Dear Sellers- I just felt I should share my story with you in hopes that none of you succumb to anything similar as this virtual blackmail situation. Just when you thought you had seller protection on eBay?.. The fact is you don't really, there is a nasty hole in the system that has left me very open & vulnerable as a seller with no protection + exposed to an ongoing black mail type situations.
Recently a buyer purchased an item from me + after only paying only one dollar, ordered goods to the value of $120 without paying.It became obvious after sending polite reminders they had no intention to pay but still expected me to send the items- after a couple of weeks- Still No payment- no goods sent, they applied Negative feedback saying "NOT GOT"[Wow man so polite as well] & then my 6 years of hard 7 day week yakka as an Aussie battler- Crashed.My reputation permanently tarnished. I could not even return the Neg feedback.Buyer refused to revoke the feedback, still expecting the goods for free. Ebay could do nothing despite numerous emails Devastating.
Totally unwarranted negative feedback has only drawn the attention to others of just what they can get away with. Give an inch of generosity and there are always a dubious character out there waiting to jump on the bandwagon for a freebie.
Straight after the negative feedback was added over 400 people read my offending innocent listing for 'free postage' in one day out of curiosity inadvertently at the same time educating innocent buyers as to how to get freebies.
It is not hard to understand why many sellers succumb to giving away their valuable goods when buyers threaten them with feedback in this way. Even worse, offer to remove negative feedback in return for goods.
I do pride myself in honesty + very much value the same from my customers. Most of my buyers + many returning buyers are fantastic people. I do feel sorry that these good honest people have been exposed to & have had a lesson in such evil dishonest manipulative behavior.
For many it is merely sickening but for others a great lesson, interesting 'Food for thought'& merely a confirmation that 'Yes' they CAN still get away with it and even better let of Scott free! - No negative feedback, no unpaid item strikes - Nothing whatsoever to loose- only gain.
Unfortunately the teaching continues feeding the world.
Please don't let this happen to you.
Take care
Kind regards Deb
