My opinion hasn't changed. The new feedback is for an item that ended on Feb. 2. You keep saying he should have returned e-mails, and I agree, but that doesn't make him a thief. I believe you are limiting your options by posting negative feedback so early and in such strong terms. After only a couple weeks, a seller is still entitled to the benefit of the doubt.

Let's imagine it from a different point of view:

"Hello fellow Chip Board collectors:
"I am fairly new at selling on eBay, but I think it's time to give it up. I recently sold a set of chips using the Buy it Now feature. The buyer sent a check rather promptly. It arrived on a Friday, but I wasn't able to deposit it until Monday. Since it was for a lot of money, I didn't ship right away because I wanted to make sure the check cleared. Then tragedy hit. My house caught fire while my son was cooking alone at home. He was severely injured, and the kitchen and adjoining office area were badly damaged. My wife and I spent a lot of time at the burn center, while simultaneously dealing with the insurance company, a contractor, and the joys of living in a hotel while the house is being repaired. I only now was able to return to work, with all these problems swirling around.

"Imagine my surprise when I logged onto the computer and saw that the buyer in my auction had already posted negative feedback against me, and called me a thief. He did this simply because I had not responded to his e-mails during the time I lacked computer access and was dealing with multi-level emergencies.

"His chips were not damaged in the fire, but I haven't been able to get much of my personal belongings out of the house yet, other than clothes and other essentials. I plan to respond to the buyer's e-mail, but I'm not sure how to handle it.

"I would normally apologize and tell him I will send the chips as soon as humanly possible, or offer a refund. Now I'm not sure I want to deal with him, since he has called me a thief. I should probably just refund his money. What do you think?

"Oh, and now that he has called me a thief, other buyers during that time period are starting to post negative feedback about me too.

"Any advice?"

PS: the fire story is true - it is my story, even though I was not the seller in this case. Fortunately, my buyers understood when I was slow in shipping, and no one posted negative feedback about me or called me a criminal. I needed the benefit of the doubt, and I give it.