Hulk SMASH

[valis2]

ARGH EBAY!!

I have finally received my first negative feedback after selling for over two years.

For those of you not regularly involved with eBay, I'll explain. You can rate a seller or buyer either positively, neutrally, or negatively. Generally, rating someone negatively is seen as an "attack" by most people involved; it's your last option in the scale. Most people will contact you and try to work it out first before they consider posting negative feedback. Example of negative feedback: never receiving the item, receiving the item in poor condition (broken, for example), misrepresented items, etc. Negative feedback is a bitch. Most prospective buyers will ignore pages and pages of positive feedback, and only click on the negative.

So color me astonished when I receive a negative simply because the buyer "thought the description was somewhat inaccurate when compared to other sellers." I'm still puzzling this one out--there's a photo, plus a description including country of origin and sizing. I've looked at other listings--some people don't even include that information. But wait--it said inaccurate. Which can only mean that they think I'm lying when compared to other sellers--I have no idea. I'm completely confused by this phrase.

What doesn't astonish me is that, just like the single neutral feedback I've received, it comes from a brand new eBayer. Maybe I should block new buyers.

Fortunately, I'm in a pretty good mood right now, because otherwise this sort of thing would cause a meltdown.

Comments

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've always wondered about banning newbies--they make up for the bulk of silly questions. They can also be tremendously annoying about fb--I've had several newbies contact me within five seconds of paying, wondering why I haven't given them feedback yet. *rolls eyes* As if I sit at the computer 24/7 and wait for people to pay.

I'm really bummed because it was the same day that I got my Powerseller status back. I lose it because I don't have sales all year round, of course. It makes me crazy that people who will not buy from anyone but Powersellers are now seeing my items, and the first thing they'll notice is a fresh neg.

Even worse, it's a neg that makes no sense. I've investigated, and I have a strong feeling that what the seller means is not inaccurate, which is a word that means dishonest to me--I think she means that I didn't define a common industry term, and she bought the wrong thing because she didn't know what it meant.

For example, if you don't know what "clad coinage" is, and you buy a JFK half dollar from 1964, and when you get it you realize it's not silver at all but the worthless modern "clad coinage"--you'll be a bit upset. Then again, it isn't the seller's fault that you didn't know what "clad coinage" meant, which is why I'm livid, because I think that's exactly what happened.

[kitschicat.livejournal.com]

Have you asked what she meant?

Also, you can respond to negative feedback. :)

Did she even give you an opportunity to resolve it (perhaps by educating her better?) before leaving the feedback?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've sent her a note, have yet to hear back.

And nope, she didn't contact me at all--just came right out with a neg! That's why I'm fuming. Had she just admitted to being a moron, I probably would have refunded her the price of the beads. *rolls eyes*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I will definitely respond to the fb if I don't hear from her soon. Am already composing a little gem for the occasion. *evil grin*

[kitschicat.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sure you do!

I found my post about my problem with this neg feedback issue:
http://kitschicat.livejournal.com/1009332.html

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow, I totally remember that insanity! Thank goodness most buyers/sellers aren't like her. Ugh.