When saying, in another post, that I believe integrity & great customer service is vital; there are some buyers who I believe are scammers. To a degree, I know many sellers feel as though customers hold their feedback and reputation ransom to get away with their deceitful agenda, which is obviously profitting from the seller.
I'm still with no definitive solution in finding a conclusive way to detect these buyers (prior to any lodged complaints), that doesn't invade everyone's right to privacy. Honestly, I don't think eBay and particularly PayPal give sellers (& buyers - PP) enough power, but then I wonder: what more can eBay do? PayPal is another story... They're GREAT & I wouldn't shop without them, but they some rules are nonsensical.
Anyway, I have found myself at the point of literally videotaping the final stages of packing a laptop - IN THE POST OFFICE - so there could be NO claims that I had sent anything faulty, broken, etc. I am an honest person and it has a little to do with the adage: 'treat others as you'd have them treat you', but it has EVERYTHING to do with my self-respect. I have had 2 people buy things from me that, in hindsight, I know for a fact were not broken. How do I know? A brand new tablet computer, that had supposedly been delivered smashed & dead to a buyer of mine, has recently started working again and it has the buyer's details in it! The buyer received another brand new one from me - FOR FREE - a video game as compensation for the inconvenience and I received absolutely NO feedback, a few nasty, threatening messages & a negative bank account for 2 tablets because I was unable to claim the insurance I'd purchased from the post office, because the packaging was thrown out by the buyer! That was the early days on here - NEVER AGAIN!
All I can say is describe your items accurately & act with integrity. Work for the customer as you have promised and as you would most appreciate. Ask yourself, would I find this acceptable - be it the quality of a product, the postage time, the postage cost (don't overcharge!), the customer service, etc.?
I have had 2 negative and 1 neutral feedback comments removed from my account because the statements were absolutely untrue. After investigations, eBay was able to ascertain these comments were either untrue/unwarranted. I am truly grateful to eBay for this. It reassured me that eBay does want to protect the honest ones out there, they just need relevant proof to back your claim - so COVER ALL BASES and listen to your intuition. Maybe it's just me, but from some sellers, to many buyers; an action may seem awry & arouse your suspicion - perhaps THAT'S the item you should post out with Registered Post. Could they strip the item and replace, e.g. a laptop with lessor parts? - Write down serial numbers, take photos, videotape the end stage of packing, etc. It's unrealistic to do this all the time, but wise when something just seems amiss.
Remember, buyers must specify why they are leaving you negative feedback. If their comment is untrue, or doesn't warrant negative feedback, contact eBay with YOUR concern & evidence as to why the comment is undeserved and should be removed! Written defamation or 'libel' is as prohibited here as it is anywhere.
eBay Customer Support & PayPal are also SO helpful in guiding you on what to do next, if you're unsure about a predicament. Also, remember, fraud is illegal! Perhaps you have enough information to pursue things legally and/or criminally?
AAGGHHH!! I could chat forever about these topics... Hope this makes sense to people, lol ๐
