Dear eBay Queen:

I need help! I have a customer that is down-right mean! This customer from hell purchased one of my hand made baby blankets. I’ve been making and selling these on eBay, Etsy and Amazon for the last couple of years. I do sell new housewares to supplement my little craft business. I received the following message from my buyer:

I received my baby blanket. It is a lovely weave, but it is not new. I don’t even believe you made it! The blanket has some issues. There is food splatter on it, and it isn’t exactly 36×36, it’s 36.25 x 36. What do you plan on doing about this?

I responded to her:

Could you send me a photo of the food splatter? I did indeed make this, and it does say approximately 36×36 in my listing. I make these and place them in a Tyvek/plastic shipping bag. They are never around food.

She responds:

No I can’t send a photo, I’ve washed the blanket! Just give me my money back, and I’ll send it back to you. I can’t believe with all the problems you’ve caused me, and with that perfect feedback, you’d demand me to send it back.

I responded back:

I don’t want you to be unhappy with your item – it truly is my pattern, and my work. It is hand made. Usually in a situation like this, I would offer a full refund once the item is sent back. Since you washed the item, and now cannot send me a photo of your complaint I do not know what to do. I’ve read the feedback you’ve left for other sellers, and I feel compelled to tell you that eBay might not be the place for you to buy. You seem to have an issue with every seller you purchase from, and they are all similar. It seems there is food, blood, dirt etc on every item you buy. I’m sorry you are unhappy, but in order for me to refund your money, you’ll need to send it back in its unused condition. Since you’ve washed the item, it’s been used.

She responds:

You obviously don’t have the sense God gave a 4 year old. If you’ve seen my feedback you know what’s going to happen to you. PLUS just for you I’m opening up a PayPal case and an eBay case. You’ll get 2 defects and with my negative feedback I’m giving it will be 3. This is how I will single handedly get rid of all of the bad sellers on eBay. So this is your last chance. Are you going to give me my money back or not?

I didn’t respond to her message, and she has opened a case with eBay, but not one with PayPal yet. I have called eBay and they told me it was my choice to do whatever I wanted. Really? What do you think I should do?

The Worst Seller Ever.

Dear Worst:

Your buyer is a bit wacko, “she is going to single handled get rid of bad sellers?” That just leaves me shaking my head.

I checked out your blankets, and read your return policy. I really think your baby blankets and afghans are cute, and reasonably priced. I don’t believe for a second that you sold a blanket with food splatter on it, based on the feedback this woman leaves, which unbelievably, she has said in 12 negative and 8 positive that there was “food spatter” on an item. I’ve been selling and buying for 18 years and have never had that complaint. It is obvious to me she is trying to get something for nothing. I hope when you call eBay that they will see that too.

Your return policy is 30 days. It doesn’t say that the items have to be returned in the same condition or with the tags attached. I don’t know if you will win the Not As Described case because of this. Here’s what I think I would do. I would send a message to the case and say, “I would be happy to refund your money if the item is returned in its unwashed unused condition with my tags attached.” I would then call eBay and ask them if they think her messages are feedback extortion. If they say YES, make sure you get that person’s name and note the time you spoke with them. I would also ask what you should do about the case. If they do not offer any other help, I would wait for the buyer to respond. If she doesn’t respond within 24 hours, I would call eBay again to ask if you have any other options other than accepting the return since your buyer has washed/altered the item. If they do not offer to close the return in you favor, I would accept the return, and wait to get the item back.

If your buyer does not send it back in the 7 day time period call eBay and have the case closed. If they send it back and there is something wrong with it, I would call eBay. I don’t think they will do anything, but you will at least have it on record what she did. The last thing I would do is report this buyer. Report them for feedback extortion; report them for inappropriate returns, and seller abuse.   If she does leave the negative call into eBay to have it removed.

Strange eBay Item of the Week: Item #: 221923581696. Over Christmas break, my family has done several puzzles. We’re kind of addicted. I thought it’d be neat to see what puzzles are going for on eBay. While you can find a wide range of prices, this spectacular puzzle was the most expensive!  Ravensburger 17837 New York City Jigsaw Puzzle 32000 Piece NEW Free Shipping SOLD: $1019.00