Ever wanted to leave some negative feedback for someone you thought deserved it, but knew that if you did, you'd receive retaliatory negative feedback in the blink of an eye? Well, there is at least one thing you can do, which will not put your feedback rating in danger and give you a chance to express some greater truth about the transaction than you otherwise could.

First, you should leave positive feedback, without saying anything necessarily very positive but without being unkind either. In most cases, the other person will respond in kind. Once feedback has been left by both parties (I'm assuming you will have to leave your feedback first - that is nearly always the way of things with dodgy sellers), go to Feedback Forum (you can reach it via your own Feedback page. To get there you click on your feedback number after your eBay User ID. Towards the top of your feedback page, you'll see «Home > Community > Feedback Forum > Member Profile» - just click on «Feedback Forum») and click on «Reply to feedback received». Once there you can leave a carefully worded explanation of what really happened. Don't overdo it, but tell the eBay world why you won't be buying from this person again. Of course the same thing might apply to buyers about whom you want to give a warning.

The feedback system is very helpful, but it isn't perfect. This is one way you can fine tune it a bit in order to let others know what's going on. One last thing: I always go to the trouble of blocking this person from buying from me. But that's another subject.