New item rating when leaving feedback should not be mandatory

[abbibrodie]

The newest change on the iOS app has introduced a mandatory “How would you rate this item” option when leaving feedback. I’m not sure if this is across platforms.
My feedback is that making this mandatory is a poor user experience, as this is not a suitable field when you have not received the item. I now can not leave feedback for those sellers, as I don’t think it is fair to give them 1 star if I have never even seen the item E.g. it was lost in the post. This means the item will sit in the feedback section and trigger reminder emails, even though I can’t do anything. Can this please be changed to an optional field, or something like a check box added to make it conditional on confirmation that you received the item? 
Thanks 🙂

[dark_jaguar]

Agreed, and I have an even better example.  If I buy a hand-crafted one of a kind cat shaped pillow someone's grandmother made for them 70 years ago to give to a child as a present, what good does my review of the item itself do ANYONE?  Again, eBay needs to remember what kind of business they actually are.

[eburtonlab]

If I buy a hand-crafted one of a kind cat shaped pillow someone's grandmother made for them 70 years ago to give to a child as a present, what good does my review of the item itself do ANYONE?

As far as I can tell, the "rate this item" only appears on new items that are linked to the product catalog -- meaning that used or one-of-a-kind items can not be rated.

[ruthjessg]

I’m finding it required on a 100-year-old antique book, that’s only vol 2 of a set but bought for decoration.   I bought 7 books and only one requires this.  

[eburtonlab]

I’m finding it required on a 100-year-old antique book, that’s only vol 2 of a set but bought for decoration. I bought 7 books and only one requires this.

Possibly eBay or the seller has done something to inadvertently link that volume to a catalog entry using a part number for new items.

[dark_jaguar]

eBay is now using AI to not just suggest filled in details, but strictly apply limitations if the AI "detects" that this or that detail doesn't apply.  Turn the AI off.  I don't want it.

[mikkyc]

I am Ebay member since 2000 and I have been through many changes. All I can say - this is ridiculous new requirement. 

Feedback is for a seller, not a product. 

From now on I will rate all the products I am forced to rate - with 1 star until this requirement is removed or made optional.

[h8-2]

That doesn't work anymore.  The how would you rate question is also there now.

[eburtonlab]

That doesn't work anymore. The how would you rate question is also there now.

Unfortunately eBay redesigned the "Leave feedback" page at the end of June, and since then that workaround no longer works. At least for items linked to the eBay product catalog, users must supply an "item rating" in order to leave feedback for the seller.

[edzz86]

Infuriating. I will not leave sellers further feedback until this is changed back to how it was. 

Whoever at Ebay made the decision to mandate rating items out of 5 stars, should find employment somewhere else.

If I buy a book, but want to leave the seller feedback for the transaction, I am now forced to 'rate the item out of 5' regardless of whether I have read the book, or bought it as a gift. Same for all kinds of other products unsuitable for rating out of 5.

EBAY? Knock knock, anyone home?

Ebay is NOT the place people go for product reviews or ratings. Forcing buyers to rate products during the seller feedback process, is one of the dumbest idea I've seen in a long time.

[kevhael]

The insights you've provided throughout this thread are very much appreciated, as well as the (unfortunately temporary) solution to the feedback problem.  So thank you for taking the time.

Would you happen to know if low item ratings reflect on individual sellers in any way?  If not, then I'll go ahead and leave one-star "item" feedback for generic purchases.  They will be honest ratings since each and every one fails to immediately deliver. 

Though one example of an exception would be loose glitter that gets everywhere and makes life miserable - that's a product that can immediately deliver.  I'd hate it, but would rate it five stars as an item.

[eburtonlab]

The insights you've provided throughout this thread are very much appreciated, as well as the (unfortunately temporary) solution to the feedback problem.  So thank you for taking the time.

You are most welcome.

Would you happen to know if low item ratings reflect on individual sellers in any way?

The item rating is not connected to the seller but to the item itself. Unless eBay changes things, the average of all the ratings for that product will appear in the item listing, product page, or search results of any current or future sellers of that particular item so long as the listing is connected by a product number to that item.

[kevhael]

The item rating is not connected to the seller but to the item itself. Unless eBay changes things, the average of all the ratings for that product will appear in the item listing, product page, or search results of any current or future sellers of that particular item so long as the listing is connected by a product number to that item.

Good to know, thank you very much once again!

[eburtonlab]

You are welcome -- eBay has not done a very good job of explaining the changes.

[grt_forever]

Well, they just made more work for themselves. Once they finally realize what a mistake it is, they will be going in to delete all the one stars left by people who don't have an opinion to leave about an item for whatever reason.

I also sent feedback as soon as I sent this. Not to mention I typed up a whole long feedback, and tried to scroll down and it sensed it as a click out of the area, so it just closed all that! No way to recover it. Great! /s

I also miss the saved fields where I could choose one of several and it took a few hours to leave feedbacks, but I did it.

I told ebay they just don't want any feedbacks left anymore. I don't know why they don't figure that forcing people to review items isn't going to get them honest reviews, but hey, that's the way she goes.....

[grt_forever]

Actually now the field for me to even leave the seller feedback has disappeared. Only the item review field exists for typing.  Just gets better and better!