Replying to a buyers negative feedback

[redboxercrazy]

Basically, I sold an item but when I went to package it up I couldn't find it. I have a feeling that it had ended up in a bag of similar items from a previous sale.

I messaged the buyer apologising,  cancelled the sale and refunded.

Understandably the buyer was unhappy and left negative feedback

"Seller didnt get price they wanted and cancelled. Do not trust"

Would you reply to this feedback and how?

I'm just a private seller who's trying to clear out the loft.

[plum993]

You could try apologising again, and send the buyer a feedback revision request to change the feedback, but they can decline the request. This won't affect the option for you to leave a follow up feedback however. See this link Replying to feedback you received for an item you sold | eBay

The may watch your listings to see if you relist the item at a higher price 

[red_magpie]

You can try a response along the lines of what you have told us. Remember that you're not replying in person to your buyer, but to explain what happened to other buyers.

Your seller probably won't believe it was thrown away anyway. These Nesquik Bunny figures have been selling recently for double or in one case treble the price it sold for. The fact is that when items don't reach the price the seller wanted, many do make excuses that they were lost or broken. Unfortunately buyers tend to tar all sellers with the same brush.