topic Re: Feedback Extortion??? in Selling

Feedback Extortion???

clarry100 — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 09:25:19 GMT

We sent out an item that was a pair to a buyer last week.

Today I get a message from the buyer that says the item showed up and the envelope was badly torn.

And that one of the pair was missing.

In the message they are asking what are we going to do about it?

Then closed by saying "I don't want to leave you bad feedback".

We are happy to send them out a replacement item of course but just don't think they needed to say that in closing. In fact I already said I would send out a replacement item, but haven't heard anything back just yet.

Can a statement like that be considered feedback extortion?

Just in case they do decide to leave us a NEG I think I could have it removed if it could be interpreted that way.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

*sparklz* — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 09:39:52 GMT

There is no harm in trying if neg is left.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

bsal6160 — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 10:12:40 GMT

I dont see it as extortion BECAUSE they dont say they will leave bad feedback unless blah blah blah., just they DONT want to.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

2106greencat — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 10:24:16 GMT

It is a veiled threat, but they are not asking for anything in addition to a replacement, so not extortion.

I have had a buyer in the past that did not receive an item, and they said pretty much the exact same thing at the end of the message

advising me of the delay, annoying coz you know what they are intimating, but deep breath, count to ten and provide you usual customer service,

Re: Feedback Extortion???

harley_babes_hoard — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 10:58:49 GMT

Ebay will not remove it unless the buyer is trying to get extra than what was in the listing. I have tried several times for buyers threats of leaving bad feedback.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

clarry100 — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 11:17:20 GMT

OK. Well maybe they won't see fit to leave a neg as I will be replacing the lost item for them no worries.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

*sparklz* — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 11:21:17 GMT

Have you asked for photos of the damaged packing?

Re: Feedback Extortion???

clarry100 — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 11:53:39 GMT

Yes I did ask for a pic. But haven't heard anyhting back yet.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

clarry100 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 00:50:21 GMT

I got a message back from the buyer.

They said they can't take a picture because her young daughter wanted the "LOVE" stamps from the envelope so she had done even more damage getting the stamps off and then discarded the envelope without even thinking about that. She said that the envelope was badly crushed and torn open on one end where one of the pair had fallen out.

I suspect that the kids may have done something to one of the pair and she is putting up a good story, along with a veiled threat of bad feedback, to get it replaced.

I have no way of knowing for sure so we will simply replace the one and move on.

Cost to us is probably only $2 or so. Just means we end up with ZERO profit on this order that's all.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

robinsonmarineparts — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 06:29:47 GMT

I'm sure alot of us sellers have had that threat, and i tend to look at that buyer in a neg light and it leaves a sour taste in my mouth, but then i think about all the great buyers and great feedbacks we've received and i then realize how sad these scammers are. Unfortunately it's part and parcel of what we do.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

2106greencat — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 07:23:07 GMT

Goes without saying - BBL.

Would like to see the buyer go back to BM store and explain why they can't prove the damage.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

clarry100 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 07:31:21 GMT

Yeah I hear what ya sayin' Greencat.

But if we just dug in and said "suck it up sweetheart" then I'm sure we would wear a big red dot and a couple of very low DSR's.

And that's going to hurt our already depressed sales this month.

So for the cost of $2.00-ish we will just cave in and send out the replacement (already have done actually). It means that this particular sales makes about ZERO profit. So not a loss anyway.

I've recorded a comment on her FB that says "Item arrived damaged and one piece missing. Replaced <date>".

So in future other sellers can see that she has done this before.

I did look thru her FB history (score of 422) and she has no trends or history of giving NEGs so at least that is in her favour I guess.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

2106greencat — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 07:35:37 GMT

Think you have handled it admirably - and maybe they were genuine, sellers need need to 'suck it up' quite a bit on eBay don't they?

While I enjoyed my selling time, I have to admit, I don't miss it all that much, but in saying that, I was fortunate to have had the good buyers (and I believe they are the majority, in the grand scheme of things) so I can't complain.

I did find most of the buyers who had unrealisitic expectations were new, and I do think it would be good policy for all buyers to have had to experience at least one month of selling before they get to jump all over us (sellers).

Re: Feedback Extortion???

bsal6160 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 12:58:44 GMT

let me get this right....you left feeback for buyer stating that you knew it was damaged with a piece missing so you replaced it? Hmmm sorry but that makes you as the seller look bad not the other way around. And as you also stated their fb history doesnt show any trend so (heavens forbid) the buyer might just be telling the truth and not trying to defraud you of $2.00

Re: Feedback Extortion???

chezzy — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:07:29 GMT

Are people so cynical and untrusting of buyers? Implying/wondering if they are making up stories or trying to cover something up?

You know it is actually possible that envelopes can get torn open and items fall out. It has happened to me a couple of times.

Interestingly it is normally when a flimsy envelope is used and it is not reinforced with packing tape etc. You also sometimes hear about envelopes getting caught in the sorting equipment and being torn open. Might be worth considering how item was packed.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

cq_tech — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 14:59:53 GMT

@bsal6160 wrote:
let me get this right....you left feeback for buyer stating that you knew it was damaged with a piece missing so you replaced it? Hmmm sorry but that makes you as the seller look bad not the other way around.

I've just checked Clarry's feedback for others and found that which was left for the buyer in question and there has been no such comment publicly recorded so I'm presuming that what he meant is that he's made a private note for his own records.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

clarry100 — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 20:02:53 GMT

Not sure which buyer you found as this is on our other store ID not this one.

Oh... and the comment is left against the buyer's FB history not on our own.

Re: Feedback Extortion???

cq_tech — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 23:58:53 GMT

My apologies, clarry. Seems I wrongly assumed it must have been the 422 FB buyer for whom you left feedback on 20/3.

Clearly I'm not at my best at 2 o'clock in the morning... 😞