So I buy a small security safe from an outdoor equipment company

through an online auction. As soon as the auction ended, I paid for the item with my credit card and sent them an email with all my particulars.

Weeks go by and still nothing. I called 6 times, wrote them (both email and print letters), and used the auction site's problem resolution center to get the item I paid for. Each time I talked to them, it was the same "it's shipping today or tomorrow."

So, finally, after over a month of waiting around, they ship the safe and I get it a week later. Not satisfied with their customer service, I left poor feedback on the auction site.

Well...fast forward to today when I *finally* get an email: "We saw you left bad feedback for us and want you to remove it. We're willing to wheel and deal to earn you back as a customer."

So, I said I was in the market looking for a new hunting knife and if they could help defray the cost of one with a gift certificate.

Answer: "I cannot send you a gift certificate but we can ship, postage-free, a knife that you purchase. Now, please remove the negative feedback."

How do I say "Get Bent" in a professional, businesslike manner?

Tell them that their offer isn't good enough. It's to their benefit to have you remove the negative feedback, and that's under your control. I'd make a couple of counteroffers, or repeat the original offer. They're in business, so they should be able to figure things out.

After all, they ignored you for more than a month, yes?

Here's a thought: Tell them you will remove the bad feedback after the same amount of time passed that it took you to get your safe.

feedback is so the same thing doesn't happen to others. I'm sure it would be nice to get some sort of deal on a new hunting knife, but by refusing to deal, you're helping other potential buyers make an informed decision. Would you have still bought the safe if you thought it was going to take 5 or 6 weeks and loads of extra time spent on your part to get it?

in the old days feedback could not be removed

now you can't trust it, anyway, they will just pay $15 and have it removed themselves if it means that much to them

this probably means that you should ask to receive a free item that with shipping is still under $15 to remove the feedback

but DON'T remove it until you receive the item or maybe just "forget" to remove it at all :evilgrin:

People need to know they shipped late and then, when you called them on it in feedback, they offered you money to change your feedback.

So, you can either wheel and deal and get something cool before you let the world know who they are; or, just ignore them and keep your integrity intact, and keep the feedback where it is.

You might also want to report to the auction site what this company is doing - I'm sure they're violating all sorts of rules.