Buyers who use Negative Feedback to get products for free!

[celticstudio]

Perhaps this has only happened to us but it seems that there are a few buyers who use the slightest issue to threaten Negative feedback. I have a buyer bought a small cross which was sent promptly and in perfect condition. Our picture showed it antiqued (so the picture would show up well) When we sent it they contacted us and said that it was not antiqued. We immediately told the buyer that we would send another one immediately and asked them to return the other one. Thye said that it was to much trouble. The upshot is that they wish to have a second one sent and keep the first one as well or they would give negative feedback. We have 100% feedback and losing it is a big threat to us. What should we do? It seems that there are buyers out there that look for the slightest reason to threaten negative feedback to get free merchandise. I like the feedback system but how can you protect yourself from unscrupulous buyers who use it as a weapon to get free merchandise. They usually have positive feedback because they do not leave feedback at all even if you do and if you leave negative feedback they punish you with the same... it does not matter to them because they are not running a business. It seems that feedback is more than a double edged sword in the hands of those who wish to use it as a threat to get something for nothing! Comments please! has this happened to you?

[cartoonsinabox]

We have had similar situation happen to us with a US buyer.After offering a replacement or refund she did not want to return original item even if we offered to pay for the shipping. To make story short we never heard from this person again and she never left any negative feedback.

I say stand your ground and send a polite email(very important) indicating that you can not offer to send a second item for free. But you do offer a replacement at no additional cost.

Hope this can help you.

Frederic

[treasure-pot]

Immediately report the email (send it with headers) to eBay as they take a dim view of feedback extortion. The buyer will get a knuckle rap or, possibly, suspension if they are guilty of employing this tactic before.

I know that your 100% feedback is important to you but you cannot allow a scammer to dictate to you. I have also run into this a few times and assure you, as Frederic says, standing your ground is your best way to deal with it.

Good Luck,

Bill treasure-pot

[katiusciav]

i'm sure others here will agree that you CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT give in to buyer's unreasonable threats-this will only encourage their behaviour in the future, and you shouldn't do what's wrong to save yourself a negetive...you can only do what is acceptable. i hope you haven't left feedback yet...if he ends up giving you a negetive, give him one right back and then hopefully the two of you will have it removed mutually down the road.
its not just you-i've heard of other sellers complain of the same thing...
i decided two months ago or so to ALWAYS leave feedback AFTER they've left their feedback. well, i don't know what happened about three weeks ago, i had a BRAND NEW ebayer bid on one of my products and i must have accidentally left feedback right away. well, a week and a half later, i get a dispute from him claiming he didn't receive..he lives in the states..and it was sent small packet air-GGGGGRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAT!!
i replied to the claim and stated i needed to wait 30 days before opening a claim with canada post, provided proof of shipping..etc..etc...
ps...he never contacted me once regarding this.
this morning, i wake up to a nice negetive...always a great way to start your day...still...no contact from him. i emailed him politely and professionally, offering a refund, if he does accept it, he'll have to remove my negetive first.

i agree that the feedback system, although for the most part favourable, is flawed in some areas, and i assume will always be, as it will never be perfect.

i think we all get burned by the occasional bad/paranoid/defensive/unreasonable buyers...

good luck to you, and i'm sorry for the unfortunate circumstances...

[whoscloset]

Take the neg. Sometimes it is worth it. Really, you don't need 100%...it just encourages this behavior.
Monique

Himalayan Salt Lamps - A Guide to Purchasing

[recped]

If it happened to me I would simply reply like Clint!

"Go on punk, make my day"
"What else could I do? I had no trade so I became a peddler" - Lazarus Greenberg 1915
- answering Trolls is voluntary, my policy is not to participate.

[duujogl]

celtic, I know that with 340 feedbacks it feels like the end of the world to get an undeserved negative - your first one feels like that at any time and any level! But I see you have a lot of repeat business which tells your buyers that you have a lot of happy customers and that you must be trustworthy.

I suggest you do as Bill (treasure-pot) says, send a report to eBay and, if the buyer negs you, you'll have the chance to respond to the neg with the facts.

Glenda

[nxtdriver]

I have only been in this situation once where the buyer threatened to leave me neg fb for some pissy thing. I don't even remember why now thats how petty it was. I told him his reason for leaving me a neg fb is ridiculous and that a neg would hurt my fb less than it would his. No more emails from him after that!!