Negative/Neutral feedback left without contacting the seller first

[hillarymarks]

Recently, I've had four buyers leave me negative or neutral feedback without contacting me to discuss the problems they had first.

This has not happened to me before in several years of trading. Has anyone else noticed this happening or have I just been unlucky?

On a related point, I've found eBay increasingly reluctant to delete unfair negative feedback and comments, even when the buyer was clearly being unreasonable. Again, is it something they are tightening up on?

Thanks for the help

[arkwebus]

Buyers certainly do not have to "contact" sellers before leaving feedback or opening a case.  That said I see nothing wrong with any of your descriptions and - unlike some sellers - you do not try to exclude buyers' rights and [as a business seller must] you offer returns for any reason

EBay has  seemingly tightened up its proceedures in that a seller has only 3 business days to settle a case as opposed to 8.  The negative puzzles me somewhat.  The buyer should simply have opened a "not as described" case.  There is no requirement for him to send photos for example.  You immediately send a label and refund when it returns.

We can only now see 1 neutral and 1 negative.  If you can - even now - sort out buyers' problems you can send a feedback revision request to the buyer.  EBay will usually only remove feedback that breaches their rules.  Mention of "eBay" "case" "refund" and so on + things like "con man" "Thief" or worse!

@hillarymarks