eBay protecting lying and abusive sellers

[blackboss290]

After having been away for some time, I was tempted back to eBay by some low pricing.

I know, I know - Pay peanuts - you get Monkeys.

I have now learned my lesson.

I had a situation recently with a seller who made a promise regarding the status (use by date) of an item they were selling to convince me to purchase an extra one as part of an offer.

I agreed on the basis of the longer use by dates the seller promised to send me despite the low dates in the product description.

The seller then proceeded to send me 2 items with use by dates shorter than those they promised anyway!

When I raised this with the seller, they refused to refund unless I committed to not providing negative feedback.

This is feedback extortion, so I refused and the seller responded with a number of abusive messages, so raised a complaint with eBay.

Initially, eBay were great, and assisted me to obtain an appropriate partial refund, and I provided some truthful and measured feedback simply stating that the seller delivered items with a shorter use by date than promised and that I wouldn't recommend them.

They then responded with more abusive direct messages, and responded to the feedback with more abusive language.

Again I raised my concerns with eBay and their response was pretty disappointing. (But not surprising).

They removed my negative feedback along with the abusive feedback the seller left and haven't blocked the seller from sending me abusive messages. (Is there a way I can do this myself).

The seller has effectively protected their feedback status and got away without any consequences.

They clearly have done this before as they gloated in one of their nasty messages about getting eBay to remove negative feedback.

I know this is not a new phenomenon, and no doubt is normal behaviour, so this thread is not asking for, or offering any advice, just a reminder that eBay feedback doesn't really mean anything and is not a useful guide to protect buyers from errant sellers.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of sellers that do the right thing end up being effectively indistinguishable from those that don't so trading on this platform is just pot luck.

Sorry, maybe just one little piece of advice:

P.S. The cheapest option is rarely the best. 

Good luck everyone. 🙂

[padi*0409 · Accepted solution]

eBay will sometimes reinstate feedback that they've removed if you have grounds to show it was fair and honest. Go to the link below and scroll to the bottom for contact options.

Ask to speak to a supervisor as soon as you are able to, if the first CS person won't put it back try again with a different supervisor.

https://www.ebay.com.au/help/buying/leaving-feedback-sellers/handling-feedback-disputes-sellers?id=4...

[blackboss290 · Accepted solution]

Thanks padi*0409, I will give that a try.

[padi*0409 · Accepted solution]

Happy to help, I hope it works out for you. Make sure the supervisor is aware of the emails the seller sent you, it'll help your case for reinstatement of the neg.

[blackboss290 · Accepted solution]

I have done as you suggested and after investigating further I have been advised that my feedback will be re-instated and that they have reported the seller for further investigation. It’s in their hands now.

[padi*0409 · Accepted solution]

It'll be interesting to see how long it takes them to reinstate it. I'm not sure why they couldn't have done it straight away though.

[*sons_and_daughters* · Accepted solution]

It's now Thursday night and feedback still hasn't been reinstated. I wouldn't be holding my breath for it to happen now.

[gutterpunkz05 · Accepted solution]

But surely anything CS says is gospel.................

[gutterpunkz05]

Ebay does not offer or issue partial refunds, so it would appear you have accepted a one off offer from the seller, to  resolve your issues.   So in my opinion it is pretty poor form to then leave -FB.

Given you are not actually entitled to anything that is not stipulated in the listing, and that your issue was resolved by the seller with your consent, then the matter should be settled in the sellers favour.

Where  a dispute is settled in the sellers favour, they are entitled to have any FB  - / +  removed.

As far as abusive messages go, you are entitled to report them,  ebay has ready access, as all messages between members are routed via ebay

[blackboss290]

I never said that eBay offered or issued a partial refund. I said they assisted me to obtain an appropriate partial refund. There is a difference. The seller initially responded to my enquiry as to why they sent items with shorter use by dates than they promised by being rude and abusive. They then only offered the partial refund on the condition that I do not post negative feedback. This is feedback extortion and against eBay policy so I reported it to eBay. EBay investigated the message exchange and facilitated the partial refund and advised me that I was free to provide appropriate negative feedback, which I did..

[gutterpunkz05]

Ebay do not facilitate partial refunds, they give sellers 3 days to resolve an issue with the buyer before they step in, you accepted the sellers solution but then leave -FB , as stated poor form. Yes you can leave -FB and obviously the seller was entitled to have it removed

[blackboss290]

Sorry gutterpunkz05, but you are incorrect. The seller and I came to an agreement regarding a partial refund, which the seller subsequently made conditional on feedback and refused to process. I referred them to eBay for Feedback extortion and eBay intervened, checked the message exchange, and immediately facilitated the partial refund DESPITE the sellers refusal. The seller was not happy with this outcome and continued to send abusive messages. As per the suggestion by padi*0409 I contacted eBay again and they have confirmed that my feedback was appropriate should not have been removed. Let’s see if they re-instate it. Either way, -ve behaviour deserves -ve feedback and as long as the feedback is genuine and verifiable, sellers (and buyers) that behave poorly should be held accountable.

[gutterpunkz05]

Will be interesting to see if -FB is reinstated. As for the partial refund, ebay only deals with full refund and you would be required to return the item. any partial refund is purely between you and the seller

[blackboss290]

Again, you are incorrect.

[blackboss290]

After the seller became irrational and abusive, eBay support DID actually facilitate a partial refund in real time. See an excerpt from the chat with names removed : 03:02:28 UTC This way I will credit this refund straight away for you on this chat. 03:03:11 UTC blackboss290 Hi, They are continuing to send messages. Can you read them please as this is getting out of control. 03:05:35 UTC please do not worry as I can see the seller is not fulfilling their original promise; hence, I am looking for an instant resolution for you. Please allow 1-2 minutes for the same. 03:06:20 UTC blackboss290 Thank You. Their messages are very nasty now and I would like to report them. Please review. 03:07:57 UTC Here is the resolution for you. As I am delighted to share that I have now closed the case in your favour with a partial refund of $31.99. The refund will reflect back in your payment source within the next 3-5 business days. 03:08:24 UTC blackboss290 Thank You. Can I safely ignore their messages now? 03:08:41 UTC blackboss290 Even better if there is a way i can block them? 03:08:49 UTC Furthermore, you are free to leave any feedback of your choice for this transaction as this is your right and we encourage buyer to leave feedbacks, so that other users on site can also see the clearity of transaction with a seller.