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Would you call your buyer a Liar? How about a Cheat? While eBay discourages the use of such words in Feedback, there are a few sellers out there who will call their buyer (their customer) a Liar and a Cheat. During the past few days I noticed that Feedback left for some buyers included such words and no doubt, I saw red, as I reviewed some of these comments.
If one walked into a brick and mortar retail operation, would a retailer ever dare to call a customer (standing in their store) a Liar and Cheat to their face? Could one actually look at another human being (directly in the eyes) and say these two words with conviction? No doubt, one might find themself looking like a racoon after accusing any buyer of being a liar and cheater.
However, here on eBay, one can (within reason) say what one wants and that includes stating that someone is a Liar or a Cheater (or both). Would a buyer ever conduct business with anyone (ever again) if they checked their feedback and found they were called names?
One would think that as adults "name calling" would be a thing of kindergarten battle grounds. However, I see a few sellers on eBay calling their buyers "liars" and "cheaters".
What ever happened to the belief that "the customer is always right"? Whether the customer is "wrong" it is their "right" to complain and their absolute "right" to expect the respect you would give a common stranger on the street, let alone, someone who has purchased goods from a seller and has encountered a problem with the transaction.
Yes, the customer is rather distressed, distraught and feels thay have been taken advantage of. Leave feedback calling them a liar or a cheat and you've just hurt that buyer with the "written word". Yes, you can withdraw that Negative feedback however, you may not remove the original comments.
Those in my industry (who sell on eBay) should take heed that calling your customers liars and cheaters (or fraudsters) is about as unprofessional and as low as one can go. One would expect such sellers to have the utmost respect that the customer even selected their eBay store to visit in the first place.
Remember, out of the millions of items they could have purchased and/or considered, they selected your eBay store, your merchandise. If something went awry in the transaction, then you treat the customer like "gold" (better yet, Platinum). You don't beat your customer up with the "written word".
If there's an impasse (and there's no solution to be reached) then leave "factual" feedback however, NEVER leave Feedback using the words "liar" or "cheater".
To buyer's who have ever been abused in this fashion, you can do a number of things. Yes, you can report the matter to eBay and attempt to have the Feedback removed or you can engage the services of a "paid" intermediary to assist you in removing the Feedback. Better yet, get a friend or family attorney to send a strong letter (and I mean strong) to that seller and let them know you may seek legal remedies to remove that Feedback. In addition, the seller could be responsible for paying attorney fees and potential damages depending on what the "written word" states.
Defamation in this country is a serious matter. If someone (anyone) ever calls you a liar or cheat, they have to be able to prove that accusation and can find themselves at the wrong end of a lawsuit.
A stronger message to the seller in leaving them "return" feedback is to state "Matter referred to Attorney" and such a statement will let other buyers know that this seller is not only "questionable" but, may be headed to court.
Buyers, sometimes you have to be the "professional" in the matter at hand and not react to petty "school yard" statements.
Other guides relating to jewelry and gemstone buying which you may find helpful are as follows:
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