eBay sellers: how do you deal with feedback like this? Is there any realistic chance of getting something this ridiculous removed?
I recently sold a toy train on eBay and shipped it out promptly after the sale. I packaged it carefully and got it on its way right away.
Then I get hit with a negative feedback because the package arrived late—which somehow became my fault and the buyer complained about the shipping cost.
But it gets better.
They also claimed the toy train was poorly packaged, while at the same time saying it arrived in great condition. If the packaging was supposedly that bad, how did the train arrive perfectly fine?
And then they claimed the toy train smelled like cigarette smoke.
I. DON'T. SMOKE.
The train was brand new and never used.
I was polite and asked for feedback on the packaging. I even gave the buyer 20% off the item
I've maintained a 100% positive feedback rating, so getting a negative over things that were outside my control is incredibly frustrating.
So apparently I’m responsible for the carrier taking too long, responsible for the shipping cost, somehow shipped something in “poor packaging” despite it arriving in great condition, AND managed to make a brand-new toy train smell like cigarettes despite not even smoking.
At this point, I'm just baffled. Some buyers will apparently find absolutely anything to complain about.
Posted Aug 12, 2026, 3:30 AM UTC