I'm sure this question may seem kind of weird, but in all honestly I'm probably (e.g. most definitely) a coward.

For the last month or two I've been having a lot of trouble with on-line purchases, and when it comes to leaving feedback I have a difficult time leaving negative feedback - even when it is completely justified.

This doesn't mean I give them a positive rating... I usually just don't bother rating. I know this is the complete opposite of what I should be doing, but at the same time I make it a habit of ordering off people with a feedback score in the very high 90's. If others are like me in doing this those few horror stories don't really scare me off so I don't know how valuable my feedback would really be even though I shouldn't think this way.

I'm not sure if I'm worried about retaliatory negatives or what.

Currently, I waited two weeks for a package and messaged the seller today and kind of got a sorry excuse. I'm sorry you don't feel good, but unless I was bedridden I would get the items in the mail in a reasonable time frame. If I couldn't do it I'd do my darnedest to try and get someone trustworthy to do it in lieu for me.

Anyway, sorry for going off on a tangent on the last part. I guess what I want to know is anyone else have difficulty leaving negative feedback in situations that really call for it?

My way is to leave the negative feedback but do it in a completely non-emotive way, simply stating the facts. I don't add AVOID!!!! or BAD SELLER!!11 or f@*#!!!! So I'm not looking to rile up the seller. Simply state whatever happened. Ordered on this date. Shipped whatever weeks later. Limited communication received on this date, or whatever.

I went more than a decade on ebay with no negative feedback, and then last year got 5 from 2 people because they won auctions and changed their minds and didn't want to pay but I made them pay for them.  Yup, everything I did is completely by the book, but because I didn't kowtow to deadbeats I got a bunch of feedback that ebay wouldn't remove.  So, on the one hand what Jay says is correct, but on the other hand it also doesn't make a lick of difference.  Someone like me who rarely sells just has to live with the blemish, and I'm sure if they were a power seller that they have the clout to make ebay remove it.

This. It's important to be assertive, just don't break the golden rule: DBAD (don't be a dick). It's hard to argue with point-blank facts that don't have any emotion behind them.

If I remember correctly, you can reply to their feedback to state the facts there.  That's probably the best you can do in situations like that.

Yeah, I replied to every single one, but it still doesn't look very good.  Anyone who works a job where you have to directly deal with customers knows people will just make things up, so I'm honestly surprised you don't see more of it... of course that is in part because ebay removed the ability of sellers to leave feedback on buyers.  Sellers really have next to no recourse.

Pretty much what Jay and Zane said. Leaving negative feedback can actually be important believe it or not. If a seller is ripping you off, he/she will probably rip others off too. You can also email the seller with "I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to open a case with ebay and leave negative feedback if I don't receive my item within a week." See what happens. Also, just so everyone knows, if you sell an item on ebay, and the seller backs out and leaves negative feedback, ebay will remove it. You may have to email them but they will remove it if the buyer did not pay. If they paid and didn't like the item, ebay can do nothing even if they buyer is a total ass. At any rate, do what you feel is right Ashley, but again, I think you shouldn't feel bad to leave negative feedback when warranted.

Hit the nail on the head.

I concur with the sentiment of keeping it business, not personal. State what happened.