Ebay sellers! Help me understand feedback.

[bluefairy13]

I found the cutest Tinkerbell lamp on ebay and it's up in dd's room right now. It was packaged in the original very secure packaging, but had been obvously out of the box. And it was broken in a few places. One of the "leaves" I just can't get on right even with super glue.

I'm not sending it back, it's cute anyway. But I don't know what to do about feedback. I really feel that the seller packed it knowing it was broken, but I have no proof. I have not told the seller, because I'm not sending it back. And I don't want to leave negative feedback because I didn't even give her a chance to do anything.

I feel like not leaving feedback at all. Does that sound like the right thing to do. I'm always very unsure about how to leave feedback, so any other tips would be helpful.

Thanks!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I would leave a nuetral. Just state the lamp was sent damaged. Don't say iot arrived damaged.

 

[bluefairy13]

I would leave a nuetral. Just state the lamp was sent damaged. Don't say iot arrived damaged.

Should I tell the seller before I leave the feedback? I guess I feel bad even giving her a neutral if I don't tell her why first.

Am I making too much of this? Maybe I'm over anylizing it???

 

[Mickey'sMainMami]

Was the broken wing piece in the box with it? If so, it could have gotten damaged in shipping. If it wasn't in the box, then it was broke to begin with. GO back and read the listing and see if it stated in there whether it was broken or not. If it doesn't say it, contact the seller and see what they have to say.

 

[misskrystal]

I'd give the seller a chance to rectify things first. She could have another lamp, offer a partial refund or just ask you to send it back for a full refund. Even if you don't want her to do anything, the fact the she offered would make a big difference to me and I would reflect that in my feedback; Had problem with item, seller very helpful.

 

[bluefairy13]

Was the broken wing piece in the box with it? If so, it could have gotten damaged in shipping. If it wasn't in the box, then it was broke to begin with. GO back and read the listing and see if it stated in there whether it was broken or not. If it doesn't say it, contact the seller and see what they have to say.

It doesn't say it, and I guess it could have been broken in shipping, but just the way it was placed in the box makes me think it was already broken. I can't prove it though. It just didn't look right.

 

[bluefairy13]

I'd give the seller a chance to rectify things first. She could have another lamp, offer a partial refund or just ask you to send it back for a full refund. Even if you don't want her to do anything, the fact the she offered would make a big difference to me and I would reflect that in my feedback; Had problem with item, seller very helpful.

That's what I was thinking. So it isn't stupid to send message saying it was broken. I'm not sending it back either way. Too much trouble and company is coming, so I want the room to be done.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I would probably leave no feedback. When I am pleased and the item is as described, I leave positive, but if it was damaged and I was just going to keep it, I'd skip the feedback.
As a seller, I've noticed that maybe 50% - 75% of buyers leave feedback, and some people just don't. No one has ever complained about anything, though.

 

[bluefairy13]

As a seller, I've noticed that maybe 50% - 75% of buyers leave feedback, and some people just don't. No one has ever complained about anything, though.

That's interesting. I wondered how many people did. Thanks! Maybe I won't leave any feedback and just forget the whole thing.

 

[DisneyGirl4188]

That's interesting. I wondered how many people did. Thanks! Maybe I won't leave any feedback and just forget the whole thing.

I would still contact her and just see what she says. Like another poster said, she may offer a partial refund.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

I would leave a nuetral. Just state the lamp was sent damaged. Don't say iot arrived damaged.

Please don't leave anything but positive feedback for a seller without first bringing a problem to their attention. That is extraordinarily unfair! If the item is damaged in shipping and the buyer failed to purchase insurance, it is very, very wrong to blame the seller.

The buyer should contact the seller and see what she is prepared to do about the problem. If the buyer didn't pay for insurance (and whenever you purchase something fragile, you should!), then the seller has no obligation. But many sellers will try to help even if they aren't responsible. It would be a terrible injustice to leave neutral or negative for somebody who could be a very ethical and helpful person.

 

[misskrystal]

If the buyer didn't pay for insurance (and whenever you purchase something fragile, you should!), then the seller has no obligation. But many sellers will try to help even if they aren't responsible. It would be a terrible injustice to leave neutral or negative for somebody who could be a very ethical and helpful person.

Things must be different in the UK, because here insurance only protects the seller. Ebay states that sellers must ensure safe delivery of the item, which didn't happen here. Insurance is a separate issue, which protects the seller when items are damaged or missing.

 

[Dakota_Lynn]

Things must be different in the UK, because here insurance only protects the seller. Ebay states that sellers must ensure safe delivery of the item, which didn't happen here. Insurance is a separate issue, which protects the seller when items are damaged or missing.

We have what is called “delivery confirmation” which is very cheap and protects the seller. It is nothing more than a tracking code that the post office uses to verify that the package was shipped and arrived safely at its destination.


We also have postal insurance, which the buyer can purchase. It is more expensive than delivery confirmation. This not only guarantees delivery, but insures the item against damage. If the item is broken or lost in transit, then the post office pays for the cost of the item.

 

[misskrystal]

We also have postal insurance, which the buyer can purchase. It is more expensive than delivery confirmation. This not only guarantees delivery, but insures the item against damage. If the item is broken or lost in transit, then the post office pays for the cost of the item.

We have the same things, but it's up to the seller to pay for it (by including it in the shipping charge), mainly because they would be the ones to make a claim if the item was lost or damaged.

I still think the OP should contact the seller and leave appropriate feedback; the seller may either try her hardest to please the buyer, which would warrant good feedback, or do nothing, stating it's not her problem, which would warrant bad feedback.

It's important to leave feedback, so that other buyers will be aware of any problems they may encounter with the same seller.

 

[Robinrs]

Definitely contact the seller. Half of my family is in the Post Office and BELIEVE ME, anything could've happened during shipping.

I doubt seriously that she would jeopardize her reputation by sending you a broken item. Communication is very key in eBay, so few people use it before becoming vindictive, though.

I agree that many people do not post feedback. I have almost 800 feedbacks in over 3,000 transactions. Even I've been emailed to remind me to post it. Feedback is like credit or an online reputation. It can make or break a seller. At least give the seller a chance to make it right.

 

[poohandwendy]

Definitely contact the seller before leaving feedback. Let them have an opportunity to offer you something, like a partial refund or replacement. As a seller, I would definitely offer something.

Insurance, in the US too, only really protects the seller if the buyer uses Paypal (and/or credit card) for payment. Paypal will refund the buyer all of their money if they can prove the item was not received as described (broken obviously falls under that category), whether they paid for insurance or not. It's up to the seller to offer or require insurance on an item.

OP, just write the seller a short note describing the damage and ask if there is anything the seller will do to rectify the problem. Then take it from there. Feedback is for the whole of the transaction (which includes how a buyer AND seller deals with a problem) and since you have received a damaged item and not contacted the buyer yet, I see the transaction as not complete yet.

If I were the seller and you never notified me there was a problem and left a neutral or negative, that would influence my feedback left for you. I would probably leave a neutral with a comment like "Timely payment, but poor communication when there was a problem. All items guaranteed"

 

[robinb]

I would not leave anything except positive FB without contacting the seller first. If you don't want to deal with the seller, leaving no FB is an acceptable option.

 

[poohandwendy]

Just wanted to add another comment. As a seller, I want to know if something was received broken...not only so that I can rectify the situation with the buyer, but because I need to know if my packing is secure enough. Now, they may have sent it broken. But on the chance they didn't, they need to know that they really have to be more careful securing the item for shipment.

And I agree with Robin, you would be surprised how the boxes are handled during shipping. With a fragile item, the box might look fine, as well as the packaging. But the item being dropped or a heavy box placed on top of it can cause a fragile piece inside to break off. It happens.