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Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

A buyer purchased an item from me, then contacts me a few days later. He claimed the unit is defective (which I test everyone before shipping). He did not open a return request, this is communication through eBay messages. I gladly told him to ship it back (I am providing the label), and I will refund. Buyer insists that I am trying to scam him, and wants a replacement instead. I told him I would ship a replacement once if he does not want a refund after I receive the one back from him. He keeps stating he wants a replacement, and will be forced to leave negative feedback if I give him a refund. I do not have another item in stock but will be getting some in a couple weeks.

When I receive the item, I really do not want to deal with shipping another one only to be claimed "defective" again. If I refund, he leaves me a negative, isn't that grounds for feedback extortion since he threatened to leave negative if he does not get a replacement?

Re: Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

Yes, this definitely qualifies as feedback extortion. If the customer leaves negative feedback then you will easily be able to get it removed but you will need to call in. Reporting the feedback via the "report this buyer" link has about a .001% success rate because I'm assuming the report is forwarded to some foreign customer support center. If you call in though and explain the situation to the rep they will take a look at your correspondence with the customer. As long as everything has happened like you said they'll remove the feedback on the spot and "report" the customer. I don't know who eBay reps "report" a buyer to but I've had them tell me that multiple times. I guess it gets forwarded to a specialized department who takes a closer look at the buyer's account and determines if the guy needs to be banned.

Re: Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

Pharoz is 100% correct. This qualifies as feedback extortion. And you need to call in and speak to a rep. Do not do anything online. The rep will have it taken care of within 10 minutes of you hanging up the phone.

Re: Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

It's nice to have a scammer that is unaware of feedback extortion. Ebay reps often take it quite seriously and will block and harassment you would receive from them.

Honestly, I wish more scammers would try feedback extortion. It would be easier to solve the problem with a 5 minute call to ebay rather than deal with them.

Re: Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

Thank you for the all the fast replies! This is on my main account, not stealth, so I do not mind calling in. Now, do I call eBay after they leave negative feedback? Then explain the situation and I have all the messages (which I am sure they can look up). Thanks again!

Re: Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

I personally wait until they leave the negative feedback, The ebay rep will see that the customer was clearly trying to feedback manipulate, and remove the negative.

Re: Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

100% feedback extortion. Ebay always carefully inspect such cases. Also you can try to receive as more information from buyer as you can and give a 100% proof of feedback manipulate. After that you call to Ebay and this buyer will be blocked

Re: Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

It works either way, if I recall correctly. If you call after they leave a negative then it is easily removed. But if you call before they leave the neg feedback then they are blocked from leaving any feedback.

Re: Feedback Extortion: When and how should I report?
 

Don't worry about feedback too much. Most people are fed up with ebay's feedback system and realize it's no longer a good measure of anything.

Look at the number of people who will still buy from a given seller regardless of the low feedback rating. If you have what they want at the price they want, they will generally ignore the feedback and roll the dice.

Do what's best for you and don't worry about feedback. You will sometimes get negative feedback even when you're a Saint and bend over backwards, taking a loss to satisfy some buyers.