Full Story Here ... Times online

Quote:

---

A man is facing legal action for libel after leaving negative feedback for an item he bought on auction website eBay.

When Chris Read received the £155 mobile phone he had purchased from Joel Jones on eBay, he found it was the wrong model and was not in good condition, as advertised.

The 42-year-old mechanic from Kent returned the phone, and, on October 3, used the feedback facility on the website, designed to warn other buyers of potentially untrustworthy sellers. He wrote: "Item was scratched, chipped and not the model advertised on Mr Jones's eBay account."

Mr Read subsequently received an e-mail from Mr Jones, a 26-year-old businessman from Suffollk who deals in second-hand electrical goods, saying that his comments were damaging his business, and threatening him with legal action unless he deleted them from the site.

---

Hate it when people run straight 'legal action' to solve a conflict. As far as I can see the fact he has gone this route is what will be hurting his business. Not that man who left what seems to be a truthful comment.

Used to love eBay but it's gone from bad to worse lately with all the new reules brought in.

Wow... and I was thinking about buying some books off of eBay tonight. I don't think I shall, now.

funnybuni, browse Amazon. They started with books!

Perhaps if he apologized and offered to send the customer the correct phone at no extra cost, he could have got some milage out of the negative comments.

I have never bought off ebay never will, one intresting thing the guy who is suing has claimed the negative feedback is damaging his buisness, i wonder if he is paying VAT on all his transactions?

One thought is that the purchaser might not have contacted the seller before posting the negative feedback. Often problems can be resolved to everyone's satisfaction then the negative feedback wouldn't be required; it ought to only be used if the seller refuses to put things right.

I have bought numerous items through ebay and not needed to leave negative feedback once. I had one item which was taking forever to arrive from China and when I contacted the seller he sent a refund and then the item arrived! I contacted him again, or tried to, to tell him but got no reply so gave the item to my sister as I had bought one elsewhere on ebay, she was thrilled. Another time an item got lost in the post and a replacement item was sent. I would not give either of these traders negative feedback, they both were 'innocent' and I saw no reason to blame them for the tardiness of the postal/delivery system.

I have bought and sold quite a lot of items on eBay, but not since the rules were changed. Sellers can no longer leave feedback, only purchasers, so the system is now open to blackmail by some buyers who try to obtain a refund. I used to enjoy purchasing and selling - things found in my loft, things I thought would be nice to own, but not any more. In the case of sellers, there are too many proper businesses and not ordinary mortals just clearing out their unwanted stuff, as it used to be. That was part of the attraction - others' junk. I don't think eBay want the small sellers anymore and see Amazon as the way to go....

Regarding buyers, it is now, because of these rule changes, difficult to differentiate between the genuine buyers and those out for a 'freebie'. However, in this instance, I believe this was not the first negative feedback for the seller. I have just read the forums on eBay and it appears the seller was imposing his own selling rules, i.e. 'payment in 3 days etc....' and may not have even been registered as a business. Because of the previous negative feedback, it will be difficult to prove his downturn in sales is due to this person, especially with regard to the current economic climate.

It seems like a case of sour grapes to me....

haha, yes, the books are only .75 more expensive on Amazon! Thanks, veronikkamarrz.

I have had plenty of experience selling things on eBay, and only got one negative feedback - someone who claimed they never got the item I sent them (though I am sure they did). They purchased insurance, so I refunded them... but they just wanted a freebie.

The main one I was thinking about which was introduced here was that Paypal HAD to be offered on every transaction - it did start that the ONLY payment method would be Paypal but they were made to stop that and now allow other payment methods but paypal still HAS so be offered. I do have a paypal account but only use it to pay for overseas transactions and I'd never accept a payment for it with the fees the way they are. Can't see a problem with paying by direct deposit but they make it out to be the worst possible thing to do. Ironically they say, when it comes time to pay eBay's bill that direct deposit is a safe way. As far as they are concerned the only way it isn't safe is because they get no fees from it.

PLus you can buy a security key for $5US to enhance the secuity on my account. As far as I'm concerned they should be providing the best poosible security as part of the fees.