Amazon is changing its feedback removal policy. It made the announcement on March 23, 2018:
Upcoming Changes to the Seller Feedback Removal Policy
Mar 23, 2018
Currently, seller feedback is eligible for removal up to 365 days after the buyer submits it. Effective May 17, 2018, after 90 days seller feedback will no longer be eligible for removal. This policy change will apply to all seller feedback, including feedback submitted prior to this announcement. Feedback removal requests must still meet all other eligibility criteria to be considered for removal.
To learn more about managing your feedback, visit https://sellercentral.amazon.com/gp/help/761
The reaction from sellers seemed to be a collective shrug, with some expressing surprise Amazon had even had a policy where it would consider removing feedback for up to a year after it was left.
I had a buyer one time order an item on a Saturday afternoon, Expedited Shipping (not Express, not Next Day, not 2nd day… Expedited). He messaged me on Sunday and asked why it hadn’t shipped yet. I explained he ordered Expedited shipping and I would be shipping on Monday, our next business day. The order was shipped on Monday. He messaged me again on Tuesday because it did not arrive and he wanted a refund, which was denied. The order did arrive on Wednesday, but he sent another nasty email demanding a refund. Denied again. He then left a negative feedback indicating he ordered and paid for “Next Day Shipping” and I did not ship it Next Day. Amazon denied removing the feedback because they said it was the buyers was dissatisfied with the service received.
The funny thing is, if orders are fulfilled by amazon and a buyer left a feedback like that, they would remove it.