eBay Selling

One of the changes that has bothered sellers the most, judging from the message boards on the site as well as blogs around the country, are the changes to eBay’s feedback system. Sellers are no longer allowed to leave a negative or neutral rating for a buyer. That might make buyers feel better about buying through the site, but it also gives them an unfair advantage and leverage to get unfair deals.

Feedback extortion has long been a problem on the site. This occurs when a buyer emails their seller with a demand that must be met in order for the seller to escape a negative. Long, long ago, that was an offense that automatically earned the buyer a suspension. A few years ago that changed to something that was frowned on but not punished by the site. This was changed again a few days ago. The offense is now something that can get buyers suspended again. That’s good news for the sellers who know about it, but millions of sellers probably don’t. Unless they read every email from the site and/or check the announcement board frequently, they are still vulnerable.

If you get an email that demands a refund, return or discount and mentions your potential feedback, keep that email. It should be forwarded to the Trust and Safety department right away. If a buyer has already left a negative because you didn’t cave to their demands- it isn’t too late. Under the new rules the feedback can be removed and the buyer can still be suspended. If you’re a victim of this practice, don’t take it lightly. By acting you will not only save your own reputation, you will save other sellers from being taken advantage of by the same buyer.

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