Feedback Changes

[scentofivy]

Can anyone advise on the very recent eBay Feedback format changes?

I woke up to find that the Seller ratings you could previously provide have been changed, and that for new standard commercial retail products, you cannot submit detailed Seller reviews. Now Feedback on the item itself is prioritized. I've been on eBay for more than 20 years, 9300 100% positive Feedback. I value reviews on the mutual experience with my Sellers. I have met some wonderful, creative, friends on eBay. I do less selling, but also greatly value my reviews as a Seller.

One of the things that makes eBay distinctive, and why I always use it above any other online retailers and other seller venues is that Feedback makes a difference, and I always review it before purchasing. Sometimes I will pay more for a Seller with 99% positive feedback, vs buying from a Seller who has 91% positive Feedback and issues noted with communication or shipping speed.

So now, I was presented multiple times, with a format that only gives you positive/neutral/negative and 2 star ratings on the Seller--Item Description & Selling Time. And now you HAVE to fill out a field titled, How Would You Rate This item and another that says--Tell Us More About This Item. Clearly, eBay is switching to product review feedback; and moving away from Seller review Feedback.

When I receive items, I take responsibility for what I have purchased. It's not the Seller's responsibility to have used or recommend the product. eBay is an auction venue. If the item arrives not as described, or broken, I deal with the Seller. Most times, for standard commercial retail items I purchase, I don't use them right away, and waiting until I do to complete this new format will force a timeout on leaving Feedback.  eBay seems to be forcing me to provide product reviews now. I can't submit feedback with filling in the How Would You Rate This item and Tell Us More About This Item fields. 

So if this format is the new eBay feedback format, and I am precluded from simply leaving Seller feedback, I will now stop providing feedback for my standard commercial retail transactions, after 20 years of a system that has worked very well, IMO. I don't prioritize eBay because I want the Amazon or Walmart experience. I can easily research product quality on many trusted sites that don't actually sell products.  And I don't consider myself a qualified product reviewer. And I don't have time to rate all the products I buy.

I see this as a great loss to all the Sellers who provide such excellent service in my transactions. This change is going to impact the Sellers who make eBay unique in finding & listing anything other than standard commercial retail items. Why is eBay not making the product review part optional, so that I have at least the option to submit Seller reviews, and not product reviews, if I so choose? 

Thanks to All who can provide insight here.

 

[eburtonlab · Accepted solution]

You can avoid rating the item entirely by using this feedback link rather than the link in your Purchase History:

https://www.ebay.com/fdbk/leave_feedback

Lots of folks agree with you that this "rate the item" requirement in Purchase History needlessly blurs the line between transaction-based feedback and a product review, and will likely have the effect of unnecessarily discouraging feedback from many users that may be unwilling to rate a product they have not had a chance to use, even if they believe that the transaction was entirely successful and otherwise worthy of positive feedback. Which is a shame, I think.

Which Detailed Seller Ratings are shown may depend on several factors. If tracking shows delivery within the estimated delivery range, you may not have the opportunity to rate delivery time. If there was no communication exchanged beyond automatic messages, you may not be able to rate that, either.

[scentofivy]

Hi: Thank you so much for taking the time to read & respond. Helps to know I'm not going a little bit crazy. I can only imagine the monetary rationales behind such a change. Why discourage what is unique about eBay and has been working well for 20+ years? Well...I'll use your feedback link. I don't think this change is at all fair to Seller's, and I just dearly hope that this change doesn't discourage them, although I believe it may. i get so many follow-up responses from Seller's thanking me for leaving positive feedback. I appreciate your wisdom! 

[eburtonlab]

You are very welcome.

I hope eBay reconsiders the "rate item" feature, or at the least makes it entirely option regardless of the link used.