First Negative Shock Denial Tears OMG what a feeling

[CarrieinCanada]

I got my first negative weekend. I’ve been on eBay since Dec 2000 but focused on selling about a year and half ago. So I was stunned. Particularly because there was no message, no concerns and then bam.

I did write the buyer. No response.
Called ebay they advised responding to feedback.
I managed that professionally.
Called ebay back and they suggested I phone. I dont feel comfortable with this and by fluke I discovered the picture of the person ( if you are in gmail and they other person has a gmail account and you mouse over the picture will pop up – who knew) And it turned out this was what looked like a 19 year old sitting on the edge of his dorm bed.
Googled the address and his Mom and Dad’s life details pop up.

So I definately don’t want to call now.

So here is my question since there was no INAD, and he hasn’t asked to return it, am I better off just leaving things alone and periodically asking an eBay rep to remove.

I am trying to figure out if this is one of those walk away moments. Also if anyone has any tips on how to get rid of this red slash of OMGness please share.

Thanks
Carrie

[Sharyn]

Can you give details on what was purchased and what was said in the feedback? That could make a difference.

[Linda Shields]

Carrie, don’t feel bad. We’ve all been there. It hurts your feelings much more than it hurts your business. You are dealing with an immature narcisstic child with no concept of empathy. Someday he may grow up. As far as calling him, I would do that. I have called customers from time to time and it has always turned out remarkably well. Just tell him you want to know how you can make it right for him. That might give him some perspective that you are a real person that he has hurt. If that’s too scary just block him and move on. Don’t let the turkeys get you down.

[Ryanne]

yeah it really depends on what they say in the feedback if can get removed, you can just paste it here and we can see what we think based on others trying to get neg removed.

[Linda Shields]

Carrie, I just called ebay to ask about an issue where a customer emailed me to explain that she accidentally gave me 3 stars FB for shipping and she didn’t know how to change it to 5 stars. The Rep. told me they can’t change a positive FB (3 was still positive), but that it doesn’t matter anyway. He said Feedback is no longer a consideration on your Cassini rankings each month–only cancelled sales by the seller, unresolved open cases by the seller, and delayed shipping past what your shipping is stated to be in your policies. That’s it! Yay!

By the way, if you can’t get the kid to change his neg FB, did you know that you can at least reply to it on your FB page for anyone to see?

[CarrieinCanada]

Well first of all thank you for being so nice to me. I clearly came to the right spot.

I was trying to upload the image of the feedback but couldn’t figure how so I’ve just typed it out.

The item was used shoes. They were really quite nice and I sell a lot of both new and used items that are the better brands ( at least medium up brands). Buyer did not communicate, nor ask to return.

Ebay agent told me my listing was good and that the pictures were good. ( Full bottom shoes and and instep pic to show brand)

Feedback says: No description of faulty soles. This could not be seen in photos.

Reply: Used Shoes full pics of soles at 10 & 12. Please Contact Me. Happy to take return.

Call out to see soles in listing

Preowned

Light wear

Very good condition please see soles

Used, in very good condition.

[Sharyn]

Sounds to me like one of those situations where eBay might say it’s the buyer’s opinion. I’ve had one negative feedback so far, and I was not able to get eBay to remove it. I spoke to two different agents.

Anyways, it sucks, and it isn’t so visible after 30 days.

You can always try calling eBay again or make that phone call, but, yeh, I wouldn’t want to call either.

[Alex]

I have a negative and a neutral for issues with 1650 feedback. One was for squeaky shoes, lol, (sorry I think of Spongebob every time) and the other for a teeny tiny hole on the top of the shoulder on a sweater, totally missed this. No communication, just bam. It sucks, but it happens to almost everyone at some point. A friend of mine had over 2000 feedback and just got her first negative this year! She is a perfectionist with quality items, but someone just negged with no contact. It doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of your work. In my case, I test shoes now and try even harder to notice quality issues. No one is perfect, though and you can’t control unreasonable customers. It’s just a part of ebay business. You’ll be fine and soon the negative will be far into your history.

[Eve Everett]

Hi there.

Aww I’m so sorry to hear about that. Unfortunately it’s an occupational hazard of selling items of an “eye of the beholder” issue.

I would call the buyer anyway. All the better if u get the parents. ? Keep it professional, ask them how you could have done better. Listen patiently. Tell them u r sorry and ask them if there is anything u can do that would help them reconsider their negative feedback.

By now, they have either hung up, or they will ask for a bribe um, offer u a solution. Try to get the entire thing done while on the phone. It’s just easier.

Since 2003 I have done this 8 times and got them all removed except 1.

Many times the person was having something else going on in their life that was making them angry & took it out on the sale. This gets acknowledged and they remove it. Be aware if this is what happened and the person is a talker you may end up trapped on the phone for some time.

So that’s my 2 cents. All in all, it happens. It’s usually the people u least expect to ever hear from again.

[CarrieinCanada]

I honestly had the strangest week. 7 days ago I got my first neg last Sunday. Thank you all for chatting with me, it did help with the anxiety.

It is Sat eve and I’ve sold possibly my biggest week since just before Christmas. The neg is now half way down the page and my most recent feedback is pro wall building US political statement. Never ever had a political placard put on my feedback before. ( I am in Canada – so yeah or boo Trudeau might make sense but not Trump and walls).

I’ve had no return request on the neg – and no correspondence. So I’m thinking a neg is better than an INAD. SO maybe I wait a bit and ask again at 30 days.

Just bizarre week.

rgds

Carrie in Canada

[WBird]

I was a casual buyer on eBay long before I started selling. If I was ever curious about a negative and saw a response from the seller underneath, it always calmed any reservations I had about buying from them. I hope that comforts you a little bit.

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