Dear eBay Queen:
My husband and I started a business selling broken items for parts. We sell phones, TV’s and other electronics. We have over 85,000 feedback, and I really feel like we’ve had everything happen to us, until this buyer. We’ve had our fair share of buyers that say they didn’t read the description well, and didn’t know they were purchasing an item for parts. A couple of weeks ago I woke up to this message:
“I just received confirmation that you sent the item! Are you dumb? I asked you not to send me that broken phone! Refund my order NOW!”
I respond and tell them I never received a message from them that they did not want their item. They respond with this:
“Well, isn’t that fantastic? Just give me my money back, or I and all my friends will be buying more of your cheap broken crap and leaving you a negative for each item we buy. I’ve opened a not as described case against you. I hope you choke on it.“
I immediately call eBay and they confirmed that this was feedback extortion, but I don’t think I should have to refund this guy’s money because of the way they are treating me. eBay said that because I have a refund policy I should accept the refund. I messaged the buyer and told them that I would be enforcing my return policy, and that when the item was returned I would refund their money less the restocking fee. I received this back:
“I don’t care what your policy is. You will give me my money back and I will be happy or you’ll be sorry. This has not been a positive experience for me. I think you deserve at least 5 negatives for this experience. I’ve looked at the crap you sell, and you sell some cheap items. You need to respond to me quickly, because I will be acting on my urges to give you the negatives. I’ve spoke to my partner about you, and she has set aside some money for us to purchase from you and then we will be hitting your feedback blitz! Your feedback will be affected, I promise you that. “
I called eBay once again, and they told me not to respond. The eBay rep told me to just wait for this buyer to send the item back. The buyer sent me another message.
“What now you are not going to message me? I look forward to teaching you a lesson. I have sent you a money request through PayPal. You need to send me my money back. I’m not going to send you this broken phone until you do. I don’t want to hear about how I need to send it back, or you restock fee. I just want my money you con artist! I believe in karma, and the secret. My partner and I are sending you bad vibes. We are believing that you will be receiving bad reviews.”
eBay has told me I just need to wait it out. What do you think?
Rene
Dear Rene:
I’ve had a few buyers that have made similar promises, and just like eBay has told you wait for the buyer to make good on their threats. Once they do that, eBay will take action.
Just in case, I would call eBay again and tell them this buyer opened a not as described case, and point out that the item IS as described, they just did not read the description. Maybe, eBay might close the case for buyer’s remorse. If that doesn’t happen, and they don’t send the item back within 30 days, contact eBay and they will close the case that the buyer opened in your favor. Once that is done no feedback will be able to be left. If you haven’t done so already make sure that you block the buyer.
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