Should eBay require buyers to contact sellers before leaving negative feedback?
Over the last 3 or so months I've gotten 3 negative feedbacks where the buyer failed to contact me, or return the item. I have 100% free returns (return label provided) and I always go above and beyond to help my customers if they simply contact me.
I always send the buyer a message and respond to their feedback letting them know that I'm willing to help but they don't even respond. I let them know I have FREE returns and they don't even return the item. They just keep the defective or not as described item, leave negative feedback, and disappear! Doesn't make much sense.
Do you think eBay should require buyers to give sellers a chance to make things right before allowing them to post a negative feedback?
21 comments
luckythewinner
·3 years agoFor me to return an item I would need to repack the item, print off a label, and take it to the post office during my work hours.
Perhaps the buyer simply values his free time much more than you do.
jerseyboymusic
·3 years agoI don't see ANY negative feedback on your account...
BUT I will say this... as a seller, I understand what you're saying... but as a BUYER, I disagree in a way.
The feedback system is supposed to measure seller metrics, and it's about the buyer's experience. Was the item sent on time? Did I get it in a timely manner? If I contacted the seller, did he reply in a professional manner (if at all)? If there was an issue, was it resolved? Was the item as described?
Personally, I do try to work issues out with the seller if there is a problem, even with the item. Not everyone does that, which is why I appreciate the ability to REPLY to feedbacks left for me.
seider-0
·3 years agoYesssssssss....Been saying that for years
mikeysantiq
·3 years agoNot sure how that would work. You can reply to the negative feedback, and it will show below it. Explain what they did not contact you before giving bad feedback, that you give free returns and that you are sorry they are not happy.
turtles-trading-post
·3 years agoAgreed! I've been on eBay since it started and never had a negative feedback. A few months ago I got my first over a $1.29 item. It was obvious to me that he didn't know what he was buying. Buyer did not respond to my inquiries. If they had messaged, I had 5 more of the same item and I would've told them to pick another and keep the offending item for their trouble.
I contacted eBay on the contest a negative feed back form. Do they read my concerns? Nope, they send it on to the buyer that I want them to erase the negative. I got an email back from eBay that buyer refused and to just suck it up.
If indeed seller had been required to contact me first, whether buyer was right or wrong, I could have made it right in their eyes. But I didn't get that opportunity. And it sucks!
People say it won't hurt my stats. I'm a Top Rated Seller now, with 2200 positive feedback. Instead of that being followed by 100% Positive Feedback, now it says 99.8% Positive Feedback. And that ticks me off because 1 negative isn't equal to .2% of my feedback!
sapphire_studio
·3 years agoFor those asking how they could enforce this.... they could warn buyers who are leaving feedback that if they don't contact the seller first, their feedback may be eligible for deletion.
Then one of the reasons feedback could qualify for being deleted is if the buyer failed to ever send a message to the seller asking for help.
I think a lot of unhappy buyers could get refunds they don't expect by simply sending a message letting the seller know they're unhappy. I think they leave feedback because they just assume they can't get their money back.
But if you think about it eBay probably doesn't want to help buyers actually realize they can return their items because then they lose out on money.
The only negative feedback I can't get eBay to delete is from an ebay international standard delivery sale where something apparently broke during shipping. It was a heavy duty plastic jar from Bath & Body Works full of body scrub that I had wrapped in bubble wrap and apparently it broke during shipping. They never reached out to me. If they would have, especially if they would have provided photos, I would have just refunded. I tried not to worry too much about the feedback though and was just really careful about my response to the feedback in order to turn a negative into a positive.
ittybitnot
·3 years agoDo you think eBay should require buyers to give sellers a chance to make things right before allowing them to post a negative feedback?
@worldwide_ship
Presently, on eBay, a red donut review does not count at all against your seller standing. Returns Do, not as described returns do, INRs do as well. It doesn't matter how the problem was solved, was not solved, or was made in error, or intended for another seller. THESE ALL COUNT, but not the bad feedback.
If the buyer just leaves a neg without additional drama, there are positive points to consider. Your metrics don't take a ding, and you get to keep the money from those that are not interested in returning the product. Red donuts alone do not result in eBay sucking your money back. Some will say that going straight to the negative feedback review (and then disappearing as you say) is an invitation or flag to the seller, so that perhaps a promise of a partial refund will ensue. Of course, the promise of feedback revision would be part of the negotiation.
I guess playing that game would depend on HOW MUCH MONEY you want to give up in order to maybe change that red donut to green.
dqdistribution
·3 years agoOffering a return doesn't remove a negative experience.
There are plenty of times I buy something for a last minute trip that would leave me no time in order to buy another one, so I will just end up sticking with it even though it isn't what was described.
I would leave negative feedback because I'm unhappy I didn't get what I expected to, however because I have no time, I will just keep the product and try and make it work as best as I can.
12345jamesstamps
·3 years agoSeller has 30 days to contact buyer how to make it right if there is a negative feedback. And buyer can change feedback. There is usually a reason why a buyer is not happy. Best thing to do is try not to make a buyer unhappy in the first place. I kinda would say I like the feedback thing as it stands now. The feedback helps to rid bad sellers. I mean, would I buy from someone with lots of negative feedbacks...me personally...no.
mam98031
·3 years agoThat is great in theory and I agree with you. But there are times when a seller can do everything right and it still happens. Sometimes buyer leave product reviews as feedback for the seller instead of their review of the transaction.
Sometimes a seller can try to contact the buyer and they simply won't respond. So there is no way the seller can find out what happened to make them unhappy or make it right.
To assume the seller has always done something wrong simply isn't true.
worldwide_ship
OP3 years agoIn my latest negative feedback I sold a phone to a buyer. 45 days later he said the phone is a counterfeit and defective. I sent him 3 messages asking him to please contact me. There's been no response. He also has items listed for sale on eBay. It boggles my mind.
obojoekn
·3 years agoAbsolutely not. My opinion on how a transaction went does not need the seller's input, whether it be about shipping time, quality, functionality, or any other aspect of the transaction. It is my opinion and mine alone.
mam98031
·3 years agoI as well as many other sellers understand your request. It is something many of us have asked for, for many years. Ebay simply will not do it. However, they do ask the buyer if they have contacted their seller before they leave the negative or neutral, or at least they use to. It is easy to bypass this and still leave the FB.
Unavailable member
·3 years agoBefore a buyer leaves negative or neutral feedback for a seller there is a message that is there just before Leaving feedback I’ve seen “to wait at least 7 days before leaving negative feedback and try to work things out with the seller†or similar verbiage. But this is a suggestion, buyers don’t have to comply.
mam98031
·3 years agoActually for TRS there is a rule that a buyer can not leave negative or neutral FB for the seller if it is 7 days or less. I don't remember if it is from purchase, payment or from receipt by the buyer.
frecklesfinery88
·3 years agoAbsolute agreement. A buyer should contact the seller and try to work something out. Sellers are graded on communication, buyers should have to follow suit. At least an email to show they can resolve the issue. The same system needs to be utilized for buyers that sellers have. We put a thank you in our items that state , Please let us know if you are not totally please with the product and we will make it right. (Refund or replace)We have only had to do this a handful of times in the last few years. Thank you for your wonderful response.
soh.maryl
·3 years agoNot likely to happen, but, just wondering, how could such a rule be enforced?
slippinjimmy
·3 years agoNO, absolutely not!
- Making things "right" doesn't not absolve sellers
- Some sellers react very badly when called out over a problem
I've only left a negative for a seller a couple of times in 24 years, if I was required to contact the seller first my message could very well be "check your feedback tomorrow" and then post the neg.
heckofagame
·3 years agoNo. They should eliminate the feedback system instead. It is misunderstood and misused. Time to say bye bye.
evry1nositswindy
·3 years agoAgreed, but how would we judge buyers and sellers? Just a number, say 2600 transactions, doesn't say much. Also, I like to be to look at a buyer's FB left for others before I accept an offer. What is the answer?
mam98031
·3 years agoFB does help with sellers, but it does nothing to evaluate a buyer. The Buyer FB is worthless to everyone but the buyer themselves. The most telling thing on a buyer's FB page would be the FB they leave for others. That often can give you some good info regarding that buyer, I agree with you.
I think we should do away with buyer feedback, most similar sites went that direction years ago.