legalistic detail in snad extortion case

Update 21 July 2010, report from sleekautoaccessories: eBay removed that feedback from the member in Qatar based on "Services Outside of the original transaction".

Case involves seller, sleekautoaccessories, who sold some car parts to buyer, abudiak64.

A recent clarification of extortion rules has added some useful examples, of both extortion and non-extorition. Quoting an example of what IS extortion:

A buyer threatens to leave negative Feedback or low DSRs unless he or she gets a full refund without shipping the item back to the seller.


Buyer lives in Qatar, but had the parts shipped to a relative in New York, who then forwarded them to Qatar. Including shipping, the item cost about $45 as delivered in New York.

Buyer was displeased with the item quality, and contacted seller.

Buyer offered to take a full refund, or to return the stuff with seller paying return shipping from Qatar, which buyer suggested would be $120. Buyer threatened negative unless seller, in effect, agreed to a full refund with no return.

Seller refused, and re-offered a full refund, including return shipping from New York, if buyer returned the stuff.

Buyer negged.

rubbish pillars bad cuttings ugly ends do not recommend Buyer: Member id abudiak64 ( Feedback Score Of 62) Jul-02-10 13:54
Reply by sleekautoaccessories (Jul-02-10 15:31):
Attempt feedback extortion to keep item & full refund Trust & safety will remove
07 08 2009 09 2010 10 GMC YUKON Chrome Pillar Post Trim (#150452630901) US $32.95 View Item

Seems to run afoul of the example, and seller would be protected, right?

No.

Since buyer was not refusing to return the stuff, this was not ruled extortion.

Bottom line seems to be:

Buyer threatens neg if no full refund and refusing to return: extortion.
Buyer threatens neg if no return shipping, and return shipping is a lot: not extortion.
Buyer threatens neg if no partial refund and refusing to return: not extortion.