agree with this. 'One size' is rarely one size fits all. If you're selling an item it's your responsibility to list measurements - if you don't, it's only fair that if an item doesn't fit you accept a return.