Buyers need protection from some Sellers!

[hudhud55]

I recently had my worst buying experience ever on ebay and wrote an honest negative feedback outlining my experience with a seller which wasn't offensive, abusive or unfair but without being notified it had been removed by ebay because the seller had requested removal (I only found out by contacting ebay for an explanation - I had already spoken to an ebay agent to complain about this seller's treatment of me and later reported this seller). Apparently a seller has a right to request removal of a negative feedback if they have refunded the buyer (which they did after weeks of delaying tactics and excuses and even then only refunded half what I'd paid so ebay had to refund the other half). Can this be morally right (no wonder this seller has such a high positive feedback percentage)? Has anyone else had this kind of experience? How can buyers protect other buyers from such tactics if negative feedbacks are removed?

[*guinevere*]

Without knowing what you wrote in the feedback it's impossible to suggest why the feedback was removed. Certain words like mentioning ebay disputes, cases and using profanities are definitely removable.

From what you say it sounds like you may not have opened a case, but just asked for a refund, correct me if I'm wrong.

If you had opened a case the seller would have sent a return label and you would have returned the item. Seller would have been given 48 hours to refund before you could have escalated your case to ebay. 

I believe sellers can ask for feedback removal if they have dealt with a case and buyer has been refunded, also some business sellers are allowed to give a part refund if the returned item is in a different condition to how it was sold.

[red_magpie]

I'm not sure whether you realise this, but you leave a lot more negative and neutral feedbacks than most other buyers. Do you really need to leave poor feedback when items arrive a day late (delivery times are only estimated) or seem "a bit pricy" (you knew the price when you bid)?

Do give your sellers a break and set the bar a bit higher before leaving them bad feedback. Don't forget that if you leave feedback for what may seem to be trivial or unfair reasons other sellers can block you from bidding. I certainly would.

[hudhud55]

Thank you for your informative response. As my feedback was removed on the Seller's request the account of my experience is going to be one-sided but my feedback contained no obscenities or profanities  - only honest facts describing events. In brief, I was sold an item that wasn't fit for purpose and not as described (in itself a breach of the Trades Description Act). I declined a replacement or partial refund (the Seller suggesting I could give this faulty product to someone else!) and opted for a full refund which the Seller eventually agreed to after countless delaying tactics on the grounds of "technical difficulties". After over a month of messaging between us I received half a refund (the reason given was that it would take longer to process a full refund due to these supposed technical difficulties  - which made no sense at all to me). Having warned him that I'd be reporting him to eBay several times I finally did and eBay refunded the other half (but later discovered that my feedback had been removed but that I could post my experience on this Community platform - which I've done as my only way of alerting other Buyers).

I've been a member for over 20 years now and this experience has left a bitter taste in my mouth as I don't like the idea of Sellers behaving in bad faith (especially when I rarely give negative feedback and only do so when pushed to an extreme as I know they're trying to make a living  - but not at the cost of betraying Buyer trust).

Thanks again for responding. 

[hudhud55]

Not backed up by the facts so check again as you've got the wrong Buyer (I've never bidded in my life!)! All the best. 

[*guinevere*]

If you had opened a Not as Described case as explained above, you could have claimed a full refund instead of sending to and fro messages for weeks. It would have been done and dusted within 3 days.

If ever this happens again use the ebay MBG link on every listing.

[papso22]

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@hudhud55 wrote:

Not backed up by the facts so check again as you've got the wrong Buyer (I've never bidded in my life!)! All the best. 

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I can see all the bad feedback you have left.   Whether it was an auction or buy it now makes no difference to the fact that you have left this feedback.

[hudhud55]

Many thanks  - that's very useful to know.