eBay Feedback Extortion Does Anyone Care?

Dear eBay Queen;

My husband and I are in our 50's and we run a very small eBay business called ZIP_N_SHIP selling DVDs & CDs from our home. We currently have 100% feedback from over 1,000 customers after several years at eBay. We don't make much money, but we are honest and very hard-workers.


I recently auctioned about 15 DVD's and suddenly have become a victim of Feedback Extortion, which is apparently a severe violation of eBay policy. I contacted Live Help, and sent an email to eBay. Live Help told me to report it, and I did, but I haven't heard back from anyone at eBay. There is simply no viable means to report this incident anywhere on eBay, even though I have tried several times. All responses are impersonal, computer-generated mumbo-jumbo, and I can't believe for a moment that there is not a single live human being anywhere to help me with this serious extortion violation.


Here's what happened: a big time buyer, who's feedback is PRIVATE, with several negatives attached, purchased roughly 15 DVD auction items. After he won the items, he demanded that I combine shipping costs (which was not an offered option as my shipping costs were more than fair) "or else" he will leave negative feedback for each and every transaction.


He has since written again and has further threatened that, unless we pay him real money for shipping costs, then he will leave 15 negative feedbacks on our account.


If he does this, and it seems that he will, then our small business will be ruined.


As you can see, this is clearly FEEDBACK EXTORTION, which will destroy our hard-earned feedback rating just because this man is blackmailing us for money, which was never offered to him or anyone.


He can't get away with this, can he? Do you suppose he has done this to other sellers, which is why he keeps his feedback private? Can eBay remove the feedback availability on this man's account so that he cannot leave undeserved, extortion-generated negative feedback on our eBay account?


Does eBay actually have an Investigations Team? If you can help us with some good advice or let us in on where the REAL customer service help is, we would be most appreciative, to say the least.



Kathy G. ZIP_N_SHIP


Dear Kathy;


You are right Feedback extortion is against eBay rules, and is a pretty serious violation. eBay does have an Investigations department called "Trust and Safety". Since you are an eBay PowerSeller, you will be able to receive priority email support and phone support. To get your PowerSeller support phone number go to: http://pages.ebay.com/services/buyandsell/welcome.html Log in, and you will be given the phone number and also the priority email support link.


I have had a similar problem happen to me a few years ago. I did report it via the PowerSeller phone number but I had to follow up the information with an email. eBay will want proof of the extortion. You will need to send the headers of the email and the email (hopefully sent via email messaging system) to eBay for them to follow up with it. Keep in mind if this buyer gives you 15 negatives only 1 negative will count towards your score. You will also be able to respond to each negative and leave him 15 negative feedback in return. As for this ruining your business, I do not see how it would. Most buyers out there are savvy enough to see through someone who is as disingenuous, as your buyer. His negative feedback will certainly not mean anything if he has his own feedback as "private".


Let me know how this turns out. I completely understand your frustration and anxiety with this transaction. eBay will not be able to remove his ability to give feedback, but they can remove the negatives if they find it to be feedback extortion.




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