Honest Seller"Stuck with UNDESERVED,UNWARRENTED"NEGATIVE FeedBack*BEWARE*

[brookreflections]

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

[joz*garage]

according to listing the item sold for $1, you listed it as free postage, and the buyer paid, seems legit

but, i dont get this bit tho, what did the buyer do wrong here, was it an off ebay order?...

ordered goods to the value of $120 without paying.

[putney32]

I am not surprised you got a neg on that listing, in fact I am surprised eBay have not shut down your shop for such a misleading, and fee avoiding listing.

eBays rules expressly forbid the listing of 'no item' listings

[brookreflections]

Sorry - No you obviously misunderstand- I pay full fees for all my listings- No way do I intend not too- the buyer had chosen + asked to purchase a mixed pack for $120 - The $1 free postage token was merely put there so they could then select $120 worth of goods from my store  or purchase a nursery mix. I pay all the due fees accordingly & would not even contemplate doing other wise.

[brookreflections]

Yes, they placed another order for $120 nursery mix as well as purchasing the $1 free postage token.

Lots of people have done this + very happy- never had problem before.

[joz*garage]

if $120 is the price of the item to what ever color selection the buyer wants, $120 should be on the start price of the auction or the "BIN" price of the listing.

i'm not surprised you received negative feedback for the transaction too, it was probably bound to happen, as Lyndel says and i agree.. the listing is misleading and the description is not clear. 

[brookreflections]

Note;

Customers ask for lots plants via email- so I add a listings in my store for them so fees can be deducted accordingly. They can easily check out that way + correct fees are taken for the orders.

I also sell nursery mixes listed at $120 including free postage.Popular mix for those who can't decide what to buy. I add these to my listings by request + fees are paid on the advertised price.

The $1 listing was just for a postage token to be used with an agreed order.

I find a lot of newbies don't understand the system + try to buy via email. I find this an ideal way to ensure correct fees are applied.

Happy selling

[colic2bullsgirlore]

From the site map selling policy link

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/policies/listing-no-item.html

Not allowed

Listings that have no physical item for sale


http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/policies/misleading-titles.html

If a seller lists an auction simply as “Apple iPod”, the seller must be selling an actual Apple iPod – not accessories to an Apple iPod – or items related to or unrelated to an Apple iPod.

[crichtonscraftgwen]

That is the weirdest listing I have ever seen.  It clearly says pay $1 and free express posting yet you expect the buyer to pay $120 - and you say you are paying the right eBay fees. 

[motherbear2003]

I actually find your listing rather confusing - sorry:|