Monday, March 1, 2021

Ebay Practices Cancel Culture Against Buyers

 


Yes, it includes shoppers now.


I signed up for Ebay in 1999.  I have bought and sold many items during these many years and have a feedback rating at 100%.  Never had any issues with them or others with me.


So imagine my surprise when I went to order some silver coins from  the dealer Liberty.coin on Ebay and I got the message you see above.  It’s telling me the transaction can not take place due to my lack of posting reviews of items I have bought.  I was shocked!  I assumed that posting reviews was voluntary.  You are being tagged if you don’t write product reviews.  So being a constant and good costumer is of no account?


I reported this issue to the dealer, Liberty.coin and they reported back that it was an action taken by Ebay and I needed to address the issue with them.  Apparently, Liberty doesn’t mind losing a $740 sale either.


After examining Ebay’s User Agreement, there is no mention of any requirement to write reviews of purchased products.  Handing out punishment for rules violations that are not rules is bizarre to say the least.  Agreement HERE.


So far, I have not bought anything else on Ebay to experience if this includes other times that are not coin related.  The message states being blocked as temporary but no time period is listed.  It might still be in play or not.

So, beware of what might happen in the age of punishing people for what amounts to minor infractions.  Or in my case, things that are not rule violations at all.