Why is it acceptable for a seller to hold a buyer hostage by not giving feedback?
Ok, probably sounds strange but let me explain. I'm new to ebay but I'm finding these sellers can be pretty shady. When I buy something, sometimes I'll notice a seller won't leave me a feedback until after I left a feedback. Yes, I know it could be a coincidence. But I'm thinking also that they hold that pending feedback over our heads so we get scared knowing that as soon as we leave a negative feedback, we're going to be retaliated against with a negative feedback of our own. How is this right?
A buyers job is to simply pay for the item on time and that's it or am I missing something?
21 comments
niftyfindsinphoenix
·3 years agoI leave feedback for buyers first and if the buyer can leave feedback (completely up to them) that would be appreciated. gaining feedback organically is great as well.
wastingtime101
·3 years agoSince buyers can only receive pos FB, in my view the purpose buyer FB serves is for a seller to say thanks for choosing my store. With few exceptions, that's about it.
I don't have time to babysit FB so my FB for buyers is left automatically: sellers can choose that automation setting at time of buyer payment or when buyer leaves pos FB first. There used to be a third option to leave it at the time of shipping, but eBay got rid of that.
There's nothing wrong with sellers that prefer to wait for the buyer to leave FB before they do. The transaction is not over when the buyer pays/seller ships. Sometimes buyers are unhappy with a transaction and the way they communicate is through FB instead of messages. Some buyers turn out to be scammers. Many buyers cancel and end up not being a customer in the end.
If a buyer is scared or thinks FB is being held over their head then the buyer is putting way too much stock in FB. FB is more relevant for sellers than buyers.
The only time it becomes a problem is when a buyer contacts a seller and asks for FB because for whatever reason FB is really important to that buyer. Then the seller plays stupid games telling the buyer they absolutely refuse to leave FB until the buyer leaves it first. Reasonable sellers will quickly diffuse things and leave a quick FB comment. But some sellers tell the buyer there's no way they'll leave FB until the buyer does it first. Then they come here whining when the buyer negs them for it.
You say you're new to eBay but on another thread said you sold here years ago?
kensgiftshop
·3 years agoYour listing for the 45 records isn't allowed.
The buyer needs to know what record they are buying and not some random one you pick off the pile.
wastingtime101
·3 years agoYep, a few of us pointed this out yesterday:
https://community.ebay.com/t5/New-to-selling-on-eBay/What-advice-would-you-give-a-new-seller/m-p/33576867#M1051
kalyoth
·3 years agoAs ebay has changed greatly over the 26+ years of it's existence, the treatment to it's buyers & sellers through it's policies has as well changed. For most cases, feedback is virtually worthless now upon ebay, through direct monetization of ebay by ebay to compete with actual commerce sites. Afterall, no one buys from terrible looking sellers. So, ebay has taken extraordinary steps to allow sellers to remove 9/10 of every negative feedback received with limitations. Shiny sellers make buyers spend money, the rules completely work towards a sale being made & a commission being collected by ebay.
In terms of your feedback assumption - a seller is not finished with a transaction until they know the buyer is happy with their transaction. If problems exist, they continue said transaction until they are resolved via returns, money or passage of time. The buyer is pretty much the driver for the entire transaction from start to finish.
kensgiftshop
·3 years agoI don't know why so many buyers think their job is done just because they do what they are supposed to do, pay.
The way I look at it, the job of the buyer and seller isn't over until both sides are happy, then the transaction is done, then feedback can be given.
A lot of sellers get burned on giving feedback as soon as the buyer pays or they ship the item.
femmefan1946
·3 years agoBuyers can only receive positive feedback.
EBay does not use feedback to assess member accounts.
There is no immediate benefit to a seller to leave feedback. Or for that matter for a buyer.
Sellers are here to sell. Buyers are here to buy.
Feedback is voluntary.
I understand those who don't leave feedback at all. It's just another task in a busyday.
I don't understand sellers who don't leave feedback immediately.
It doesn't make any difference in a Dispute.
I make mine work for me.
It includes the date of shipping, since I don't usually track, and reminds my buyer that I am shipping from Canada which may help some buyers by reminding them about borders.
dy60609
·3 years ago...
dy60609
·3 years agoBeing "top rated" is not dependent upon one's return policy. Been "top rated" for years, and years, and years with a "no returns accepted" policy.
soh.maryl
·3 years agoYes, you are "missing something".
Feedback is entirely optional and voluntary, not required. Either party in a transaction can leave it or not. Since buyers can only be given positive FB, some sellers just don't bother. Please read that again. Buyers cannot be given negative FB so your hypothesis about a seller retaliating with negative FB is false. Not something you need to worry about.
mudshark61369
·3 years ago@murky36,
"A buyers job is to simply pay for the item on time and that's it or am I missing something?"
WRONG!! Paying quickly is the minimum requirement for buyers. There are more important things like:
Reading everything in a description before buying.
Ask any questions about an item or shipping before buying.
Researching an unfamiliar product before buying ...
Since you have just started selling, you will eventually find out just how important those things are.
You can leave feedback anyway you wish, but do not be surprised if you only receive feedback from 50% of your buyers, maybe a higher percentage from collectibles buyers. Check the feedback profile pages of some of the sellers you have bought from, chances are they have left a higher percentage of feedback for buyers than they have received.
FYI,
A No returns policy will not protect you if an Item Not As Described case is opened. You will get better search placement if you select a return policy, and you will be eligible to get a Top Rated status with one.
kathiec
·3 years agoRule #1: Don't obsess about feedback. Rule #2: See Rule #1.
Feedback is voluntary. Some sellers leave it, some don't. Some buyers leave it, some don't. Since 2008, when sellers lost the ability to give buyers negative feedback, a lot of sellers don't see the point. And honestly, they're right. Since it's all positive buyer feedback is pretty worthless. Seller feedback, on the other hand, is one of the indicators you can use to weed out bad sellers. So when I buy I always leave feedback when the package arrives and is what I ordered. But I never pay any attention to whether a seller leaves me feedback in return.
simba6
·3 years agoNo one was or is ever required to leave any feedback.
sapphire_studio
·3 years agoWhat you are most likely experiencing are buyers who have chosen the second choice here:
 
It is impossible to leave negative or neutral feedback to buyers and if you leave a negative comment in a positive feedback you can get suspended (there was a large seller doing it and posted on here that he got suspended for no reason and I believe that was the reason ebay suspended him).
So I dont think they choose the second option for automatic feedback once they get postive feedback because they plan on leaving negative feedback if they get any. But I do think these sellers somehow want more control and they want to reward the buyers that leave them good feedback and they want to make sure they dont leave positive feedback to buyers if the buyer does turn out to be someone who leaves them a negative.
I saw one poster here who takes feedback that sellers leave so seriously he refuses to purchase from any seller he sees leaving automatic feedback to all buyers that pay. That seems completely crazy to me. I think the most professional sellers are leaving automatic feedback to all buyers, and the people who have the ability to leave automatic feedback to buyers and are still choosing to do it manually are just volunteering to waste their precious time that could go into growing their business.
buyselljack2016
·3 years agoI'm not a big enough seller to think I have lost too much precious time leaving feedback manually ................. after I ship.
Auto feedback when buyer pays, and then 5 minutes later request to cancel. Buyer feedback is basically meaningless, but I draw the line when it comes to the buyer getting a free + on my BIN IPR listing when I have to cancel before I ship.
sapphire_studio
·3 years agoYeah I definitely do not think there's anything wrong at all if people decide to leave it manually. When you are a small seller you would totally have that luxury more than larger sellers who just wouldn't have the time to do that. Everybody has the right to leave feedback how they want to it's just in my mind sort of a sign of leveling up when you do make that change to doing it automatically instead of manually but that's totally my own opinion.
murky36
OP3 years agoAhhh ok case closed then guys! I had no idea a seller can't leave negative feedback! There I go thinking (or not thinking) again! Thanks guys, and sorry to waste your time!
alcoforever
·3 years agoFirst, feedback is voluntary so you are not being held hostage.
Many sellers have discontinued leaving any feedback as it is becoming more and more meaningless. Other sellers automatically leave feedback either when the buyer pays or when they ship. Still other sellers don't want to waste time leaving feedback for those buyers that seldom or never leave feedback. These sellers typically leave feedback only if they get feedback from a buyer.
mtgraves7984
·3 years ago"... so we get scared knowing that as soon as we leave a negative feedback, we're going to be retaliated against with a negative feedback..."
@murky36
Yes. The buyer's job is to pay for the item on time. The only thing you're missing is that sellers can't leave negatives fb.
klhmdg
·3 years agoI have never left a negative FB in all the years I have been here.
I also have never bought from a shady seller BUT I do my homework before I buy.
Some sellers leave buyer FB after the Buyer does for the reason that the Seller then knows the buyer was satisfied with the item.
FB is also voluntary and no one HAS to leave any at all.
buyselljack2016
·3 years agobuyers can not get negative feedback from a seller unless they are foolish enough to buy and sell on the same ID
a bad seller may buy from you to leave a negative feedback to get even
savvy sellers do not buy and sell on the same ID