ebay negative feedbacks

since i started selling on ebay in october, i've accrued numerous negative feedbacks. i'll admit, there are few things more frustrating than when people leave a negative feedback without "warning" me that they are unsatisfied. i think people in general are wonderful, they are patient, understanding, and willing to give people the benefit of the doubt. i really appreciate that, i've had a lot of problems this winter with the usps losing orders, and i've had to replace nearly $400 of merchandise, and most people have been very understanding (especially when i give them partial/full refunds)

a couple of these i can understand why the people were upset, as it took roughly two weeks to get their items shipped, and the usps tracking # was faulty. some of these i think are the result of people thinking/assuming/expecting/demanding that we operate like some sort of official responsible company.

however, some people i honestly think are just waiting to leave a negative feedback. i think it is a way to feel powerful; to feel like you are somehow delivering some sort of justice for an online transaction that did not go according to your expcectations. i get the distinct sense from some people that they are way too tightly wound, and need to stop being so passive aggressive (aka leaving a negative feedback without any warning of dissatisfaction) and start trusting in the goodness of mankind, more specifically, in my willingness to leave customers satisfied.

i don't think people realize that this business is run almost entirely by one person, that is frantically scrambling to make orders and get them shipped out as fast as possible. sometimes, an email falls through the cracks, and sometimes (2 times actually) my delayed response to one email can lead to someone feeling wholly ignored, while i don't intend to ignore anyone. like most artistic types, i am a scatterbrained, procrastinating, unorganized business type - who much prefers to put my energy into making cool clothes. i am also, however, fully cogniscant of the need to run a responsible business, and am more than willing to make up for my ineptitude in shipping etc with sending free stuff, discounted shipping and other forms of compensation.

i don't want to make excuses for my failure to "please" every customer, becuase that is my goal for this business, but i think it is fair to consider how vulnerable i am to the likelihood that amidst the hundreds of people we serve, some of them are a bit trigger happy with the negative feedback.