Feedback “extortion” is the rather dramatic name given to misusing feedback to get something that you want, rather than simply leaving feedback as a comment on something that has already happened.
A buyer might threaten to leave negative feedback if a seller doesn’t give them a refund, or promise to leave positive feedback if they get a faster shipping service than they paid for. A seller might ask for positive feedback from a buyer before they accept a return request.
The examples above, along with any other use of feedback as leverage against an eBay buyer of seller, fall under eBay’s feedback extortion policy.
Sellers can have their accounts suspended for feedback extortion, so it’s important to be aware of the policy.
Unlike buying feedback, which you can only really do deliberately, it’s possible to fall foul of the feedback extortion policy accidentally. For example, if a buyer asks to return an item they ordered due to their own mistake, the seller might think it’s fair to ask for positive feedback on the “original” purchase first. They might feel like they are doing the buyer a favor rather than “extorting” them in this situation!
However, eBay’s policy is clear: you can’t require a buyer to leave positive feedback, or specific seller ratings, or to revise existing feedback in order to get something they are already entitled to. But if, as far as you know, the transaction is already “concluded” then it’s fair game to ask for any of those things.
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