What would happen if I left negative feedback?

[Dumbledoresgirl]

This is the first time I have felt the need to leave negative feedback on ebay.

I bought some lego the other day. Dh has just found the package hanging out of our letter box where the stupid postman left it this morning. I had no idea it was there and it has got soaking wet in the rain. OK, that is not the seller's fault, but the packaging was totally inadequate: a box of lego, advertised as in a new and unopened box (so I paid more for it) but it had been stuffed into a jiffy bag and had become squashed in the post. It hardly looks new anymore!

I am also cross (again, not the fault of the seller) because I paid £21 for a tiny box of lego. I thought it was going to be at least twice the size!

Oh, and I was charged £3 for p&p and the postage was only £1.62. I know p&p covers packaging (which was inadequate) and time, but even so.....

All in all, for the first time ever, I am dissatisfied. I see the seller has had negative feedback before along the lines of inadequate packaging. What should I do? Let her know privately what I think of her packaging or give her negative feedback? What could she do to me if I did?

I wouldn't leave negative feedback as the item is unbreakable - yes, its inadequately packaged to preserve the box but most people don't want the box.

The rest you don't really have a complaint - jiffy bags are a £1 so the postage and packaging is a reasonable price.

She can't 'do' anything to you but I do think a negative is unfair in these circs though.

Sorry you didn't get much lego for your cash

Oh I realise my only legit gripe is the inadequate packaging but I disagree with you that most people throw the box away. We keep all of ours. Lego kits are always worth a great deal more if the box is present, more still of course if they are new (as this one was). That was why I was prepared to pay so much.

Oh I will calm down in a minute and doubtless leave positive feedback but it will stick in my craw doing so.

Sorry I had no idea that Lego was worth any money at all (with or without the box) - tell the seller that then, she may be as daft as me

no, I disagree, I would say something. If it was new in box you may have wanted to give it as a gift - thus die to the inadequate packaging, you couldn't possibly do so! It has got ruined in the post due to crappy packaging!! I never pay for a jiffy bag either and all of my things are really really well packed - as i would wish to receive them!

It IS for a present and not even one from me. I bought it on behalf of my brother to give to one of my sons for Christmas. I think I might email her privately as I would hate to be on the receiving end of negative feedback myself and I can see Laurie's pov.

I agree the box is important - especially if it's a gift. Give the seller chance to rectify first - message her through Ebay - hopefully you'll reach a mutual agreement of maybe a partial or full refund.

Then if she's crap she'll deserve negative FB.

Well, I confined myself to a restrained private email in which I explained the box had been ruined due to her inadequate packaging and could she please consider this in future so other customers do not suffer the disappointment I did.

She replied today apologising, which was fine, but then overplayed her hand by saying she only ebayed to pay her dd's medical fees. How corny! I am fighting back the urge to email back with "have you not heard of the NHS?"

lol that makes it ok then to package however you darn well like I guess?? We once got the big ELC spaceship just chucked into a polythene bag It is about 2ft high ish!!

Mind you, it made me aware of how I package things. I have posted a few items today and shrouded them in so much bubblewrap, one item ended up in the next price bracket for postage and as I had only left about 16p to cover fees the time I spent sending it, I lost out on most of the price of the item.

I will never get the hang of ebay!

I would leave negative rather than neutral, and give bad marks for 'item as described?' and the P&P rate in the detailed ratings. Yes, jiffy bags cost £1 but they are usually recycled ones or bought in bulk so I bet it didn't really cost the seller £1...

I would possibly leave a positive but state in the feedback that the packaging was inadequate.

You can then mark down on stars for the packaging if you want. It's not a big deal if she is a private seller.

If you are a business seller you only keep the new top rated seller status if you have less than two, 1 or 2 star feedbacks withing 3 months. After that you lose the status and the discount. It can destroy a business and someones livelihood. Just thought it was worth mentioning as your dissapointment with the size of the box of lego isn't really her fault and the p & p price seems quite reasonable.