How much should I weigh a seller's feedback rating on eBay?
As someone who frequently buys items on eBay, I often encounter sellers with varying levels of experience and feedback ratings. While I understand that all sellers have to start somewhere, I'm curious to know how much weight I should give to a seller's feedback rating when making a purchase. Are there certain thresholds or benchmarks I should be looking for when considering a seller's feedback rating, or is it more subjective? Additionally, are there other factors I should be taking into account beyond just the feedback rating, such as the seller's sales history, return policy, or communication style?
On the flip side, I'm also curious about what to do when encountering a seller with a lower feedback rating. How much should I be concerned about negative feedback or lower sales volumes, and what steps can I take to ensure a positive buying experience? Are there any red flags or warning signs I should be on the lookout for when considering a purchase from a seller with a lower feedback rating?
As a relatively new eBay buyer, I would greatly appreciate any insights or advice from more experienced buyers on how to navigate the feedback system and make informed purchasing decisions.
simba6
·3 years agoWhen you see a lot of poor feedback for the same issue. That is when you might want to look to another seller.
ryanrobyn
·3 years agoI'll give you an example of one buyer's feedback. Sold brand new Ivanka Trump shoes still in the box wrapped in tissue. I had to open box to take photos. Buyer claimed NAD because I touched the shoes and she left negative feedback. I had 100% for years before this negative feedback arrived. Ebay made me return her money, shipping and allowed her to keep the shoes.
dirk12955
·3 years agoYears ago I received a neg for NIB doll. Husband bought it for his wife as a Christmas present.
Either the neg was because she already had it or it was smaller than expected, even though
the listing did have the size.
I received a neg a while back from a guy because he was mad at ebay and wanted to
send them a message, via my feedback.
reallynicestamps
·3 years ago@ryanrobyn
Did you not send a Return Shipping Label ?
Even if you have a No Returns policy you are allowed to demand the return of the disputed item before refunding.
And No Returns does not mean No Refunds.
ryanrobyn
·3 years agoI never have no returns. Did send return label -been selling for over 25 years and know the rules. Buyer never returned shoes and eBay just allowed her to do so. Actually such a thing occurs more frequently than one is aware of. I've heard and seen everything. In s showdown Ebay favors the buyer
sextons-sweet-deals
·3 years agoEvery situation can be different. I look at many things when dealing with sellers & buyers like the feedback they received and the feedback they leave for others. How long they have been active. If it is a new buyer who just created an account to purchase, I will Google the address and probably send the item with signature required.
I have recently noticed that member feedback profiles seem a little confusing or even hidden / false. The last 6 to 8 weeks eBay had been rolling out updates / changes. What I just noticed today was a listing I was looking at. The seller has 24 feedback with a gold star. I opened up the feedback history and this seller actually has 45 positive feedbacks received in the last 12 months.
Why would this seller have a 24 and not the 45 and more? I read all feedback received and the feedback the seller left. All are positive.
mudshark61369
·3 years ago@wilmcg-8219,
"I often encounter sellers with varying levels of experience and feedback ratings... I'm curious to know how much weight I should give to a seller's feedback rating when making a purchase".
As you inadvertently pointed out there are two or three main things to look for when considering feedback numbers or percentages. Which is why you should view each seller's feedback profile page, before buying from one.
A seller's country of registry can be important, because some are registered outside of the U.S. but give item locations in the country. They may ship or drop ship from their country of registry. Beware of those who use American Flag symbols and have several mentions of being a U.S. seller or having U.S. stock, on their listing pages.
Then there is a seller's feedback percentage that you see on a listing page. That number can be skewed by the total number of feedback they have received. There are a few ultra high volume sellers who have right around a 99% rating but also have over 1 thousand negatives and a similar number of neutral feedback. You have to keep in mind that the neutral feedback do not affect a seller's percentage, but for the most part they should be negatives.
On a profile page you may see a seller has been a member for years and has received a very high number of feedback. However, the number received in the last 12 months is low, comparatively speaking. That can indicate the seller has more than one account and switches between them if one's feedback percentage gets too low.
eBay's low or medium volume sellers can have a feedback percentage below 98.6% which many consider to be the cut off point for not buying from a high volume seller. They may have only one or just a couple of negatives.
As for experience, that is important. You may find an item listed by a seller who has a fair or even high number of feedback, and a 100% rating, but it could all or mostly be for buying in the last year. So you have to click on the As a seller tab on a profile page.
New sellers and those who have not sold anything in over a year, often run into problems because of their lack of selling experience.
New/inexperienced sellers often have poor quality listing descriptions and few photos. They start auctions at very low prices per ebay's poor suggestion to do that to encourage bidding.
Many do not know that ebay will place a 21 day Hold on their first few payments, and how to deal with it, to complete the transaction, and get the funds released.
As a result they often end up with negative feedback.
As @reallynicestamps pointed out the feedback comments a seller leaves for non positive feedback is important. Some blame their buyers for their problems and call them names. Others replies to feedback may indicate that they were written by a person whose first language is not English. Those who start reply comments with "Dear" are usually Asia based.
reallynicestamps
·3 years agoBeware of those who use American Flag symbols
A case of "doth protest too much" there.
And I'd add religious comments no matter how benign.
has received a very high number of feedback. However, the number received in the last 12 months is low,
This can also indicate a hijacked account.
mudshark61369
·3 years ago@reallynicestamps,
You replied to my post ;
has received a very high number of feedback. However, the number received in the last 12 months is low,
Stating: "This can also indicate a hijacked account".
Most often the indication of a hijacked account is: No feedback received at all in over a year except for 1or2 received as a buyer in the last 6 months or year. Any previous feedback for selling has nothing to do with what is currently listed, and those are items with lower than trending prices.
We haven't seen much of that recently since the fake tracking scams started.
reallynicestamps
·3 years agothe indication of a hijacked account
@mudshark61369
I agree.
In spite of the hamhanded way eBay has been treating "suspects", I think the many complaints we see from returning or even active sellers about their difficulties setting up Managed Payments accounts indicates that eBay is trying to prevent account hijacking and trying to make it more difficult for those scammers.
I keep asking this, and haven't had an answer.
Does using the extended zipcode (90210-1234) help prevent the fake tracking scam over the basic code (90210)?
soh.maryl
·3 years agoJust wanted to remind you that eBay is heavily biased in favor of buyers.
That means that, if you choose what looks like a good seller, but have a negative buying experience, you have eBay's Money Back Guarantee for buyers which offers very good protection for buyers if/when a transaction goes wrong.
The catch with the MBG is that a buyer need to read it, understand it and use it in a timely fashion. How about starting out, before you make your purchase, with reading it?
dirk12955
·3 years agoThere are bad sellers with good feedback There are good sellers with bad feedback.
I agree with the poster that said Look at the way a seller responds to that Negative.
reallynicestamps
·3 years agoThe numbers are less important than what is said.
The important thing to look for is patterns. Complaints about poor quality, bad or no communication, slow shipping are important if they are common. A single complaint can be ignored.
There are some people who cannot be made content with anything. Often just reading the feedback they leave will tell you to ignore them.
And ratios.
A seller could have 500 negs and a 100% FB rating, because they have 50,000 positive FB.
Again, read the negs for patterns. Is the problem a particular item? Did one buyer leave a dozen negs? Was there a short period where the seller's account went all gooey? Is the complaint common over many different items?
And Responses.
The way a seller responds to complaints says a lot about his personality and his ability to deal with problems.