Having been a seller on ebay for over a decade, I always deal with buyers patiently and politely. In fact almost always goign beyond the call of duty, and am thanked regularly by buyers for this. Something ebay reps have even noted and vocalsed.
However just rrcently I have had to deal with a buyer unlike any previously but even here I have kept my composure and politeness up until the last message.
Prior to the sale the buyer had sent a whoel host of questions even general advice and I had (as always) diligantly and quickly responded and adressed everything. After helping him with everything he then suggested another selers item was cheaper (even though the item was marignally cheaper and an inferior specification clearly). I informed him I cannot price match that but he is welcome to purchase that if the spec is suitable. However he goes ahead and purchases mine.
As soon as he recieves it, without any contact he immeidately sends a very strong message and a returns is opened stating the item is (and im re-wording it politely) used rubbish. I of course take a look at it and reply back professionally and do re-assure that it can be returned for any reason and a pre paid returns label is provided. I also indicate that there is an error on my part as the listing should have indicated that the external case / chassis can be used/refurb but the ineternals are new and thats on us, apoogies. He then replies and says thats great, and that he is satisfied with that and has no intention of leaving any negative or anything now.
However on return I find he has intentionally or out of no care, left out the internal packing and iterlly dumped the PC into the box. So it arrives literally in pieces, and I ahve to contact ebay not just because of this but the fact the label was purcahsed through ebay and thus they will deal with the transit damage.
The moment I do this, and ebay puts case on hold in order to sort out the damage and gets pics from me etc. He immeidately goes into full blown angry mode, leaving the defamatory feedback accusing me of intentionally trying to rip him off and denying him a refund etc. And then begins a torrent of verbal abuse, threats, accusations. I informed ebay and they suggested to message him and politely explain that its ebay process that ebay has to put it on hold and he has already got a refund for it. He does not cae and begins more abusive messages and accuses me of going to ebay without informing him. I indicated that I have been goign through a very tought time that week as y father had a stroke (heart attack) and I have literally only had barely enough time to deal with this and nothing else. He then takes the biscuit and replies to me taunting me about my father having a stroke and goes onto say its probabyly due to me ! And rounds it off with 'enjoy the feedback smiley face'.
I informed ebay about this and given it was all via messaging, I had them see it all and they verified what the buyer had done and that he had retaliated with feedback due to ebay putting case on hold as well. They also stated I had been extremely professonal and curtious through out and followed ebay procedure. However not only is he still on ebay they said they cant do anything about the feedback even with the above.
For the first time I feel so strongly about soemthing I told them I cannot let this go espcially after the verbal ause and more so the heartless way he spoke about the near death of my father and accused me of it. And requested they provide me with a compaints procedure, which they said ok to. However several days on I have had nothing and not sure how to proceed with this.
Is there any advice anyone has with regards to how to pursue such a matter please. Be it through ebay, and intermediary, or legally / authorities,
Thank you ! 🙏
