Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

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

Neutral Feedback - I think I have been fair but wwyd now?

26 replies

NCRedBreastedBirdy · 20/12/2008 16:42

I bought an item on the 2nd December, on the 12th (10 days later) I got an email saying "I have just posted this, daughter been ill so it is late". It finally arrived on the 17th (15 days after close of auction). I checked the postmark as I thought P.O. may have been slow, it showed the item was not sent until the 15th (13 days after close of auction).

So, I felt that taking 13 days to post an item is a bit much and not letting me know for 10 days is a bit rich too - I had been expecting it to be there by then really!

The item is great so I felt that I should leave neutral feedback saying that the item is great but the seller took 13 days to post out. However I wanted to be fair to the seller so emailed tham first to tell them what I was doing and why.

So, I have heard nothing back from the seller, I am not sure really if I am expecting them to say anything at all. Do I post the feedback and be done with it or do I hang on to give them more chance to respond? Also, what do I do if they make an offer to refund some money or something? I don't think feedback can be bought so is there any way I can offer a solution for them...

(BTW, this is a new business seller although the item was not a business item it will affect his bussiness account)

OP posts:
whoingodsnameami · 20/12/2008 16:49

If you send, the item is great but the seller took 13 days to post out, then I thinks thats a little unfair, because it does'nt expain that the seller did communicates this (dispite it being very late) and that no explanation was given.

To be honest I would leave positive, with just a basic response, ie, item recieved, thanks.

TinselianAstra · 20/12/2008 16:50

I'm very harsh about lateness, I think that if his daughter has been ill that doesn't stop him from taking two minutes to bash out an email saying 'it's going to be late'. I think 'it's going to be late' is fair enough, but 'it is late, ehre is my excuse' is not so good.

Give him a couple of days to respond, then post the feedback. if he does offer an apology and refund then that is good customer service, so I would change to positive feedback.

oiwhatsoccurringsantaclaus · 20/12/2008 16:53

I would leave positive. They told you there daughter was ill, for all you know she could have been in hospital.

Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 20/12/2008 16:56

So you think it is ok to change to positive if a refund is offered? I suppose it would be a customer service thing the same as if an Asda delivery is late so they refund the delivery charge...

Who, sorry,I think feedback is for the whole experience not just the item - I do take on board what you say about the communication but I have limited characters to use.

OP posts:
Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 20/12/2008 16:59

Just to make things a bit clearer, another item the sold LATER ON THE SAME DAY was received by the 5th of December so must have been sent out that day....

Actually, that has made me more cross....

OP posts:
Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 20/12/2008 17:00

Oi - I doubt it, see my last post! There were also other (business) items sent out between the 2nd and the 13th when mine was sent...

OP posts:
whoingodsnameami · 20/12/2008 17:04

I am a bit soft, I think s its a new business account, I would let it go and give them a chance, who knows, there reason for sending it late may have been a big fat lie, the reason may be something they are to embarressed to say, but a genuine mistake,

whoingodsnameami · 20/12/2008 17:05

thier not there

TinselianAstra · 20/12/2008 17:07

"for all you know she could have been in hospital."

If it wasn't for that then I would be recommending negative feedback (I told you I was harsh), since he didn't get in contact for 10 days after the auction finished.

TinselianAstra · 20/12/2008 17:08

their not thier

southeastastra · 20/12/2008 17:09

negs should only be left as a complete last resort. alot of buyers really are abusing the system.

i wouldn't leave any feedback at all for the time being.

Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 20/12/2008 17:09

I don't know, I am not happy that other items were sent out but mine wasn't, if their daughter is ill then fair enough but how could they manage to post the other things then? Why didn't they just take everything to the P.O. on the same day?

I am a bit angry about it but I am trying to be fair... I am usually a softy too who but I think I have been treated badly here!

OP posts:
Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 20/12/2008 17:09

SEA, that is why I would do neutral. In no way do they deserve a neg!

OP posts:
oiwhatsoccurringsantaclaus · 20/12/2008 17:10

NCred, if another person received theres on the 5th and ended the same day then thats different. I would wait for a response and dependent on the out come either leave pos/net feedback

TinselianAstra · 20/12/2008 17:13

No, they don't deserve a negative feedback rating really, but lateness without an explanation is one of the things that annoys me the most in the whole world.

When you are choosing a seller to buy something from, do you actually pay attention to neutral feedback?

Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 20/12/2008 17:15

Personally I would read neutral feedback but I would assume that it can't have been all that bad otherwise it would have got a neg IYSWIM. I don't want to ruin this guys business account but I do think they should know they have to treat their buyers fairly and equally..

Oh, I don't know...

OP posts:
TinselianAstra · 20/12/2008 17:22

Wait, see if he replies. If he is suitably grovelling then give him a positive.

If he doesn't reply, give a neutral and comment on 'poor communication' or similar.

Or you could just not give him any feedback at all.

None of the above will ruin his business (I wouldn't actually give a neg to anyone for anything less than non-delivery or seriously inaccurate description, and even then not until I had been in contact with the seller about the problem).

Remember that the sick child thing could possibly be a lie, said to make you feel sorry for him, given that he posted other things before yours. If he is going into business he does need to realise that leaving people 10 days after the auction with no communication is not acceptable, which is why I would not give him a positive without having received an apology.

Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 20/12/2008 17:39

Sounds like a good plan Astra, I will see what happens if/when he contacts me!

OP posts:
MrsMagooo · 22/12/2008 19:05

I think a neutral is fair.

I always email a buyer to say when their item will be posted & if it's going to be later then planned I let them know asap.

The fact that other people recieved their items suggests to me they're trying it on & using 'my child was ill' as an excuse!

Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 22/12/2008 23:18

Thanks MrsMagooo, it is god to have another POV! I still have heard nothing so I guess I have little choice really.

Seems a shame as I don't know if they are even aware. They could be away or anthing!

OP posts:
bollockbrainASSofBETHLEHEM · 22/12/2008 23:27

leave a positive saying great item, postage slow or words to that effect. it is the truth and warns other buyers they could be in for a wait.

The feedback should be honest as others are relying on it and i think the postage times are worth noting.

bollockbrainASSofBETHLEHEM · 22/12/2008 23:27

leave a positive saying great item, postage slow or words to that effect. it is the truth and warns other buyers they could be in for a wait.

The feedback should be honest as others are relying on it and i think the postage times are worth noting.

bollockbrainASSofBETHLEHEM · 22/12/2008 23:28

how weird

Original poster
NCRedBreastedBirdy · 23/12/2008 08:37

If it should be honest then shouldn't it be a neutral? Feedback is for the whole transaction not just the item, it includes communictaion, delivery, packaging and the item.

On two counts the buyer did very badly, on one he did well (the item) but even the packaging was not brilliant.

Overall, I felt I had a neutral experience, not bad but equally not good by any stretch of the imagination!

OP posts:
muddleduck · 23/12/2008 11:47

Neutral.

If we all give positives in situations like this then positive feedback would mean nothing.