I bought a part for a dishwasher (I'm big on environment)  from a seller. The seller took 9 days to take the item to the post office (it was not that it took 9 days to arrive, he lodged it only 9 days after the day he was supposed to lodge). It arrived much later.

My initial query (as it was to have arrived in 3 days) was not answered.

I sent subsequent queries asking if he'd posted and he didn't respond.

After several messages, his response was "I was overseas" (presumably China)..... Then I asked him how he managed to skip isolation requirements if he'd just returned..... after a few more emails, and having been caught lying he became very abusive.

I left a negative feedback (the first negative in 10 years I might add), for his rude attitude, which I mentioned in the feedback. None of my messages violated any eBay policies, but his did.

After a few days, he left a dishonest feedback response. After a few more days, I found that eBay had removed my feedback but let his feedback response stand. 

Question: How can buyers trust eBay feedback when true feedback that is well within the eBay policies is removed?

I contacted eBay and they said that due to "Covid 19" they were giving sellers a chance in respect of postage delays (although the delay was not in the postage, but with the seller lodging the item). I said the feedback had been as the seller had been quite rude and after going through the messages they agreed. Not being vidictive I asked if they could remove his feedback response which they did.

However, I am really disgusted by eBay removing an honest feedback which would serve as a warning to future buyers.