KOGAN Trying to bribe me to get good feedback

I purchased these "Kogan 8 Pack Replacement Toothbrush Heads (Hard Bristles) - Oral-B Compatible" from the Kogan eBay site.

I found they were not a good fit and the first head I attached broke within a few days, plus the heads do not last long. I posted negative feedback and received an email from Kogan today and I quote the relevant part.

"If we can provide you with a store credit for the purchase price of the item that you can apply to a future purchase on our website, would you consider amending your feedback for us?"

I think it is TOTALLY unethical for a company to try and bribe you into changing your feedback. What does it say about Kogan as a company?

I have send a complaint to eBay.

The item only cost me $9 so I could not bother to send it back.

Gar519

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Comments

  • Would be unethical if the feedback would be about the product. The feedback is about the service, so it's somewhat ok I guess.

  • +9

    I don't see this as a bribe but an attempt to resolve your dissatisfaction, I doubt that Kogan sold you product they knew was defective. Did you attempt resolution prior to the negative feedback? Imagine if you were an Ebay trader, where reputation is everything, and someone negged you because they didn't like the product they received.

    • +2

      I think you make a fair point, but don't you think the OP has done what is reasonable?
      Bought a product,
      Product was no good,
      Left feedback announcing experience (after all, this is what feedback is about isn't it?).

      Now it's good kogan has offered something, but if it was offered as a gesture of goodwill, that would be acceptable, in fact applaudable. But no, this is an offer, to change honest, legitmate feedback.

      So, I agree with OP.

      Paying someone, to change their feedback, as a matter of repute for others to see, isn't good business. Changing the product, so it is fit for purpose is right course of action I'd say" and offering OP another set of toothbrushes fit for purpose is most appropriate.

    • On ebay, how a seller responds to bad items is a part of 'seller behavior' that the feedback system is trying to capture. When I buy from an ebay seller with good reputation, I expect good service, timely responses, timely delivery of products, and if the products are bad, i expect good service and fair resolutions.

      Obviously, if you get a bad item, it's completely up to you as the buyer to decide whether or not you want to give the seller a chance to fix things up.

      Would you have felt better if instead, the seller had offered a full refund? This is a fairly standard practice of 'good sellers', even in real world stores (e.g. part of the reputation of a lot of big chains like target, woolies, bunnings, etc. is that if you are un-satisfied with an item, you know you can take it back and ask for a refund and be treated fairly); so I would not call it bribery.

      Anyway, when you leave feedback you should still be able to do something like, leave positive feedback and say "Product seemed defective but received full refund". I think I'd only call it bribery if they wanted you to not say anything about the quality of the product.

  • +7

    you must be fun at parties.

  • +4

    Why not amend the feedback to "Product was not of great quality, however Kogan provided store credit"

    • This, or even say "Product broken, but received store credit". If they ask you to change your assessment of the product, then that's where it goes from "trying to provide good service to fix a bad product" to "dishonestly" IMO.

  • This is standard ebay practice

  • i was hung over and bought something mistakenly from the kogan store during the boxing day sale. i asked for a refund and they offered me a store credit, so i asked for money back into my account and they were happy to do this.
    they are a online company so if you couldn't be bothered to send the product back which i'm sure is part of their process, then you certainly don't deserve a refund. as robbyjones said above, their credit offer is to try resolve your dissatisfaction. if your not happy with credit ask to return the product at their expense and a refund. if you're not satisfied after that then complain all you like.

  • +4

    I bought these from kogan too. All of them broke after only a couple of uses. I complained but it seems kogan didn't give a shit and they are still selling them.

  • Neither eBay nor Kogan cares about your negative feedback, 99% is as good as you will ever get dealing in those quantities. You'll receive a standardised reply email from eBay, enjoy reading it for the time you've wasted.

  • +1

    If you want you can report them to eBay as it's against ebays policy.

    • I have reported them to eBay and part of their reply follows.

      We are really concerned in situations like this and appreciate your vigilance about this issue. Be assured that we are closely monitoring Kogan's site activities and we will take action on their account once violation is detected. As soon as these sanctions accumulate on their account, then our actions will progress and in some cases this means that the member may be allowed to continue to use eBay, but on a limited and closely monitored basis.

  • It was a request with the question 'Would you consider….' it did not blackmail you by saying: We will provide you with a store credit ONLY IF we can sight an amendment to your feedback. So since you are unwilling to post back the faulty heads, yet they are willing to provide a store credit, I would say 'yes' to their question and after receiving the credit, you could add another feedback acknowledging them for offering a store credit. This does not mean you have to remove the feedback about lousy product, instead you are commenting new feedback about their customer service and courtesy in giving you a store credit.

  • Kogan sold me a faulty product, no apology… no, we will contact the supplier. Just amend your feedback to positive, even though the product was faulty and we'll refund your money.

    Not good enough for a major Australian on line retailer.

    Also those that commented that Kogan does not care about your negative feedback, "99% is as good as you will ever get dealing in those quantities",why do they want me to change it?

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