Demystify: Ebay feedback

[Muse]

I've done eBay for many years, have 111 feedbacks, 100% rating. Several years ago I had a very nasty experience with the feedback system. I won several auctions (don't remember if they were Buy It Now) involving used DVD movies. The seller represented them as Mint IIRC and a few of them were anything but and I believe a couple of them were so messed up they wouldn't play in my DVD player, they had major scratches on them, evidently caused by some kind of "cleaning" system. I left the seller less than stellar feedback. The seller retaliated by leaving me negative feedback on all my purchases, not just the ones I had problems with, which were the only ones I left him bad feedback (I don't remember if I left neutral or negative feedback). The seller not only left me as many negative feedbacks as he could, he left messages in all caps basically saying I was the DEVIL and all sellers should avoid me like the plague! This was upsetting, I contacted eBay, etc. The outcome was eventually a retraction of the negative feedback by both parties (the only way I could get my negative feedbacks erased, so he had me over a barrel), however the damning messages had to remain, by eBay policy.

Now, I think I heard that eBay feedback policies have changed but I don't know how. As it was, I figured I better not leave bad feedback if I wanted to avoid retaliation, even unreasonable retaliation. EBay had told me that they would not reverse or erase or whatever even untrue feedback at that time. How's it work today?

The reason I ask is I ordered an item from an evidently high volume seller a week ago today. We are both in California and I figured I would have received the item by now. It's probably coming by USPS. I realize I bought on a Sunday and Monday was a holiday and Tuesday's the first day the seller could have sent it, but figure I should have received it by Saturday. There's no tracking info, I sent the seller a message, no answer yet. In my feedback I could say the delivery was slow, but I don't want him to leave me negative feedback. How's the system work now? Is feedback on eBay a total sham?

 

[kranky]

You are expecting too much to think you should have your item Saturday. Ebay is not retail. If a seller doesn't ship when they say they will, that's one thing. If they don't state when they will ship, allow a couple weeks to receive it. Most people ship quickly, but you can't expect it.

Sellers cannot leave negative or neutral feedback for buyers any more.

 

[janas19]

Geez. I use Ebay, I could see this happening, and know how much I would hate it.

I don't know EBay's feedback policy, how they implement it, whether a policy is truly enforceable through the walls of Internet anonyminity or just legal cover for Ebay - you get the point.

The sure lesson I could draw from this is be very careful when leaving negative feedback to a high volume seller lol. I mean that's basically what it seems the problem is. I don't see how Ebay could crack down on this myself.

Just speculating here, anyone with hard facts?

 

[Howard]

The lesson to learn here is to buy with an account with little feedback.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Wow that whole OP could easily have been condensed into one small paragraph. I don't understand why some people are so verbose about such mundane shit.

 

[JSt0rm]

a week isnt a long time. If its a low dollar item dont expect a response.

 

[coloumb]

Never leave negative feedback unless you're willing to accept negative feedback in return.

If the seller has a lot of the same type of feedback [in your case - delayed shipping] - then just mention briefly how long it took for the item to arrive after payment was sent.

Since it was shipped by USPS without tracking - it literally could take weeks to arrive [that's why I always ship with some form of tracking and will offer proof of shipment [receipt] if necessary].

 

[Muse]

You are expecting too much to think you should have your item Saturday. Ebay is not retail. If a seller doesn't ship when they say they will, that's one thing. If they don't state when they will ship, allow a couple weeks to receive it. Most people ship quickly, but you can't expect it.

Sellers cannot leave negative or neutral feedback for buyers any more.

Thanks, you're right, I'll just be patient. Good to know I can't get hosed for leaving other than positive feedback. I'm not in the habit of doing that.

 

[Muse]

Wow that whole OP could easily have been condensed into one small paragraph. I don't understand why some people are so verbose about such mundane shit.

You're right, I can be wordy. Sorry.

 

[janas19]

You are expecting too much to think you should have your item Saturday. Ebay is not retail. If a seller doesn't ship when they say they will, that's one thing. If they don't state when they will ship, allow a couple weeks to receive it. Most people ship quickly, but you can't expect it.

Sellers cannot leave negative or neutral feedback for buyers any more.

+1

 

[JSt0rm]

This brings to my mind the golden rule

Fast. Cheap. Good. Pick 2

 

[Newbian]

Do what others have done...sue the person that left you these feedbacks.

 

[WHAMPOM]

I've done eBay for many years, have 111 feedbacks, 100% rating. Several years ago I had a very nasty experience with the feedback system. I won several auctions (don't remember if they were Buy It Now) involving used DVD movies. The seller represented them as Mint IIRC and a few of them were anything but and I believe a couple of them were so messed up they wouldn't play in my DVD player, they had major scratches on them, evidently caused by some kind of "cleaning" system. I left the seller less than stellar feedback. The seller retaliated by leaving me negative feedback on all my purchases, not just the ones I had problems with, which were the only ones I left him bad feedback (I don't remember if I left neutral or negative feedback). The seller not only left me as many negative feedbacks as he could, he left messages in all caps basically saying I was the DEVIL and all sellers should avoid me like the plague! This was upsetting, I contacted eBay, etc. The outcome was eventually a retraction of the negative feedback by both parties (the only way I could get my negative feedbacks erased, so he had me over a barrel), however the damning messages had to remain, by eBay policy.

Now, I think I heard that eBay feedback policies have changed but I don't know how. As it was, I figured I better not leave bad feedback if I wanted to avoid retaliation, even unreasonable retaliation. EBay had told me that they would not reverse or erase or whatever even untrue feedback at that time. How's it work today?

The reason I ask is I ordered an item from an evidently high volume seller a week ago today. We are both in California and I figured I would have received the item by now. It's probably coming by USPS. I realize I bought on a Sunday and Monday was a holiday and Tuesday's the first day the seller could have sent it, but figure I should have received it by Saturday. There's no tracking info, I sent the seller a message, no answer yet. In my feedback I could say the delivery was slow, but I don't want him to leave me negative feedback. How's the system work now? Is feedback on eBay a total sham?

OK, sellers can no longer leave negative feedback.

 

[chowderhead]

OK, sellers can no longer leave negative feedback.

this. Ebay should have removed the negative from your feedback since it included an inflammatory word. I wouldn't worry anyway if you are a buyer since there is nothing really a seller can do to prevent you from purchasing. Just use one account for buying and one account if you sell. Feedback only matters to sellers and now sellers can only leave positive feedback anyway.

 

[notposting]

Also...once they hand it over to the shipping company it's out of their hands.

Beginning of December I shipped two packages from the Detroit area to the U.P., one to my mom (Nook Color in medium flat rate box) and an Xbox 360 in a big ass box to a friend of mine. Delivery locations about 30 miles apart...both around 600 mile drives from here. Shipped on Tuesday, expected delivery Thursday (I knew better than that) his came in Friday, despite being farther and more rural. Hers showed up the following Tuesday. Sweet job on the Priority Mail, USPS. WTF.

So don't blame the seller...hell check the label and see if it shows any info, if they got it out by Wednesday I would call it good enough.

 

[Muse]

This brings to my mind the golden rule

Fast. Cheap. Good. Pick 2

Hmmm... well in this case I may only get one = Cheap. That's one reason I've been impatient, I want to see what I'm getting. Fast is something I'm pretty used to off ebay, it's just the way things have been working out. I figured this guy in CA, I'd probably have it 4 days ago.

 

[Muse]

Do what others have done...sue the person that left you these feedbacks.

You're being facetious?

 

[Muse]

OK, sellers can no longer leave negative feedback.

Good to know, that's something they really needed to do.

- Once Burned Twice Shy (and the main reason I started this thread, I needed to find that out)

Edit: I just looked over what appears to be all my feedback, going back to 1999. I don't see the nasty feedback that seller left me. Wonder what happened to it.

 

[Muse]

this. Ebay should have removed the negative from your feedback since it included an inflammatory word. I wouldn't worry anyway if you are a buyer since there is nothing really a seller can do to prevent you from purchasing. Just use one account for buying and one account if you sell. Feedback only matters to sellers and now sellers can only leave positive feedback anyway.

I didn't know you could do that. Does Ebay just let you set up multiple accounts or do you have to work it?

 

[DaWhim]

I learned my lesson earlier on. have always separated buying and selling account.

 

[Muse]

I learned my lesson earlier on. have always separated buying and selling account.

You can have two different accounts with the same email address?

 

[HumblePie]

I had an issue like this back in the day and it was the reason I stopped using ebay. Retaliatory feedback from a seller that didn't give me what I purchased and lied about the auction. I had my paypal account suspended and everything. Basically I bought an "expensive" Breitling watch. Turned out to be a bad Russian fake. I was pissed for how much I spent for a $10 POS. I asked for my money back and got negative feedback. Had to do a chargeback to get my money back. Eventually I had to prove to paypal with an notarized affidavit appraisal of the fake watch and send it in to get my account unlocked. Ebay wouldn't do jack for the retaliatory feedback though until they changed their policy on sellers leaving negative feedback against buyers who paid for items.

As of now at least, if you are a buyer only on ebay you won't get negative feedback if you actually just bid and then pay if you win.

 

[Muse]

HumblePie, that seller should have been banned from ebay. That's unconscionable.
- - - -
As far as not paying, I've always paid for the items I've bid on and won, and always within a day, 95% of the time immediately.

I've left only one negative feedback, IIRC, and I got royally burned. Once burned twice shy, but I might have to leave at least a neutral for this guy if I don't get it by Jan. 18. His page says receipt should be between Jan. 4 and Jan. 18. I bought on Jan. 1 and I'm halfway to Jan. 18th now.

Edit: Checking my email just now I see the seller has contacted me and says they had problems in their systems and inadvertently neglected to fulfill orders:
- - -

I apologize for the delay. Due
to a glitch in our systems, many of our orders were not imported to our
order processing system and your order was not shipped as expected. We were
unaware of this glitch until recently. I am extremely sorry about this. I
am here to inform you that your package has been dispatched
(2012-01-09).

Package was sent via United States Postal Service. You can
check the status of your shipment by visiting www.usps.com and using their
"track and confirm" Service.
- - -

I suppose I'll get it Wednesday (i.e. in 2 days). It's a good thing I contacted the seller and asked them what happened to the order, why I didn't get tracking into or receive it. Things like that would alert them that they had a problem.
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