Seller's negative feedback removed if I receive a refund? (Item faulty/ not as described)

[stu_531]

I recently purchased a 2nd hand video game, a somewhat rare one with a value of £70, that was described as in Very Good condition (which I doubled checked, eBay defines this as "No damage to the jewel case or item cover, no scuffs, scratches, cracks, or holes.") and "In perfect working order" by the seller, the listing only had a couple of photos but as it was an auction item I decided to take a chance

If a listing only has a couple of photos taken in not ideal lighting conditions, I don't always see this as inherently trying to hide something, my eBay experience has been that most sellers just don't seem to understand the importance of having multiple, clear photos of the item you're selling, and I know I'm always protected by the fact that eBay holds them responsible for pointing point out any damage or defects, even if they choose not to...

When the item arrived there was damage (multiple crumpled, dented parts on the artwork sleeve) and a portion of yellow staining, the case was grimy, and the disc was badly scratched enough that my PS2, which actually is in "perfect working order", couldn't even recognise that there was a disc in the drive...

I know that I'm entitled to a full refund and can easily get eBay involved to get the return postage covered also, but from what I've been reading on the forums (luckily it's been a while since I've had to return an item under these circumstances), the seller would have my negative feedback, along with the photos proving they lied about the condition, removed from their profile once the case is resolved and I'm refunded...

Don't get me wrong, I sell on here also, and so am no fan of eBay making it easy to abuse the feedback system, but this was not an honest mistake, this was someone purposely hiding condition defects and then sending out a damaged/ faulty item, one that had a fairly significant value -- so why exactly should they get away with not having that conduct highlighted to future buyers simply because eBay forced them to give me a refund?

As both a seller and a buyer, I really feel it's important that buyers are warned away from potentially dodgy (or just lazy and uncaring) sellers like this: so is there a way I can get my money back but also do the community a favour by ensuring my negative feedback with photos stays on this seller's feedback page?

The money is almost a secondary issue, the main thing is that this seller listed and sent out an item they knew was in poor condition, but lied about/ tried to hide that, and either lied about the fact, or just didn't bother to check whether, it was faulty beforehand.

TL;DR -- I received an item both faulty and not as described, but I have read that if I open a case to get a refund then eBay will remove my negative feedback after I'm refunded, which I'm reluctant to do because dishonest sellers like this deserve every negative feedback they get: is there any way I can get a refund whilst ensuring my negative feedback remains on their profile?

Thanks in advance

[m25jet]

@stu_531 wrote:

I know that I'm entitled to a full refund and can easily get eBay involved to get the return postage covered also, but from what I've been reading on the forums (luckily it's been a while since I've had to return an item under these circumstances), the seller would have my negative feedback, along with the photos proving they lied about the condition, removed from their profile once the case is resolved and I'm refunded...

As both a seller and a buyer, I really feel it's important that buyers are warned away from potentially dodgy (or just lazy and uncaring) sellers like this: so is there a way I can get my money back but also do the community a favour by ensuring my negative feedback with photos stays on this seller's feedback page?

If you want to leave negative feedback to warn other potential buyers about this seller's bad selling practices, and you want to ensure that your feedback does not end up getting removed by eBay at the seller's request, then hold off of leaving feedback for the moment.  Try to resolve the problem with the seller via the case, and if the seller fails to resolve your problem, whether it's by sending a replacement item that works properly, or by issuing you with a total refund, then escalate the case to eBay so that they can step in and sort the matter out.  If you have to escalate the case to eBay in order to get them to force the seller into refunding your money, then when you leave negative feedback for the seller there is far less chance that your feedback will end up being removed by eBay should the seller ask them to do so, especially if you ensure that your comments are truthful, accurate and do not breach any of eBay's feedback policies as to what you can and cannot say in feedback.

[stu_531]

Thanks for your response 🙂 this sort of falls in line with what I'd assumed (hence I've not yet given feedback), my only question is: if this seller does end up resolving my issue before I have to open a case with eBay, for example by issuing a total refund, does that not then effectively "cancel" my order and deny me the option to leave feedback anyway?

[sml192]

Cancelling an order or being refunded doesn't prevent you from leaving feedback unless the order is cancelled for non payment.