Hello Folks. Could I ask, how I go about querying the removal of my (very valid) buyer's feedback?

[anyadvanceon50]

Hi everyone,

A couple of months back, I bought a pair of webcams from a guy here in the UK.

To cut a long story short, one of these devices was faulty - and I returned it to him.

We are both eBay members with 100% feedback - and I think there is a certain way to behave, when you are considered a 'Top eBayer'.

If someone contacts you with a genuine issue, you don't insult them - and you do your best to help.

I might be 'old skool' or naive in thinking this.

The transaction was complete - and eventually, I got a refund.

I was asked (as we all are, as buyers) to rate my experience.

I was unhappy overall, so I thought long and hard - before unfortunately, giving a negative review.

The deal was done and the matter closed, at least until I discovered that my feedback had been deleted - and I had received an email from the seller: gloating about the removal, listing the reasons why it had occurred and launching a very personal attack on my character.

In the simplest sense, I would like to know why there was a need to remove the feedback which informs other members, of this seller's actions.

In the wider context (if the seller's reasons are to be believed), this is discrimination and it is prejudice.

Thanks for reading folks..

I'm happy to elaborate on any questions / points,

Sincerely,

Gods (Real name ) 

[gindygoo]

Aha, eBay disallow any mention of a case of refund in feedback comments. You really should read up on the rules that eBay impose on feedback comments as there's things that aren't allowed, that you'd usually be able to say in fb on other selling platforms.

Also eBay seemingly remove feedback if requested for no discernable reason at all. It sucks but it's how it is these days 😢

[anyadvanceon50]

Thanks for the response.

I spoke with someone for a fair bit, last week.

She confirmed to me that the feedback shouldn't have been removed - and apologised to me.

Of course, they wouldn't say who did it or when it was done.

When reporting the seller, they said that his comments would be considered - along with all of our correspondence, because they are apparently, trying to stop this kind of behaviour..

If you believe that.

In terms of refunds mentioned in feedback, i've seen it personally numerous times.
Giving a refund is not a taboo or a bad thing, if it is justified.

What has happened, is that this seller wants to protect his 100% score, despite (completely unintentionally, I accept) selling me a faulty product.

I took issue with the way he acted.

So even after all of the lies, insults and the admission of the fault by the seller, it was still easier for ebay to preserve the status quo - and protect his score, but "reassure" me that they would conduct a "thorough investigation".

It's common practice:

You invent a reporting process that has to adhere to privacy, GDPR or any other alias - and then you can claim to have investigated... But you never have to reveal your findings - if indeed there was ever any investigation, carried out.

The imposed rules are like moving goalposts - and can be changed overnight, by their webmaster.

The fact that i've heard many differing opinions on feedback removal, illustrates that the 'rules' are not common knowledge.

I apparently, am lucky to have gotten a response to my complaint, as a lot appear to have been ignored - and because they have not given me a definitive reason, why my feedback was removed - it adds to the seller's prejudice claims, in the disgraceful message he sent me afterwards.

We're now at the stage, where people would say: "if you don't like it, you can vote with your feet", but I actually like using ebay - and so in addition, why would I leave, because of this one guy.

We'll have to see what happens, but the verdict really is (you'll see with a bit of searching) that the site has gone downhill.

In my situation, the hate speech from a 'Top Rated' seller on a professional marketplace platform, is not on...

This isn't Twitter.

[rusticrye]

Ebay will only remove feedback if it breaches the rules or the law in some way. This is the case on every public feedback or forum space, not just here.  If you can remember exactly what you wrote, word for word, someone will be able to explain where you went wrong. Alternatively, you can check out the feedback rules for yourself in the Help pages with their integral seach (links at top and foot of any page).

@anyadvanceon50 

[anyadvanceon50]

Thanks for your response, @rusticrye.

I've just looked through some notes to see if I had the foresight, to grab a screenshot of the feedback - but alas, it looks like I didn't.

Having posted on the odd forum, I know about the golden rules - and wouldn't have posted anything illegal or inappropriate, as this would just invite removal.

Because of the character limit on feedback, my style is to post short bullet-point-type remarks.
It would have been nothing that was untrue.

I think that eBay only removing feedback in the cases you describe above, is the 'official answer', but I have every reason to suspect that feedback is also removed in other cases - that effectively suit.. well eBay.

My skepticism is increased further, when I note the many number of people (online), who are asking the same questions as me - and are largely being ignored.

This is also the reason why, i'm not inspired to approach the complaints process - for more textbook, scripted answers.

Before the last communications from the seller, I believed that eBay would have sided with him - as he obviously sells a great deal more than me, and that means more money, for them.

However, i've seen that there are a lot of disgruntled (regular) sellers who have lost their faith and trust in eBay, also.

I only just recently discovered, that sellers can ONLY leave positive feedback for a buyer (not very useful if you encounter a so-called 'scammer') and the following thread, brought to light the concerns of sellers in general:

https://community.ebay.co.uk/t5/Archive-Seller-Central/SHAME-ON-YOU-EBAY-Have-you-removed-buyer-feed...


I'm not a scammer, as my feedback history will attest.

I like to do things properly - and very rarely give negative feedback.

On this occasion however, I feel it was warranted.

I'd like to think that the rules can be made to work for everyone.

It can't be that hard, can it?

[Anonymous]

AFAIK Ebay removed all negative feedback from top sellers during lockdown.

[anyadvanceon50]

So I happened to find the feedback - hidden under my own profile, rather than posted on his.

It read.. 'Item Faulty. Seller Denied. Fault Proven. Unit Returned. Had To Chase Full Refund!'

Is this the sort of thing that would be disallowed, despite being 100% factual?

Thanks, interested to hear your thoughts.

[john1297576]

It would have been something you said and seller was aware that it could be removed if they complained. Always best if leaving a Negative to keep it brief "Unsatisfactory Transaction" says it all and no reason for removal.

Very poor behaviour by a "Top Rated Seller" but ebay removed the ability to report this sort of thing, their usual answer when they can't cope.

[anyadvanceon50]

Exactly, John..

My thoughts are that eBay listened to the person screaming the loudest, at the time.

He got his way, and sent me that message in celebration.

Because of the character limit on feedback, my style is to post short bullet-point-type remarks.
It would have been nothing that was untrue.

Doing otherwise, just invites removal.

Of course, the term 'Unsatisfactory Transaction', does little to inform another buyer, of the issues.

Before the last communications from the seller, I believed that eBay would have sided with him - as he obviously sells a great deal more than me, and that means more money, for them.

However, i've seen that there are a lot of disgruntled (regular) sellers who have lost their faith and trust in eBay, also.

Thanks for the reply.

[anyadvanceon50]

So I happened to find the feedback - hidden under my own profile, rather than posted on his.

It read.. 'Item Faulty. Seller Denied. Fault Proven. Unit Returned. Had To Chase Full Refund!'

Is this the sort of thing that would be disallowed, despite being 100% factual?

Thanks.