Trademe's feedback policy is easily manipulated by vindictive traders

March 17, 2026 05:18

A few days ago I got my first negative feedback (I have over 200 positive feedbacks). The person who left it waited until just before the cut off point for getting Trademe to intervene (ie 45 days after the trade ends). Trademe is now refusing to help because its been more than 45 days since the auction ended - even though I reported the feedback the same day I was notified of it. The feedback is from a seller who sent me a mouldy book. I didn't ask for a refund or do anything nasty - I just told them the book had arrived mouldy and left neutral feedback. The negative feedback is clearly retaliatory and breaches the Code of Conduct. Its so disappointing that Trademe is letting the feedback system be manipulated and abused in this way. I'm planning on permanently closing my Trademe account over this as its plainly unfair.

3 comments

S Community Superuser
March 17, 2026 06:41

Kia Ora benjansss,

Sorry to read of your experience with that Trade,

The Help file you want to refer to is Feedback policy – Help - Trade Me

Whilst you placed your dispute within the allowable window it's highly unlikely to have been altered or removed as it doesn't contain offensive, defamatory or retaliatory language or content. - Overtime it's possible to obtain 100% positive feedback even with the one negative result. - All the Best.

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Callum Community Superuser
March 17, 2026 18:40

Yes unfortunately they have really tightened up on feedback. Unless it clearly breaches the policy it will remain. You might notice there is even nothing there any more about retaliatory feedback. It's a shame because that seller is particularly bad at doing it. Even if a buyer leaves a positive, but is critical, he often slaps them with a negative.

I couldn't find your feedback on the sellers page? Did you delete it?

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benjansss
March 22, 2026 06:19

Hi Callum - trademe agreed to delete it after I showed them the latest nasty emails. Yes that seller really is extraordinary - his google reviews for his physcial store are full of horror atories. Thanks for your message.

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