I received an unAnnounced neutral and neg from a buyer last year. The few issues I've had, the buyers have always contacted me and I sorted everything out for them, so this one took me by surprise. I sent the buyer a message, apologising profusely that they weren't happy with the 2 items and said that they should have contacted me and I would have been more than happy to give them a full refund if they weren't happy. He wasn't just being malicious because the third item he bought he gave me positive with 5 stars.

A few messages went back and forth and he said he wasn't after a refund, but it was establised there were some very fine scratches that he had seen under magnification (??????)! We parted messages on good terms, so I replied to the feedback taking full responsibility and apologised. He replied to my reply saying that everything was sorted and that I was a good seller. I knew eBay wouldn't remove the feedback, so I felt by taking responsibility, other buyers may see it and hopefully think I was trustworthy.

It was my first every neg, and I did let it get to me a bit, but I had to remind myself that it's just a red dot. Buyers still buy. Buyers buy from a lot of sellers with way more negs. All I can do until it drops off in a few months is keep doing what I've always done. The very best I can for my buyers.

I know it's rattling to get a dot that isn't green, but try not to let it get to you. There are no defects for feedback now and being a grey dot, you'll still show as having 100% feedback.