Amazon.com AotZ Guarantee Negative Feedback, Cancelled Transaction, Used Guarantee, Slander, Libel Internet Nationwide Multinational

In October 2006, and I can't view the order due to technical issues on Amazon.com's end, I placed an order for a book with VashonIslandBooks.

They misshipped to the business name on the Amazon account, even though the packing slip address was a personal name and correct.

When the package was returned, VashonIslandBooks scourned me and even taunted me with scanned pictures showing "how MY address not their SHIPPING was wrong." I gave them a choice: Reship correctly, or AtoZ Guarnatee - either way you lose on shipping.

They demanded a credit card. I filed a claim, 2 days later it was approved: "Merchant shipped wrong, never received merchandise, refuses to reship at their cost."

They promptly left me UNSOLICITED negative feedback (I didn't feedback them until they missled me):
1 out of 5: "Bad Customer: Buyer has been reported to amazon abuse and fraud department. USPS will be notified for possible fraud. Do not Waste your time and effort !!!"
Date: 2/23/2006 Rated by Seller: vashonislandbooks

When Amazon refused to assist, ignoring their complicance of both torts and a class II felony (wrongful prosecution of mail fraud) crime, I posted the response:
"VashonBooks guilty of libel & fraud. Poor feedback score is representative of an Amazon-Approved AtoZ Guarantee claim where the shipper misshipped my book & broke his terms of service by demanding further non-Amazon payment to reship. Amazon has replied to me that they replied to & dismissed his complaint with Abuse/Fraud & Postmaster responded she received no complaint. DON'T USE VASHON BOOKS"
Date: 6/8/2007 tolkienlinguist

I advised Amazon my attorney will send a demand letter due to their ADMITTED complicance with the posting:
Thank you for writing to us regarding the feedback left on your account. Although your concern for this situation is valid, we are not able to remove feedback related to third-party ordering, except in certain limited circumstances, such as when personal information
is disclosed or profanity used. It's also worth noting that sellers do not have the ability to remove feedback they've left, in the way that buyers can.

We realize that this rating may reflect poorly on you, but we uphold a policy of non-removal as a service to all users of our site, and in the interests of fairness.

I do see that you generally receive high marks from sellers, and that this instance appears to be an exception to the norm. I expect that other sellers will see that the positive feedback overshadows the negative feedback on your account.

The above about sellers marks is a DIRECT LIE. I have never received any such feedback. Until Amazon can protect Buyers when using AtoZ, it is IMPOTENT and a 'turkey' (functions as planned but has a flaw) and I will buy on Half.com

I would not recommend VashonIslandBooks on Amazon or Half for this reason of their irrational & malicious behavior. I also call on Amazon.com to change:

1) Sellers who break the Terms of Service with fraud, libel, etc. need to be REMOVED from Amazon and all negative feedback they have given DELETED.

2) If the A to Z Guarantee is elected & approved by Amazon, all feedback from at least the Buyer's profile is removed, presumably due to seller non-compliance: OF COURSE the Seller will retaliate! If removing Buyer's feedback, then need to list number of A to Z Guarantee's used per year/per month/lifetime on all Sellers.

3) Require at least Sellers to rate buyers EVERY transaction so jerks like this get their feedback buried. eBay and Half already do this! No feedback, can't keep listing.

4) Change the Seller/Auction Terms of Service for Sellers so that they may not mention Amazon's fraud/abuse dept (to avoid implication) in feedback, or the feedback may be voided/removed and Seller account terminated. In leui of this, have a section on all feedback for Amazon to list THIER feedback when Sellers/Buyers are investigated/guilty/terminated/suspended/etc.

5) Change the Seller/Auction Terms of Service for Sellers so that they may not break criminal laws (at least), such as wrongful prosecution/compliant with authorities, etc. Libel should be banned if A to Z Guarantee was used.

6) Change the Terms of Service for Sellers that they may NEVER require any type of payment/repayment not through Amazon, to avoid fraud, scams and bogus reship fees. This may already be the case, in which Amazon is guilty of non-enforcement at my expnse.

7) Change the Terms of Service for Sellers so that they are accepting that they are risking shipping credits & shipping cash if they sell on Amazon, and that since Buyer shipping is non-refundable, so is Seller's shipping on reships.

I would call on VashonBooks, permiant sellers of New Age material, to live by their own beliefs of 'honest and integrity.' I would also call for their removal from business, if they don't.

Further, the 20 transactions I did do 'good deals' with in 2 years didn't even rate me. :( Amazon's reply: "I'm sure all the other great feedback we see will bury this feedback." What- and -ever.

Amazon should be protecting the good name of its buyers, or not selling at all.

Jon
Kentwood, Michigan