VENT: eBay Sellers.

[Daniel W.]

I'm pissed. I used to think that "the customer is always right" but the recent experience has put me in an attitude I can't even describe in appropriate words.

I ordered a set of three cling-screen protectors for the new centro last weekend, and they arrived in a standard letter envelope. The instructions were printed on a slip of paper (low ink, hard to read) and a some of it had rubbed off onto the plastic protector. One was bent due to the thin shipping material. Now the one I have attached has a distortion in the plastic making my screen hard to read.

I'll admit, I made a mistake by leaving negative feedback promptly before properly resolving the issue. But it's the responses from the seller that leave me feeling like there is no worth in online buying anymore. eBay now require you to complete a few steps to leave anything but positive feedback, it seems a bit dumb but I guess it saves the sellers some trouble and it makes sense.

I sent off a message to the seller bluntly pointing out the issues with the product. I've paid for the product, there's no need for me to feign kindness. I was blunt and to the point.

1 of my screens was bent in the letter envelope. Also, the instructions were very difficult to read (bad print) and the toner from the page had rubbed off on two of the screens. There are distortions in the plastic that make parts of the viewing blurry and does not cover the entire screen. I don't see how they can be reused, as per your description.

Reply: Why would you not contact me with your issue prior to leaving your nasty feedback? SATISFACTION GUARANTEED means if you don't like it, you don't pay. You left your feedback so now I have no reason to fix your issue or address your problem. Try working it out with the seller next time, newbie. You will get a lot farther. Thanks for giving me the chance to fix the mistake before you permenantly tarnished my record. Happy holidays

Okay, I understand the seller may be peeved, I made a mistake - I'm human. I don't really appreciate being called a newbie and the sarcasm. Although, there's no reason to be childish, I fired off a reply.

Thank you for your prompt response, if there is a way to rectify the issue I am more than willing to work with you in a mature manner. On a purely business minded level though, calling your customers names and being (what seems to sound) rude is no way to earn repeat business. I see you have other items for sale that I was interested in, howeve If you did not intend to express the negative attitude, I apologize for misunderstanding you.

Thank you for understanding.

Reply: Sorry, you left feedback before I could help you. The transaction is finished.
(a few hours later)
I would have liked to have the opportunity to fix your issue BEFORE you left a permanent comment on my feedback profile. Since buyers who do not know me will look at that comment, it seriously hinders my ability to do business in this forum. I would have gladly fixed any problem or if you preferred, I would have issued a refund. That is why when you go to leave feedback, before you enter it, it CLEARLY states to try to resolve your issue with the seller BEFORE leaving feedback. You didn't do that. You ignored that suggestion all together so that you could vent at my expense. I would have loved to have you as a customer. I do not want your business at this time. I have blocked you from bidding on our auctions in the future. The mature way to handle this would have been the right way in the first place. I am sorry but this bridge was burned by you, not me. Let me as you something, when you buy something and do not like it, do you return to the store you bought it from and address your issues there or do you just call the Better Business Bureau immediately and complain? What you did is equivalent to the latter. Of course my attitude is negative, your comment is going to influence buyers which takes money out of my family's mouth. I would have fixed your problem. Now what motivation do I have? My goodness, all this over a couple of bucks.

I've made a mistake by being prompt with the feedback, I understand that and admit that but someone tell me if I've been raised wrong, but for a business owner to be rude to the customer... well shucks. If they don't want my business, that's fine. But honestly?

And if I'm wrong, someone by all means tell me, I'd love to hear that I'm not insane for being offended.

[PIC]

Ebay is American Scam.
Scam is America on Ebay.

[easyrider1]

you were wrong by not giving the seller a chance to remedy the situation. you fired off a negative feedback in haste. the customer is NOT always right and if the customer is right the customer should give a chance for the seller to make it right. if the seller won't make it right, go after him with a vengence. you are wrong and know it . now man up!

[directmk]

take your lumps and move on...

[Daniel W.]

Thanks guys for letting me get it out of my system. It's not like a big dollar loss I guess, moving on then.

[ElanR]

Dan, your actions were both wrong and not smart. That negative feedback was your one major leverage over the Seller and you wasted it. Not that I think it was needed anyway. Most sellers take very good care of their customers. Btw, did the guy have perfect feedback prior to what you left? It's a matter of great pride for many ebay Sellers and kind of cruel to erase over a minor issue like this.

Originally Posted by PIC

Ebay is American Scam.
Scam is America on Ebay.

What is your problem anyway PIC? Of the little I've seen of you here, I can't recall a single positive comment. Are you just one of those bitter people that likes to spread the misery? Even if you're not, that's how you come across.

[Daniel W.]

Thanks Elan, I didn't quite understand it (and thanks for putting it in kind words, not so used to that).

[Howard Barlow]

I pretty much agree with the seller.

[maskale]

You are in the wrong, but I am not beating you up over it. I completly understand where you are coming from. I have been there, and have almost done the same.

I have two examples I will give you.

First I dont remember the item but it was poorly packaged and damaged, I was pissed because the seller made no effort to package the item. I went to leave a negative when I saw that you have to contact the seller first. So I did, "Hey ebay says I have to contact you before leaving neg. feedback." I sent the message and left neg. FB.

Why? To protect other buyers and make the seller start doing things right or find another way to make a living.

Second happend lastnight. I bought a 24 monitor, the seller put it in a box, put some air bags in the front and back with nothing protecting the sides, top or bottom. The monitor was able to move around in the box and the bezel that goes around the screen that also holds the bottons in popped off half way around the monitor. I was able to pop the bezel back in place and it works, but I know that monitor has still taken a pretty good hit to make it pop off.

Personally I want to leave a neg, because the transaction was not a positive one for me and other buyers should be aware of that. I am a power seller with 100% because I do things right, so I expect the same from others.


Even under the old system I left several negs knowing I would get neg in return as retaliation, but I still left what I thought was fair. There is no excuse for a seller not doing something right, and when they clearly just put the item in a box and ship it then they dont deserve a second chance.

[Truckman]

I've never bought or sold anything on Ebay (I look a lot though) so I'm just asking the question: Can't you go back and edit your feedback if the problem is resolved?...Or, failing that, can't somebody at Ebay do it for you if you request it?...Ben

[maskale]

ebay wont remove or edit it no matter what, unless it violates their rules, ie. profanity

if both seller and buyer agree to remove it then it can be removed. The comment will still show, but the affect that the feedback has on the overall seller/buyer rating will not be there. once left it cannot be edited, but you can leave a comment in reponse to FB you have left or recieved.

[ngoduyviet]

Originally Posted by Howard Barlow

I pretty much agree with the seller.

Agree, and I think a few bucks is not worth getting yourself all upset.

I personally know a lot of good sellers that sell hundreds of items a day for a living. A lot of them have their reputation hammered by buyers that were upset over little things, although they were more than willing to work it out with these buyers. Her/his reply with you was perfectly inline with what I think was a reasonable to what you did.

[Tom]

I also agree with the seller. Tell them that you will remove the feeback if they will work with you and admit you are a newbie and acted in haste. Otherwise, it is lost money.

[Daniel W.]

The seller requested a feedback change and I more than obliged, along with an apology note:

Hi there,

I have revised feedback. In speaking with a few friends (a number of which do have eBay sales as their main source of income), I admit was foolish in the manner I handled the situation. I apologize for the premature and inappropriate actions I took. I am sorry for any stress I may have caused concerning the ordeal.

Thanks again for understanding.

[ElanR]

Good going Dan. That's the right way to end this.