Bending over and taking it

ovidiu · #23 12-09-2010

Knowing Amazon's cowardice, I will be launching a boycott Amazon website with the intent of exposing their seller abuse and fraud. If successful, we may get some concessions to make selling a little more fair. I plan to run exposes on sellers who sold honestly on Amazon but were thrown off for BS, arbitrary reasons.

First Edition · #24 12-09-2010

I personally think that would just drive traffic to Amazon.

Melissa1971 · #25 12-09-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMondo

I've had very little bad feedback (and worked hard to keep it that way), but I've gotten a few in cases where I was unable to ship something and even though I apologized profusely the customer filed bad feedback. I don't even think they went out of their way or realized what it meant - just got the automatically generated feedback request letter from Amazon, clicked on, said "Never got my item" and checked "1." (Of course I contacted them to ask if they would consider removing it, and several times they did. But it takes very little bad feedback to screw up your rating.)

A customer recently told me he received TWO of these reminders from Amazon to leave feedback.

ovidiu · #26 12-09-2010

I personally think that would just drive traffic to Amazon.

Maybe, but the only thing that matters is what Amazon thinks about it, not what actually happens.

Melissa1971 · #27 12-11-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMondo

I just received a DVD returned by customer who wants a replacement. It appears to have been gouged with a blunt image: there is a scratch in it so deep that it nearly comes through the other side. There is no way in hell that he received it in this condition - I can't imagine any kind of factory error that would do this, and the case is undamaged. But if I refuse he files an A-to-Z Claim AND I get bad feedback out of it. SO I swallow the loss and send the f**king thief a replacement.

Again, just venting.

Yep that's what I would do. I always refund them even for buyers remorse, well except this one, we'll see....

I just had a buyer not only demand a refund, but make all of these accusations that I sent him a used item that it has labels ripped off and all kinds of stuff. He demanded I pay for his return shipping of the product also. Not sure what I am going to do, he is a real criminal in my opinion. Ignoring all my emails inquiring if the package appeared opened etc..even sent him pics of the product so he can't say much

I know I have an obligation to send him to A-Z so it will be on record but I honestly think they will even deny him by the way he treats me. He said thank you when I agreed to refund him but betcha that he won't send the item back to me. If it goes to A-Z and Amazon refunds him, i will take him to small claims court (he lives like an hour and a half away)

ovidiu · #28 12-11-2010

They are not required to send the item back. It's in the small print in the returns section of Amazon's guidelines. Yes, it really is there; go see for yourself.

Melissa1971 · #29 12-12-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by ovidiu

They are not required to send the item back. It's in the small print in the returns section of Amazon's guidelines. Yes, it really is there; go see for yourself.

Yes, I've read that on here before. I ask them the send it back when they are being difficult, only twice otherwise they just keep it

I sent him $20 and he sent it back to me priority mail with del. confirmation and it arrived opened. He opened it! which is why he ignores my inquiries of how it was pilfered with, how did the box look etc..

I am sure he wants a refund but my account is on a review so I can't do it.

They didn't tell me how long it is on review but it has no negatives, a 4% late rate which is not my fault (their computer problems) no chargebacks or a-z, all 5 stars with 25% of my customers leaving feedback at 85 transactions. I appealed but forgot to include tracking numbers.

So I don't know when they will let me have my money to refund him, no way do I have it now right before Xmas.

And don't trust him to send him anything in the mail, he'll likely say he didn't get it. I may need to kiss this account with my real info goodbye...

.

Melissa1971 · #30 12-12-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrMondo

I just received a DVD returned by customer who wants a replacement. It appears to have been gouged with a blunt image: there is a scratch in it so deep that it nearly comes through the other side. There is no way in hell that he received it in this condition - I can't imagine any kind of factory error that would do this, and the case is undamaged. But if I refuse he files an A-to-Z Claim AND I get bad feedback out of it. SO I swallow the loss and send the f**king thief a replacement.

Again, just venting.

Do they usually avoid leaving bad feedback if you refund them?

ovidiu · #31 12-12-2010

Do they usually avoid leaving bad feedback if you refund them?
Honestly, no. be sure you hammer that out before issuing a refund. Making the customer feel a tad bit guilty is the key.

MrMondo · #32 12-12-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by Melissa1971

Do they usually avoid leaving bad feedback if you refund them?

I can't recall a specific instance of getting bad feedback after giving a buying a refund, but I don't want to say it has never happened. In general they don't. But I'm sure there are cases where a buyer gets the Amazon form letter asking for feedback on a specific purchase (the one that most buyers ignore); they read it and because they're bored click it on and leave what they consider an appropriate feedback - "product was received damaged, 3 stars." They have no idea that such a rating is incredibly damaging and will have real consequences to a real person.

ovidiu · #33 12-12-2010

Couldn't have put it better, Mr Mondo. "Careless" is the one word to describe Amazon buyers all right.

MrMondo · #34 12-12-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by ovidiu

Couldn't have put it better, Mr Mondo. "Careless" is the one word to describe Amazon buyers all right.

I don't really blame the buyers. A sensible system would allow for recognition of the occasional slip or poor performance on a seller's part without taking down their businesses entirely (or at least knocking a big hole in it). The way Amazon has it set up, you really only get a score of plus or minus (or 5 is plus, 1, 2 and 3 are all minus). Therefore every seller either has a rating of 95+ or is out of business. (Buyers are equally to blame here in that they only tend to vote 5 or 1.) In a better system very few sellers would rate 100%.

ovidiu · #35 12-12-2010

You forgot one part of Amazon's philosophy. The 95%+ system only applies to small sellers. Amazon loves corporate c*ck; the corporate sellers are exempt from these same requirements. I know this for a fact.

Gamefreak · #36 12-14-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by ovidiu

You forgot one part of Amazon's philosophy. The 95%+ system only applies to small sellers. Amazon loves corporate c*ck; the corporate sellers are exempt from these same requirements. I know this for a fact.

You are SOOOOOOOOOO right here on this one. I sell these corporate sellers with 75% feedback with a lot of negatives and nothing happens to them. If that was any of us we would be gone along time ago.

webgoon · #37 12-15-2010

So I'm looking to get some advice from this group. Made a sale 3 months ago on Amazon and now the customer is looking for a refund claiming that the item they received is damaged. I know that Amazon's return policy is 30 days correct? I'm just concerned that since they haven't left me a feedback, they're going to leave something negative. Do you guys know if they can still open an A-Z Claim?

What would you guys do?

TIA!

ovidiu · #38 12-15-2010

I believe the policy is 60 days for feedback and 90 days for A to Z. You're in the clear feedback-wise, so if you're close to 90 days, I advise trying to drag it out!

webgoon · #39 12-15-2010

The sale was made on 9/7/2010, so I'm past the 90 days.

As far as feedback, I still see a button in the transaction for me to leave him a feedback though. When I click on it, seems like I can still leave him a feedback...

holymoly · #40 12-15-2010

Yes, that is because you have only 60 days to leave feedback if I am correct.

webgoon · #41 12-15-2010

But it's been 90+ days...

ovidiu · #42 12-15-2010

They can't leave feedback, period. It's on Amazon's pages. Don't worry about it anymore; you're in the clear. Seller feedback doesn't count when left for buyers, so the policies are probably a lot more lax there.

Melissa1971 · #43 12-16-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by webgoon

So I'm looking to get some advice from this group. Made a sale 3 months ago on Amazon and now the customer is looking for a refund claiming that the item they received is damaged. I know that Amazon's return policy is 30 days correct? I'm just concerned that since they haven't left me a feedback, they're going to leave something negative. Do you guys know if they can still open an A-Z Claim?

What would you guys do?

TIA!

Tell him you were selling it for an Attorney friend and you will let them know what he says. Be gracious, thank them for contacting you and promise to get back to them quickly. Then send a second note within 10 minutes or so telling them he said no because Amazons refund policy of 90 days is fair and he would honor that. Then tell them if they have a problem to call your friend directly leaving his name and phone number. Pick anyone in your town, they won't call him anyhow, Or better pick an Attorney you already know whom you think will do you a favor and go along with it

webgoon · #44 12-16-2010

haha thanks guys, as usual this forum always brings me comfort.

Cheers!