posted on November 27, 2000 11:38:40 AM
I received the following email for one of our apparent customers:
"You have earned yourself some bad feed back. The heat of my flame on the e-bay feedback site will be determined by the speed with which you can now move to rectify your screw-up."
The above was the entire message.
I sent a reply to this individual asking what the error was and imformed them that it would be immediately rectified, if identified.
In my opinion, the message is threatening and borders feedback extortion. The message does not indicate the problem or how it can be rectified. It simply sends a blistering message of contempt.
posted on November 27, 2000 11:41:13 AM
Unless it came from someone that I had sold to I would ignore it. If it was from someone I sold to then I would ask what the problem is. Good possibility it could be a crank email.
posted on November 27, 2000 11:44:44 AM
The comment was sent by a customer and I did send an email asking what was the cause of the problem. No response as of yet.
Talk about mean spirited. Makes you wonder what this individuals real issue is.
posted on November 27, 2000 11:53:59 AM
I agree that the comment is bizarre and somewhat threatening, but I don't think it fits Ebay's definition for feedback extortion. Ebay's definition requires the extorter to demand that you do something that you would not normally have to do.
For example, "Send my item within the time frame stated in your auction or I will leave negative feedback" is not extortion.
"Send my item before you receive my payment or I will leave a neg" is extortion (unless you specifiy in your listing that you will do so.)
I think this particular incident is not specific enough -- at this point -- to qualify.
posted on November 27, 2000 11:59:46 AM
almalgamated: Thanks for the comment. I see your postings periodically and they are always insightful.
I'm not overly worried about the message. I've been selling for 3 years and have a 1600+ feedback rating, so I've seen just about everything.
The cryptic message leaves me puzzled. if I had a problem with a purchase, I would surely indicate the problem to the seller. There's vey little point in sending such a threatening message, unless the intent was to initiate a problem.
posted on November 27, 2000 04:23:13 PM
Three words: "Preemptive feedback strike." Leave a blistering complaint. Then when he leaves his, claim it was retaliatory. Problem solved.
posted on November 27, 2000 07:44:20 PM
You can't fix the problem if you don't know what it is. Some people are really on a power trip through the internet. I have run into a few of these myself. Off the subject a little, but when I first started out I ran across an auction for some pottery where the pattern was misidentified. I sent an email to the seller and in a nice way told them what the pattern was because I thought they would get more response that way from searches. (The pattern it is really was was much rarer than what they were calling it). The response I received was scary, cursing me, telling me I was an idiot. Since then I just try to mind my own business in that regard. Some people just want to be nasty I believe.
