Unwarranted neg feedback

[cactusfever01]

Hi, a couple of questions.

1. How do I reply to negative feedback?

2. I sold an item. Listed the postage cost, as you do. The buyer won the item, received it and then left neg feedback about the cost of the postage. In the same neg feedback, they complained that the item was sent to the wrong address.....they obviously received the item!

3. Is there any way I can have this feedback removed due to unwarranted response?

There was no email to discuss their concerns, just straight to the negative feedback!

I pride myself on my 100% pos and this has now marred my perfect trade name.

Any help appreciated.

Cheers.

[***super_nova***]

By your theory it will be OK for eBay to force sellers into free post so they can charge fees on a service they don't provide.  Give us a break.

I certainly hope that eBay will not start charging FVF on the postage cost, but it is exactly people like the OP who are avoiding eBay fees, who may very well be the reason for eBay to introduce that. 

By the way it is not a theory that people who overcharge on postage are avoiding fees; that is a simple fact, and that is why it is reportable.

Sorry Syrupy, i did miss the last bit about no email 🙂

But i think the buyer left the NEG mainly because the parcel went to a "wrong" address.  Of-course, unless the OP comes back and tells us where they got the address from we will not know who is at fault. 

[gec2002]

Why not, because I would be concerned about the possibility of only getting $1 back in a dispute.  However if I did buy I wouldn't be leaving a neg for excess postage because you told me thats how much it would be and I entered in to the contract fully knowing what the cost would be. 

How would you like it if I bought an item of you with free post for $301 and left a neg because I know the wholesale cost of the item is only $200 so you ripped me off.  The only difference its easy to see what postal costs are but not wholesale costs.

eBay have no way of knowing what the postal costs are to an individual, it is reportable because they want to gouge every cent they can.  Do you believe in the US were postage is included in the FVF that eBay will never increase fees again - I dont think so.

[putney32]

eBays survey to PowerSellers this week was about paying fvf on total invoice including postage!!!!

so yes, only a matter of months before it's introduced here

they have had it in the US for over a year now

[danemoderne]

The title of this post is the "unwarranted negative feedback" so I have myself opted to concentrate on that. It is unwarranted for couple of reasons:

1) The postage of $10.00 was clearly stated in the listing. If you are not happy with the charges simply don't bid, or ask prior to bidding if the charge is accurate and if there is a possibility of getting it cheaper. If the answer is no, simply don't bid.
2) According to the seller they never had an opportunity to explain the actual postal charges being lower then the amount charged. Also the negative feedback is no longer based on the actual item in question - book, but postal charges.
So is the buyer happy with the book, or was the seller selling the postage here?
Sellers have little, or no rights on eBay and it takes 2 to tango. Negative feedback is a tool that should be used very carefully and only when it is warranted and justified. Otherwise it speaks and reflects badly on both the seller and the buyer.

[***super_nova***]

Why not, because I would be concerned about the possibility of only getting $1 back in a dispute.

In PP dispute they refund full payment postage included, so that argument does not stack.

In any case, I only charge the actual postage on most of my items; if I decide to pay the insurance I do not charge the buyer for it.  I also cover the cost of packaging materials; if I can I use recycled boxes and bubble wrap, but I also have boxes I have paid for, as well as large roll of bubble wrap.  My FVF take huge chunk out of my profit.

So, excuse me, if I am not happy to see people who tripple their postage costs, to reduce their FVFs.

[wilzencomp]

OK as a seller the postage in Australia is a mine field, as you can never get the same costings for posting a parcel within Australia example I had two exact parcels same size same weight going to the same post code just different addresses the 1st parcel cost $6.20  went in an hour later with the second parcel $10.20 a difference of $4 , so as a seller more often than not you are having to over quote your postage by some margin due to Australia post Staff that ultimately are the final postage price barrier, so you are damned if you do and if you don't.

So now I use the pre-priced ebay 500g and 3kg bags as they're a set price and if I am sending something that doesn't fit the 3kg bag it goes into a B4 box which is a set price too and make sure that the postage is show clearly on the ebay listing and offer cheaper postage for other item they may buy,

I have found that to be more effective than pulling my hair out and spending time arguing over a mere few dollars.

So I guess what I am trying say is not rocket science  in business you can only satisfy some of the people most of the time and none of all the people all the time!.

If you get 1 or 2 negative feedback in 500 transactions you will be well on your way to doing the right thing by your customers.

Also most buyers today are more savvy now and are not going to buy from you if you are charging more than you should be they know and are quick to let you know it too.

[licoricebabyandfabmama]

Parcel rates and packaging and everything else aside I thought  the poster clearly statet he charged 10 dollars for postage and sent the package as a large letter with stamps.     So the excess money was for his time to get to the post office.    The bottom line is any buyer would be upset if they thought they were paying 10 bux for postage and shipping and it came as a letter with stamps.   

Considering most people use the lowest price+postage search option,  maybe it would have been better to incorporate the extra cost into the item price,  or to list the item with free shipping.