It's not the system, the problem is the people. Please allow me to explain. While I agree, the eBay feedback system could use an update, as it has essentially remained the same for nearly 25 years, the true issue here is how the behaviors and attitudes of humanity has changed during that time.
I've been around eBay for a very long time, and once upon a time, it was a true community. Your feedback rating reflected your word. If you had a few negative feedback, it didn't matter what your price or item was, getting a sale would be difficult, cause trust and integrity had to be earned within that community. My how times have changed! In recent years, it doesn't even matter that I have flawless 5 star, 100% feedback, if someone can get that item for $1 less from a seller with multiple negatives and neutrals, they do that. That has nothing to do with the system, it has everything to do with the values of the people using said system.
My amazing feedback used to actually have it's own value. A customer could buy with confidence, knowing they were buying from someone they can trust, someone who knew what they were doing, etc. Now, it seems most buyers don't care, they have taken the personal touch out of the buying experience. I do an incredible job at making sure my customer is happy, I take pride in it and it seems to go unappreciated far more often then not.
I don't want to blame the younger generations, but they don't seem to place any value on my experience or reputation. They want their item at the lowest cost and they don't have the manners to say thank you most times.
I could go on and on about the moral and ethic decline of society as a whole, especially over the last few years. But the jist of it is that people are not as kind, well mannered, courteous or appreciative as in decades past. The technology has left many online users with a shorter attention span and a much more cold demeanor. It's obvious that the problem is of much larger scope then just eBay.
With that said, I do agree that the feedback system needs a revamp. Sadly, with the moral decline of humanity, if the buyer isn't offered an incentive or reward for doing what is right (leaving feedback/saying thank you), they don't feel motivated to do it, which validates my persepctive on the selfish and unkind nature of humanity now. So, yes, if they were given some kind of stacking reward points for feedback given, we might actually get some, as oppossed to the 20%-30% that most of us are lucky to now recieve.
I hate to sound like an old crumdgeon but I am absolutely sickened by the lack of feedback I get overall, not just as a seller, but also buying. People forget how to say "thank you". It's disgraceful and sad and I expect it to actually worsen in time.
For perspective, I currently have 16 (!!!) feedback that have not been given in return. That's 16 in the last 60 days. The splits are absolutely even too. 8 as a buyer, 8 as a seller. That's 16 people that did not return feedback. Mind boggling how rude and inconsiderate most people have become. Again, this isn't just an eBay thing, it's a human thing.
I WEEP for humanity.
