eBay

dagr8_renaud · ‎05-24-2008

Hi all this is my first post here , I hope it will be of some use

I shipped an item to a buyer's confirmed address ( really fast as usual ) and the buyer messages me 4 days later asking me to ship to his 'alternate address' ... After letting him know the item was shipped already , he tells me he doesn' t live there anymore and that hopefully the package will be returned to me so that I can reship .. 3 or 4 weeks later ( a few days after the new policies started how fortunate...) that buyer leaves me a negative feedback saying I sent the item to the wrong address , but truth is that was his mistake even his eBay address was not updated .. So, I just got my first negative feedback .
After reaching him he says if I reship the item to him he will remove his feedback , truth is eBay doesn't allow that either .

this item was worth 40 $ so I sent it regular ( shipping to the US with tracking is at least 20 $ ) , so now because I have no proof of shipment he will probably win his paypal dispute as well...

Not only this User has over 6 negative feedback but those feedback were all received in the last 6 month ...

I would almost qualify these policies an insult to eBay Seller , and especially to us Power Seller . the fact that I am not 100 % anymore is frustrating but the fact that I do NOT deserve this negative feedback is even worst.

I just hope we can all get together and write something to eBay so they give the Power Seller more control over this, because it has become way to easy for buyer to ruin Sellers feedback . I truly wish we stand together on this and let eBay know we are serious , if this happened to me it could and will happen to many others .

If I am violating any policies with this post or if I posted in the wrong section I apologize

bmcaps · ‎05-24-2008

i concurr!!! it's really unfortunate for sellers like us, who tries to do our very best to maintain ebay as safe and friendly environment for both buyers and sellers. but this new policy totally protects buyers only. for sellers, like us, who tries our very best to protect our feedback rating, such policy is just NOT FAIR!! where in fact, ebay should extend the courtesy to sellers, due to the main fact that ebay is maknig money from us, sellers, not buyers!! all fees are generated from sellers, never from buyers. for this reason alone, sellers should get some protection so to speak!!! if there are bad sellers out there, there are also BAD BUYERS lurking around!!

dipmicro · ‎05-24-2008

I think eBay mediation policies need update.

Your case is quite clear but since you have no proof of shipment, PayPal will take buyer's side.

In mediation by court, the judge would very likely acknowledge your point. It's 99% logical, that you shipped to the address that was provided and you should not be responsible for validity of this address.

Here is a thought:

Ship empty box to buyer's new address. Your cost is just shipping and box. Give this proof to buyer.

If all PayPal requires is the proof of shipment, give it to them.

It's a bad bad policy. If they want to play mediator, they should either do it right or not at all.

Just my 2c.

dipmicro · ‎05-24-2008

Before anyone starts sending empty boxes (which would be a fraud), I was just trying to show that PayPal with their simplified policies (a tracking is a proof of shipment) does not actually have real mediation capacity because they can easily favour a fraudster. I am they are allowed to mediate financial transaction without any resemblance of investigation.

lina-mallows · ‎05-25-2008

If the BUYER through leaving POSITIVE FB- acknowledges that the item has been received (as in our case) WHY???? can't anyone at eBay/PayPal understand that the BUYER has the item- instead of closing the dispute- and issuing them a FULL refund?

Isn't the BUYER'S FB good enough to prove they have the item?

dagr8_renaud · ‎05-25-2008

Than you both for your support .

as I am well aware Paypal' s mediation policies are not logical

My focus is on eBay feedback system witch doesn't recognize any credits to the seller by refusing to take actions in feedback policies . Truth is one day or another these policies will change , a buyer should be able to make his case when rating a seller , not punish a seller for there own mistake. My buyer is still messaging me saying he will remove his feedback if I do this or that , he still doesn't understand eBay does NO allow feedback removal at all , this is also ridiculous .

There is no reason for such behavior , I mean if eBay will not police the feedback , they should let users take care of there own action right now all they are doing is enabling th buyer to express its frustration in many ways i.e DSR , Neg Feedback and Neutral Feedback .

I read in some other post here someone saying that it is normal for someone to rate a seller not the other way around , I am sorry but I never had this opportunity in my whole life I was not able to let the public be aware of my concern about any stores or seller except of course on eBay .. if eBay gives the buyer a right why would the seller not given the same one , in this case its even worst the seller has been stripped of his rights , even if he is the highest possible standard of seller on eBay , witch is Power Seller .. that needs to change . Lets all do something about it .

lina-mallows · ‎05-25-2008

dagr8_renaud - I took a look at the (-) FB you received.

According to eBay Policy for: "Feedback Abuse"
You will find the following:
Feedback comments containing any of the following are not permitted:
References to eBay or PayPal investigations

Now- maybe I am missing something- but the feedback clearly includes
"have claim with paypal"

So- maybe I am off base here- but isn't this a reference to a PayPal investigation?

It may well be worth a try simply asking eBay to REMOVE the (-) feedback as it violates eBay's FEEDBACK ABUSE Policy.

What can it hurt- what's the worst they can say- "NO!"?

cottonwoodindustries · ‎05-25-2008

do you have all the correspondence from this buyer send it to eBay, it is a clear violation of eBay policy when a buyer is commenting about getting the - removed if you bend to his wishes. Also check out their -s, they always used the same line, why not get the seller time to make it right before you leave a -, guess they don't use the same standard when dealing with a seller as a buyer.

dipmicro · ‎05-25-2008

Yes, the buyer is extorting the second shipment by feedback.

I am adding this guy to my BBL. eBay should make the small button in the feedback page for quick add to the BBL so when someone shares a story here, thousands of sellers reading this board can block the buyer. That'd teach them.

lina-mallows · ‎05-26-2008

dipmicro- I agree that there is something wrong with the buyer- but I cannot agree that this is FEEDBACK EXTORTION.

It's the threat of LEAVING NEGATIVE FB, demanding something not previously agreed upon, that makes it extortion.

How can it be extortion if the feedback has already been left?

Making additional demands after leaving FB I don't think is at all what is covered.

dagr8_renaud · ‎05-26-2008

Hey , all thanks for the ideas , I did try all this before posting here the first time ..

The person that replied to me after I used all the options I had told me : ' believe me I looked at it every way possible, there is nothing that cant be done to have his feedback removed ' ...

I guess she was implying that if possible in anyways she would have ..
what can we do start an online petition ? like that is gonna change anything ...

In my honest opinion eBay will realize they did something wrong and fix it .. Especially that DSR rating I gave shipping under my cost during almost 8 weeks to make sure my shipping and handling charges would get back over 4.5 , I still have users rating me 4 starts .. so I am still stucked at 4.4 while all my others are 4.8
I read in another thread someone did give free shipping for a whole month and ended up with ppl still not giving the 5 stars rating.. Of course nothing is ever perfect so why would ppl rate 5 stars unless they understand exactly what it means , and since a buyer doesn't have dsr or negative feedback he doesn't care ...

eBay PLEASE WAKE UP !!!