Look, I wasn't going to talk specifics about this and this is the only clarification I am going to give. I bid and won three auctions and the items were send in one package. Two had minor problems that should have been declared and one was not what was described at all. I contacted the seller and pointed the faults out. I was not interested in exchanges and refunds and two of the items were not too bad, so I said I would keep the items despite the problems. I got a cursory reply, in which the seller said he didn't pay much attention to the description of cheap items. That is what tipped the scales. I was once a seller and I was shocked at this comment. Ebay absolutely relies on accurate description for all items - it was auction and they could have fetched any price.
So, (1) All three items had problems that were omitted from the description, (2) one item just wasn't what it was proported to be, (3) the seller admitted that his description on low cost items is cursory. Fair enough but expect a neutral comment for a lacklustre performance.
Did I email and say "I am giving you neutral feedback"..... no. The transaction was lacklustre and nothing he could do would erase that initial comment "I don't pay much attention to the description of cheap items."
In many years of ebay I have given less than positive once - this time. Would I do it again? I don't know - it has been unpleasant. Either way I should not be threatened with any sanctions, mass barring, and other stuff I won't go into. If this intimidation happens often I think ebay feedback may have become like the Emporer's New Clothes - no one is game to say it like it really is.
BTW - thank you to the hundreds of great sellers I have dealt with over the years. This is a once of and most people I deal with are friendly, efficient, and accurate in descriptions. I think the seller has done whatever retributions he vowed and we will see if I can continue to trade. It is better to suffer inconvenience than bullies.
