Buyers are not allowed to threaten sellers with negative Feedback, neutral Feedback or low Detailed Seller Ratings in order to obtain goods or services not included in the original listing.
Sellers may not require buyers to leave specific Feedback or Detailed Seller Ratings. Sellers also may not demand that buyers withdraw existing Feedback or Detailed Seller Ratings. These prohibitions apply to all Feedback activity, whether prior to, during, or after delivery of goods or services described in the original listing.
Breaches of this policy can result in a range of actions, including:
Forfeit of eBay fees on cancelled listings
Limits on account privileges
Loss of PowerSeller status
Feedback rating and/or comment removal
Examples of
Feedback Extortion
A buyer purchases a vehicle, and along with their payment sends an email stating, "If you don’t include high performance tyres and rims at no additional charge, I will leave you negative Feedback.”
A buyer purchases a toy which subsequently breaks. The buyer emails the seller, “If you do not send another item free of charge, I will leave negative Feedback.”
"Sell me all of the items in the multiple item auction or I will get all of my friends to buy them and leave negative feedback"
A seller receives payment from a buyer and then tells the buyer, “Leave me positive Feedback or I will not post your item.”
Examples that aren't Feedback Extortion
A buyer pays for an item and waits several weeks for it to arrive. The buyer then emails the seller, “The item is already late. If it is not here by tomorrow, I will leave you negative Feedback.”
A buyer receives an item and decides the item is significantly not as it was described in the original listing. The buyer threatens to leave negative Feedback unless the seller allows them to return it for a refund.
If you’ve experienced feedback extortion, please contact us.
Feedback extortion is not a reason for feedback removal under eBay’s Feedback Withdrawal and Removal Policy. It is possible to threaten negative feedback, but still leave a valid comment.
Not Feedback Extortion
“The item is already a day late, if it is not here by tomorrow I will leave you negative feedback.”
“If I don’t receive payment by tomorrow, I will leave negative feedback.”
“The item isn’t as described; if you don’t replace it I will leave you negative feedback.”
Why does eBay have this policy?
Feedback is the foundation of trust on eBay. Using eBay feedback to attempt to extort goods or services from another member undermines the integrity of the feedback system.
Must use Buy It Now and PayPal.
