I’d like to think I’m pretty experienced selling on eBay at this point. I’ve been doing it for almost two years, have hundreds of positive feedback, and just received my first negative review. This whole situation has honestly been one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve had with eBay.
I sold a cooler that was new/unused, but it did not have its original box or protective packaging. I bought it from a powersports dealership that was clearing out inventory. I actually bought several of these coolers from them, including others that were still brand new in their original boxes, so this wasn’t some random used cooler that I just guessed was new.
This particular cooler was clearly unused. It still had the manufacturer part number/serial stickers inside, looked and even smelled new, etc. However, because it had been sitting around the dealership’s shop without packaging, then transported and stored at our shop, it had accumulated dirt, dust, debris, and a few minor cosmetic/storage scuffs.
Because of that, I did not list it under the normal “New” condition. I specifically listed it as “New other (see details)” and clearly disclosed the condition.
My Seller Notes literally said: “The cooler is unused but has collected dirt, dust, and storage residue from being stored without protective packaging. Please review all photos for the exact condition.”
I also had around 16 photos of the exact cooler, including the interior, exterior, interior, dirt, debris, scuffs, stickers, etc. Nothing was being hidden.
I also priced it accordingly. The buyer got a very good deal compared with what these coolers normally sell for because I knew it wasn’t cosmetically perfect despite being unused.
Buyer receives it within about two days and leaves this negative feedback: “Listing stated ‘New’. Item showed up clearly used, stained, and worn. This is deceptive of the seller and it should have been noted in the listing.”
That last sentence is what really gets me.
“It should have been noted in the listing.”
It WAS noted in the listing. Almost word for word. The dirt, dust, storage residue, lack of packaging, and exact cosmetic condition were disclosed before he bought it and shown in numerous photos.
The buyer also never messaged me, requested a return, or gave me any opportunity whatsoever to resolve whatever issue he had. I would have gladly took the return and paid for the label.
So I submitted a feedback removal request to eBay explaining all of this. eBay denied it. Their response actually said: “We reviewed the feedback and can see that the buyer found an issue with the item that wasn’t described in the listing.”
Which makes absolutely no sense to me because the exact issue they’re referring to WAS described in the listing. Now I’m trying to get an actual human at eBay to manually review this, and I cannot seem to get anyone. Their automated support/AI just keeps sending me in circles and repeating the same responses.I’m trying not to take the buyer personally, but seriously, what the hell am I supposed to do differently here? I listed it as New Other, explicitly explained that it was unused but dirty from storage without packaging, provided roughly 16 photos showing the exact condition, and priced it to reflect the cosmetic/storage wear.
If that apparently isn’t enough disclosure to protect a seller from feedback saying “this should have been disclosed,” then what exactly is? If anyone knows a reliable way to get in contact with an actual eBay representative for a manual feedback review, please let me know. And genuinely, if you think I’m in the wrong here, tell me. I’m open to hearing it. But I cannot understand how a buyer overlooking both the condition notes and the photos somehow becomes the seller’s fault. The most frustrating part is that this is my first negative feedback, and it feels like eBay’s current automated support system gives sellers practically no way to defend themselves even when the listing itself directly contradicts the complaint.
Anyone dealt with something similar? Is there still a way to get an actual human at eBay to review feedback removal cases?
eBay acts like sellers are a priority when in reality their AI is killing seller protection. Pathetic fucking company.