POLL: Condition doesn't match your Request; Possible recourse?

If you've been following the other thread, you'll see there's quite a debate brewing about how to handle a game sent to you in incorrect form. I'll preface this with those who haven't read it, that I'm of the 'leave negative camp', but the poll will remain as unbiased in answers as possible.

Some possible choices for resolution:

First, leave negative. This has already been done a time or two with success, but admittedly, is not the orthodox/official way to remedy this case. I personally support it as requesting one condition and receiving another is enough to constitute a different game to me. In addition, listing the game incorrectly not only screws the buyer, but also screws all the honest sellers that listed their less than FP condition games honestly, only to be jumped over by a lying seller claiming to have the FP. Dishonesty deserves a punishment, and negative is suitable in my mind. Lastly, the resale/trade value of less than FP titles is knowingly hindered, therefore a game requested as FP, but received as less has quite a diminished value to the perplexed buyer, and is worth less in their eyes.

Since negative isn't the current accepted way to handle this, the first option is to make is so. Move the neutral bullets of 'Game arrived but not in the condition I requested' to negative, leaving only trivial complaints to fill the neutral category (such as insufficient postage). That way, users could avoid 'feedback abuse' by having an officially sanctioned option.

Option two would involve leaving the neutral categories where they stand, but add more weight to them. Others have suggested point refunds for incomplete titles (values to be decided), in an effort to compensate the buyer some for getting less than they bargained for. I actually like that idea as well, but would add that if a neutral form of feedback is warranted, the buyer should have the opportunity to cancel the trade first for a full refund OR take the loss with a small point compensation. Some sort of neutral with 'benefits' is being suggested here.

Lastly, leave it alone. I can't imagine this getting too much support, but it is a valid option to choose from. This would suggest to leave everything alone, conceding that -10 is enough of a deterrent to stop illegitimate listings. Unless you haven't had this happen to you before, I'd presume this would get little support. Still, it's in the poll, and if you have additional rationale for it, feel free to discuss it below.

I hesitate to put 'Other' as an option, as it can lead to a confusing conclusion to an otherwise helpful poll, but I'll throw it on there as well. I would insist that if you do choose 'Other' please state so and provide your suggestion, as you may have just the right idea to alleviate the issue that I and others hadn't considered.

So that's that. Like I said, I'm all for the maximum punishment for an improper listing, as lying should be something others are made aware of, and if a habit, something that can remove a troublesome user from our site. Feedback in and of itself doesn't hold much weight once a user is established, but it'd be nice to see when a user screwed over another, and this is just another act that I feel deserves flagging in red.

Discuss.

Recourse

What is a valid course of action when you don't get what you asked for (FP/DM/DO condition wise)?

Leave negative. If I asked for FP and received DO, I didn't get the game I paid for. (50.3%)
Leave neutral, but add more weight to the feedback through point refunds, buyer invoked cancelation choices, and other measures to curb the behavior. (36.6%)
Leave neutral, in the form offered currently. I feel -10 is enough of a deterrent to ward off potential scammers. (9.7%)
Other (3.4%)

Total Votes: 175

Posts 5,966

txa1265 replied on 07-07-2009 9:36 AM

I voted the 'leave it alone' option, but feel your wording was not so unbiased as you intended ...

I think that there should be an avenue for flagging 'packaging abuse', i.e. folks who come on the forums and more or less declare that they will mis-list and take their chances. We have ways to ID these folks and the G-team can handle it, but I don't think that it really gets back to compensatign those who have been partially scammed.

-- Mike

Catch my stuff at GearDiary,com!

Posts 13,687

Kenny007 replied on 07-07-2009 9:39 AM

I think overall it was a pretty neutral write up, whilst offering my own opinion to avoid having to post below, but I guess calling them 'scammers' could be construed as bias, but it seems to scam the system enough for me as multiple people lose with this false listings.

...just realized I forgot to put 'Other' in there though.

Posts 2,047

dtp11 replied on 07-07-2009 9:43 AM

txa1265:

I voted the 'leave it alone' option, but feel your wording was not so unbiased as you intended ...

I think that there should be an avenue for flagging 'packaging abuse', i.e. folks who come on the forums and more or less declare that they will mis-list and take their chances. We have ways to ID these folks and the G-team can handle it, but I don't think that it really gets back to compensatign those who have been partially scammed.

There you are! Long time no see! Anyway, I was going to ask why you didn't choose "other", but then I realized that it wasn't in there!

Gaming Signature

Posts 10,787

I-Weapon-X replied on 07-07-2009 9:45 AM

i didn't see an option for waterboarding?

Pizza guys are getting worse and worse looking. I guess all the good ones went into porn.

Posts 13,687

Kenny007 replied on 07-07-2009 9:46 AM

Apologies for the late addition of Other. I peronally think it's a useless option in most polls, but I said I'd add it, so there it be.

Posts 10,787

I-Weapon-X replied on 07-07-2009 9:46 AM

no poll option for waterboarding?

Pizza guys are getting worse and worse looking. I guess all the good ones went into porn.

Posts 13,687

Kenny007 replied on 07-07-2009 9:49 AM

I-Weapon-X:

no poll option for waterboarding?

Figures 5 posts in someone would suggest something to change my mind.

Posts 2,047

dtp11 replied on 07-07-2009 9:53 AM

Kenny007:

Apologies for the late addition of Other. I peronally think it's a useless option in most polls, but I said I'd add it, so there it be.

I've also never liked the "other" option in polls. Maybe taking it out and asking people to just "not vote", but explain in the comments? Whatever, these polls hold no weight anyways, right? Wink

Gaming Signature

Posts 13,687

Kenny007 replied on 07-07-2009 9:55 AM

dtp11:

Kenny007:

Apologies for the late addition of Other. I peronally think it's a useless option in most polls, but I said I'd add it, so there it be.

I've also never liked the "other" option in polls. Maybe taking it out and asking people to just "not vote", but explain in the comments? Whatever, these polls hold no weight anyways, right?

Maybe I should start a poll on Other's removal...

Posts 2,047

dtp11 replied on 07-07-2009 9:56 AM

Kenny007:

dtp11:

Kenny007:

Apologies for the late addition of Other. I peronally think it's a useless option in most polls, but I said I'd add it, so there it be.

I've also never liked the "other" option in polls. Maybe taking it out and asking people to just "not vote", but explain in the comments? Whatever, these polls hold no weight anyways, right?

Maybe I should start a poll on Other's removal...

Get to it!! Smile

Gaming Signature

Posts 1,386

Bobster823 replied on 07-07-2009 10:10 AM

I voted option two. You still get your game, but you are lacking everything you requested. A small point refund would seem sufficent enough. If this is possible, I don't know.

Cat in the walllll

Posts 13,687

Kenny007 replied on 07-07-2009 10:15 AM

It is a good selection, and in the other thread, dtp has me leaning towards it a bit more than I was initially. He even suggested that it could be tiered, based on the games cost, which makes sense really.

In addition, he brought up the idea of tiered punishment for repeat offenders, which would be beneficial with ANY system, even if everything were left alone now.

Posts 2

generic1 replied on 07-07-2009 10:23 AM

I voted "other." It seems that a majority of this is related to the lack of a disk + case option when trading.

Posts 1,258

madfigs replied on 07-07-2009 10:30 AM