Rating cannot be undone
Summary: tamyna expressed frustration over receiving a negative review for insufficient packaging, which allegedly led to a damaged book despite their claimed careful packaging practices. They reported that the item was a rare book and criticized a buyer for frequently leaving such reviews. perfect-sally pointed out that the review might not be easily removed unless it violated guidelines or the buyer changed it. goldeifel suggested responding with a calm explanation, acknowledging that shipping can damage items. They advised on better packaging practices to prevent damage. tamyna remained frustrated, noting their prior positive experiences with different packaging scenarios.
So here’s the negative review
Unfortunately I can’t take any photos; otherwise I would have complained. NOT SUFFICIENTLY PACKED (padding material). Cardboard crushed right up to the items, partly open, clearly visible. But for that price, what’s there to complain about... The volume (The Adventures of Gambrinus 2) was visibly badly knocked at the top of the spine. According to the description, flawless. If it weren’t for the knocks, it would be basically like new. It’s just a shame. It’s a rarity, and was in perfect condition before it went through the post.
My reply
Well, I can’t do anything about the post, and then I’m also reporting a negative notice to eBay so they can remove it. I have over 1400 ratings and then to pin something like this on me, that’s the last straw. Avoid this buyer. 26 ratings says it all
Today I saw that he’s again given someone a bad rating because it was supposedly not packed correctly.
And what really annoys me even more.
If the buyer doesn’t retract his review, I have to accept that.
Okay, I may only have been here for a good 20 years, but someone like that has never come across me before.
Dispatch location was
Not front steps, to the right behind the house
and then writing it was open, the package, really funny guy. I’m curious when eBay will act against buyers like that
Best regards Tamyna
goldeifel
·1 month ago · EditedHello @tamyna ,
I can understand your frustration, you still have the option of putting the review into perspective by writing a (emotional-free), factual reply/explanation underneath it.
The damage to the packaging and thus also to the rare book does not necessarily have to have been caused by "human hands".
Many processes along the delivery route are automated; a package can quickly get stuck on the conveyor belt, get crushed somewhere,...
There’s a reason there are requirements for secure packaging.
That’s why my preferred way of packaging is: delicate goods, padded, in a suitable sturdy box, which is additionally padded on all sides and placed inside the shipping box.
It may be that this results in higher postage costs, but the buyer then doesn’t get a "jigsaw puzzle", but the intact item.
If someone complains about that, then I explain my reasons to them.
Sometimes I write it straight away, as a note, into the item description.
And otherwise I may just get a "telling-off" for high postage costs,
so what? The main thing is that the goods stay intact even if the box was trashed.
The world doesn’t end over a "red card"
But I can also understand the buyer’s annoyance,
Put yourself in his shoes: you buy a rare antiquarian book in top condition
and get the book delivered with a big dent.
Wouldn’t you be annoyed too? In that moment, only the dent matters; who caused it is irrelevant.
The easiest way to "let off steam" is, after all, the review.
Good advice for the future: rethink your packaging method, because that seems to be the "weak point".
tamyna
OP1 month agoHonestly, after over 400 sales, which isn’t that much, but there was glass among them too and everything arrived fine. I don’t need to worry about my packaging. But well, it seems there’s nothing that helps. I just hope he drives off even more people. I’ll photograph everything beforehand now. He didn’t even manage that. But as I read it, it’s apparently my fault. I wish everyone a customer like that who thinks their packaging is bad. My items were never complained about.
goldeifel
·1 month agoYour good wishes won’t help you get the “red card” deleted either
The rating system is set up so that a buyer can share their personal buying experience. If the buyer uses it in line with the rules, then nothing gets deleted.
Now it’s gone wrong once out of 400 successful transactions,
that’s actually a pretty good record. Don’t feel personally attacked just because this one time the packaging wasn’t secure enough. I think something like this has probably happened to almost everyone at some point.
Chances are the dent really upset the buyer because the book is a rarity. In theory, he could have opened a case: item not as described. Then the blemish would be even worse for you, because you would have had to refund him and gotten the book back with the dent, and you would also have had to buy a return shipping label.
Seen that way, the red card is the lesser evil.
Taking photos beforehand doesn’t help much; I’ve read in the forum many times that Ebay doesn’t accept photos/videos as proof.
The buyer protection still applies and a reversal will take place.
It’s quite possible that the buyer claimed the shipping damage from the carrier and at least the loss in value of the book was compensated that way. The dent is still there, though.
perfect-sally
·1 month agoSo I can't do anything about the post, and then I also report a negative message to eBay and have it removed and get it taken down.
And you really think it works that easily, like, "I'll get it taken down"?
The rating doesn't violate any principles, and if the buyer doesn't change it when asked, it will probably stay.
tamyna
OP1 month agoWhat bothers me is that he’s already negatively rating a seller who has also been active here for years.
What bothers me is the drop-off place - not the front steps on the right behind the house, and then claiming the package was open.
No pictures, and that means something is being claimed and you can’t do anything about it,
and I’m not an isolated case with this buyer, but as I said, after the 10th case maybe eventually
something will happen. He’s blocked with me. Address noted in case he orders under a different name
I’m curious what happens then if I refuse the purchase and then get a bad rating .
On the subject of "The rating does not violate any principles"
Just claiming something and proving nothing is definitely not right, and driving away people who’ve been active for years is somehow okay?