Seller Feedback, A Thing Of The Past.
When I first started selling on Ebay, receiving feedback was essential. It was necessary in that you knew that the buyer received the item and it let potential buyers know you were trustworthy of the items and packing and shipping the items. It kind of gave you reassurance that you were doing things right. Now, I might get, if I am lucky, 1 out of 10 buyers to leave feedback. It is pretty much non-existent these days. My feedback number should be triple of what it is. I guess no feedback is better than negative feedback lol.
12 comments
fbusoni
·2 years agoIn my experience here, the amount of feedback one gets is largely a function of the category in which one sells.
I sell in categories that appeal to older, educated and financially well off buyers.
Many of these people -- like me -- came of age long before the advent of the internet.
There was a time, many years ago, when life was far less transactional than it is today.
Online shopping is an impersonal experience.
But feedback allows people to make it a little more personal. One buyer recently purchased from me some vintage porcelain made in the French Zone of Occupied Berlin. In her feedback, she told how overjoyed she was to have found some some pieces that had been missing from her parent's set that they had bequeathed to her. I have no doubt that others seeing her feedback enjoyed reading her prose. I did.
Sure, feedback is a double edged sword.
I do not want negative feedback, so I take great care to do what eBay asks of me.
And for me, at least, the results have been satisfactory.
Feedback may be meaningless, or it may be extremely meaningful.
Its all in the perception of the buyer.
az93
·2 years agoIt's always been like this. I have 12,000 feedbacks after selling 25 years.
bill.purvis2012
·2 years agoI believe it COULD be effective if it were overhauled. No more + - stuff. Make it simple. No more going into all the twists and turns explanation. The set up where buyers can only receive positive feedback is not productive. Check off list Buyer: Paid promptly, return requests, shipping/receiving issue, etc. Check off list for sellers: Shipped promptly, As expected/listed, packaged well, etc.
evry1nositswindy
·2 years agoI think it is still necessary. Looking at feedback left for others helps me decide whether or not to accept an unsolicited offer. My BBL is filled with users blocked for abusive feedback. It also helps when choosing a seller. While I agree the whole feedback system could use an overhaul, I don't agree with getting rid of it altogether. If that happened, what would differentiate between a long time, conscientious seller and a seller who gives poor service?
lovesickass
·2 years agoSince I have been selling on ebay, I have had a 100% positive. I had to cancel an order and was given 1 negative feedback and my percentage dropped to 97.5%. If I was a buyer, I wouldn't look at what I was selling based on that. I rarely receive feedback for stuff sold. I have an Above Standard rating, but I have to wait for that 1 feedback to fall off after so many months. That just seems like such a big percentage drop. I guess because I don't sell that much stuff.
Oh well.
jg.mason
·2 years agoI think it is useful. If I as a buyer were going to buy from a seller with 100 some total feedback and they had a negative I'm going to look at it and look for any neutrals then see what the neg. was about, see how the seller responded if at all. If I don't feel good about the seller I'd rather just take my business elsewhere that waste my time and deal with MBG.
A couple months ago I needed some card sleeves the first seller I looked at had 100'S of thousands of feedbacks 90 some % positive. When I looked into them I decided to look elsewhere, a bunch of didn't receive my item, wrong item sent, slow shipping. To me it looked like the seller was to busy to do a good job.
Got the item from a smaller seller with 100% feedback paid a little bit more but just felt better about the buy.
Maybe the first seller was of the feedback doesn't matter mindset. Which is fine and they sure did seem to be making the sales but I know of one sale they didn't make and who knows how many other sales they're missing out on.
stainlessenginecovers
·2 years agoYes- when it's simply NOT special anymore (buying online) then some things just go by the wayside.
12345jamesstamps
·2 years agoI reads a lot of the buyers (and sellers) here who buy something and of course something goes wrong.
I look at who they made a purchase with and when you see sellers with maybe 25 or 50+ negative feedbacks and you read those feedbacks...wouldn't that tell you NOT to buy from those sellers?
So, I kinda like to know who the seller is and if they are OK to buy from.
dbfolks166mt
·2 years agoAs a seller that is about my average feedback receipt also and since you are limited to just positive feedback for buyers as others mentioned the whole system has become pretty much useless.
chevymontecarlo88
·2 years agoThere are times as a buyer/seller that can alert you to some red flags but overall it is irrelevant.
luckythewinner
·2 years agoWhen I first started selling on Ebay, receiving feedback was essential.
It was more more important. But essential? Every seller who currently has seller feedback started without any feedback.
it let potential buyers know you were trustworthy
It suggested you might be trustworthy. Then in 2008 eBay gave buyers the Money Back Guarantee, which made feedback substantially less important.
It kind of gave you reassurance that you were doing things right.
Since 2008, the Money Back Guarantee definitely tell you - no "kind of" about it. 🤣
My feedback number should be triple of what it is
Why would you care? Do you honestly think that having 4200 feedback would change anything?
I have been selling since 2000, and I haven't looked at my feedback in years. And as a buyer I never look at a seller's feedback or the feedback unless I see his percentage is below 98%.
Feedback has become pretty much meaningless. If they got rid of it altogether I wouldn't mind at all.