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Does eBay consider this to be feedback extortion?
I have a message from a buyer (on my other ID)
She is complaining that the item is not as described and seems extremely unhappy with it. (I've sold over 100 of these and everyone else is extremely delighted with it.)
This is part of her message
" ....I haven't left a review as I don't like giving public negative feedback as would rather contact you direct...."
Does eBay consider this to be feedback extortion?
8 comments
red_magpie
Mentor3 weeks ago · EditedOf course it's feedback extortion, it's just "Give me a refund or I will leave you negative feedback" dressed up in other words. As to whether eBay would regard it as such, only eBay knows. I would report it anyway.
The absurdity is that it isn't necessary to threaten bad feedback to get a refund. If they open a case under eBay's money back guarantee eBay will support them, regardless of how many other buyers have been happy with the same item.
Don't be talked into cancelling the sale. Just ask her to open a case, and refund through the case. It's possible that this buyer is a serial abuser of the money back guarantee and doesn't want eBay to restrict her account because of the number of cases she has opened.
pejjy333
OP3 weeks agoI asked her to open a returns case and she's just done that, claiming it’s a completely different item - even though her original message says she “can’t stand it” and will have to give it away.
If she’s genuinely given it away, then she clearly has no intention of returning it. More likely she’ll now claim she’s “unable” to send it back, while still keeping the item. And honestly, if it were truly as awful as she says, I can’t imagine why she’d pass it on to a friend… unless she really dislikes them.
At this point I’ll just admit defeat and issue the refund and trust that karma will catch up with her soon.
If she still leaves negative feedback, I'll report her for feedback extortion and try to get the feedback removed.
tommystrezures
Mentor3 weeks agoDOn't refund until you receive the item back.
tommystrezures
Mentor3 weeks agoAt this stage that isn't if the message had read something like "I will leave you a negative if you don't give me a full refund" then matters would be different.
Personally I prefer that a buyer comes to you first to see if the matter can be resolved as opposed to just leaving a neutral or negative feedback, with out any prior communication.
tressygirl
Mentor3 weeks agoGood point and the message did not read ' I will leave you a negative if you don't give me a full refund. I read it that way too, the way it was written, doesn't smack of feedback extortion.
john1297576
Mentor3 weeks ago · EditedReport it, but do not expect miracles.
If she had left negative feedback, then it might be grounds for removal.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/help/sr?query=threat+of+negative+feedback&origin=1&aiSummary=true
tressygirl
Mentor3 weeks agoNo, I don't think they would view that message that way.
It's hard to please all the people all of the time, you will always find a disgruntled one! Personally, I would send an apologetic message ( yes, I know, through gritted teeth), that you are sorry they found it not up to standard and to open a case for item not as described to start a full refund.
Then, block them from returning to your sales.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/bmgt/BuyerBlock?
@pejjy333
pejjy333
OP3 weeks agoI blocked her immediately after reading her original message. I have a knee-jerk reflex whenever I get any indication that a buyer could be trouble.