penguins_dont_fly is a Volunteer Community Mentor
mam98031 • Volunteer Community Member • Buyer/Seller since 1999
Name one online retailer that publicly reviews their buyers ...
Products? Yes.
3rd Party Sellers? Yes.
How did we do surveys? Yes.
Buyers ... go ahead and name one (besides eBay ... and local sales forums don't count)
@ten_o_nine wrote:
@mam98031 wrote:
@cheyennetradingco wrote:Then why offer feedback as an option at all for sellers if it is controlled to be only positive? There is a blank line asking for 80 characters of comment!! Ebay should put a notice under that blank line saying “We will restrict your account if you are honest about your negative experiences!” Not offer a blank space, inviting sellers to fill it in with an opinion only to be told no you can’t have that opinion. Sellers should be allowed to inform the feedback forum with honest evaluations of buyers just the same as buyers do for sellers. Pointless to have a democratic forum while being told there is only one way to vote!!!
There are very few blank spaces in life where you can say whatever comes to mind without some consequences to it.
Well part of the problem is thinking that this is a "democratic forum". There is NOTHING that says that or offers that. Ebay is a company that has the right to set the rules for those using their site within the laws of the US. I don't know of any actual company that is ran democratically. There is a chain of command, rules and procedures set my those with the authority to do so within the company. It isn't rules set by popular vote. We don't vote in the leaders of Ebay.
As for offering up what you feel is "honest feedback" for the buyer. There are a couple things to remember. These are BUSINESS transactions NOT personal ones. Are you aware of ANY company or site out there that posts a public comment or shaming of their customers. Of course not as it is not a good BUSINESS practice to have.
I know it can be annoying. I know that some buyers do not behave responsibly or reasonably and that can really cause issues for a seller. But this again is a BUSINESS, not a personal transaction, so don't take it personally and things will be easier on you.
So, the buyer can leave personal attacks against a business?
Think of it this way "Does Macy's allow buyers to post negative comments on their site?"
That isn't apples to apples. That is apples to oranges. Ebay is not a site like Macy's. Ebay is similar to Etsy, Amazon, etc.
@castlemagicmemories wrote:
Sorry this happened to you. It's no consolation but this happens to buyers, too. Both the experience and having their feedback removed. That doesn't make it right for either side. I understand your feelings~it's sad that it happens to either buyers or sellers. I doubt it is confined to Ebay, the internet is a big place and issues can be anywhere. Your call as to whether you move elsewhere, of course, it is always sad to see a seller leave, but you need to do what you need to do.
That's a bit misleading. You certainly are correct that a buyer can have their negative FB left for a seller removed, but that is for cause. Something they said or did was in breach of a policy. And buyers are NOT sanctioned for the mere fact a neg FB is removed, they would have had to do something else against the rules.
It isn't fair to compare the two as they really have nothing in common. When a buyer gets a negative removed by Ebay from a seller they have posted it against, not a darn thing happens by way of sanctions against the buyer.
Well, this is a business, not a political gathering where whomever lies the most wins. 
But, I think this feedback situation is a kind of a hypocritical thing. If negative is left, even remotely stupid or insulting the seller has to take it. I don't think it is fair, but again, that's the way Ebay acts and behaves, nothing we can do about it, but quit and go somewhere else. Right?
But, if something makes my blood boil, is to have a buyer leaving a positive feedback, kissing the ground we walk on, then making a NAD return because his experiment didn't work.
Just remember, you may be selling a $1,000 item, or a $4.98 one, it is about the time, the money, the dignity and self sacrifice you input on that item to be in the hands of a buyer who doesn't give a darn about you. And, you and I, are not Macy's, nor Target, nor Amazon to give free returns as buyers please.
Whether you are doing a good or bad description of your items, we should aim, and so Ebay, to make buyers come to one stop shop. But, with the lack of education on the buyer's side about buying something to try at home as if they were at Macy's changing room, sooner or later we are going to be put out of our misery.
Last paragraph: I pleased my buyers when they ask me to do anything. And for that, I expect at least a feedback. This is to know that they apprecite my efforts. But when they just vanish after taking $70 discount on a $200 item, with free shipping, something tells me they were BSing me, so, what happens when they have studied, watched, observed, investigated, and known that the right thing is sold to them but we don't hear anything from them?
That's the point, isn't it? Only negativity is counted towards us. One single bad word, one single mistake, and you are doomed. What happened to the thousands of good deeds?
Have a nicke weekend.
