Tell me why I should not leave my first-ever neutral or negative feedback in this case.

[maxi314]

I had been discussing a non-auction listed item with the Seller.  At the point where I was going to straight out purchase the item, the Seller removed the listing, and has been unresponsive since then.  Now, I can understand if I had overdone the questions, but I do not think I did, and communication was going well - or so it seemed.  In my final question, I said I was ready to buy, but would she just verify that it was a flash spot on the item, (please).  And then, she took the listing down.

There is good reason why I do not sell anything - anywhere, and I respect that you can just hit that point where you want something over and done with, but, in this case, while hardly "life and death," at the age of the person I wanted the gift for... Anyway - chalk this up to a rant, and maybe I have learned something - after all, with a 100% Feedback, it must be me.

[maxi314]

(I see no way to edit).  If she had decided to keep the item for herself, I could understand that, but she could say that, right?  There was an established interaction.  

[ebooksdiva · Accepted solution]

All buyers have 100% feedback. Buyers can't receive negative or neutral feedback at all.
Sellers can end listings, change prices of listings and block buyers from bidding or buying for any reason or no reason at all.

Since you didn't have a transaction with that seller you can't give that seller feedback at all. 

[powell-memorabilia]

There is no reason to leave feedback - you didn’t buy anything from the seller.  Just let it go.

[albertabrightalberta]

@maxi314 

It's possible that with all your questions, the seller got nervous that you were a fussy high-maintenance buyer and decided not to sell at this time. 

It's a catch-22. 

Buyers are advised to ask questions before bidding or buying but if sellers think you ask too many questions, they might block you.

Many sellers also check buyers' feedback left for others but you don't seem to have any problems there. 

[maxi314]

I see.  I am sorry for the post.  And, I did just see the item was relisted, with no changes, and bought it.  I am sorry.  I have never had this happen before.  Thank you for your reply.

[maxi314]

Thank you.  I understand, and am grateful, and, I hope, wiser, because of your answer.  (I have a lot of trouble with the formatting of this forum, so please excuse errors).

[mudshark61369]

@maxi314,

As you have found out the listing's 30 day cycle ended while you were messaging with the seller, and it automatically relisted. If you place items you are interested in, into your watch list, and set its view, Sort to Ending Soonest.  You will the items sorted in the watch list set to the ones ending soonest.

The Sort option button will be on the right side of the page, just above the first listing.  On the list of items below that to the right of their main photo you will see (at least on a computer's page) the app may not show it.

It makes it easier for you to communicate or make purchases before they end and/or get relisted.

You replied a few minutes after posting your initial message:

(I see no way to edit).

Once you have posted a discussion or reply in the upper right corner you will see a time stamp and above that a small circle with a "v" in it. Clicking on that will open a drop down menu, and the first option is Edit. You have 5 minutes to complete an edit from the time the discussion or reply was originally posted.

"If she had decided to keep the item for herself, I could understand that, but she could say that, right? There was an established interaction".

FYI. Until there is a payment, an item can be sold, end/relisted, or removed by a seller, at any time.  eBay does not consider messages about purchases to be binding contracts even if you say I am going to buy this item from you.

  It only becomes a binding contract when you commit to buy, or place a bid.  If you send a Best Offer until a price accepted by you or the seller, the item is available for sale at its Buy It Now price, or to someone else's offer that's better than yours.

[soh.maryl]

Some people, like buyers, may have a lower trigger point.  Hard to say.

And, maybe you are unaware of this, but ALL buyers have 100% positive feedback.  They cannot be given anything else.  

Also, since there apparently no transaction took place, you are not a buyer and thus cannot leave any FB.  

[maxi314]

Thank you for your reply, and the "edit" location - although 5 minutes is a very short time.  Please know that I did not consider my reference to "interaction," any manner of "binding contract."  In any event, she relisted and I purchased - and it was a direct purchase, not "offer," nor auction.  

[zoda99]

After you receive the item, make sure to give the seller a one star DSR rating for their lack of communication.

[maxi314]

Because of all the eBay complexities for sellers, and because I have no way of knowing what actually transpired, I would not leave a bad rating.  I would leave no rating, if I could not solely rate the condition of the item itself - and shipping.  And I have to count the degree of my investment in buying a gift for someone which, for me, involves much research and thought.  But again, eBay seems to punish Sellers quite a bit.  (I sell nothing, anywhere, (as I overstate), but it does tick me off when successful Sellers just can't be bothered).  

[tobaccocardyahoo]

If you had sent more than one message asking questions, I would have blocked you from buying from me. I would have provided no indication that I had.

If you appeared to be a high maintenance buyer in my opinion, you would be a buyer I did not want. If you appeared not to know what you were buying, you would ve a buyer I did not want.

The message exchange could appear cordial, but that is because the seller was trained to react professionally even though they were furious.

Some sellers will go further, remove the item as well as blocking you because some blocked buyers have other Ebay accounts. They would rather not have a sale than deal with you.

They may relist at some time in the future, but the block will still apply to any purchases by you.

Some sellers believe that "bad business is worse than no business" and will avoid what they think might be "bad business" even at the risk of being wrong.

There is a lot of "bad business" on all internet marketplaces, not just Ebay.

[albertabrightalberta]

---

@zoda99 wrote:

After you receive the item, make sure to give the seller a one star DSR rating for their lack of communication.

---

Why? Sellers aren't required to respond to questions, especially one asking about an ended listing. If the seller ships the item within their handling time and the item arrives as described, that seller does not deserve a communication ding. 

And in fact, the DSR ratings apply to what happens after the sale and if the seller never communicates with the buyer, the communication star is grayed out. 

Personally, even though ebay doesn't use DSRs to rate seller performance, I think it's rather vindictive to ding stars for petty reasons.

[soh.maryl]

By the term "direct purchase", you weren't saying that you took the transaction off eBay, are  you?