I have been on ebay for 20 years. In the "old" days buyers and sellers treated each other with respect, and with very few exceptions, things always seemed to work out when there was an issue to resolve. The common denominator in those days was simple...both parties had the option to leave negative feedback. That was the stick that made everybody tow the line. In today's ebay world, I've experienced a complete disregard for the "rules" ( I use that word loosely) that govern ebay transactions from the buyers side of the equation and from time to time the seller side as well. Many buyers of auction items don't even bother to answer repeated requests for payment. Many buyers send questions that are rude or curt regarding an item. Many buyers receive items and file return requests using reasons provided with the ebay menu as an excuse to justify "buyers remorse" . And finally, as just a few examples outlined, buyers don't even bother to leave feedback. Sellers also engage in practices that mislead buyers, have poor communication and shipping practices, and deliberately slow refund policies. My feedback record speaks for itself as a seller. I am courteous, always answer questions to the best of my ability, promptly ship, and keep the buyer informed. I am also very generous with requests for delay of payment when asked. I refund unused postage when a buyer is overcharged for postage by the ebay shipping calculator and I try to be a credit to the ebay community.
So how did the ebay community get to this point? Arguably, there are many sellers who do great damage to seller credibility that have been allowed to vend on ebay. That's on Ebay. Equally, there are many buyers who really don't belong on ebay as well. That's also on Ebay. So on that note, here are some suggestions that I posit to Ebay:
1. Reinstate the ability for sellers to leave 3 negative feedbacks per fiscal year to deadbeat buyers; (remember the "stick" ?)
2. Create the ability for sellers to strike 3 negative feedbacks per fiscal year from their seller feedback ratings. (This is a necessary function due to the rampant use of negative feedback by newer ebay buyers that are clearly using the tool in an irresponsible manner) New buyers should still be allowed to use the "Star" rating system without the negative component until they reach 50 transactions;
3. Enhanced Ebay sanctions for sellers. If sellers abuse buyers by gouging, failure to refund without forcing buyers to open a formal case, misrepresenting their products for sale, or where they claim to ship from- to name a few- they should be removed from the site by suspension or permanent debarment based on their selling history. (The current sanctions protocols by Ebay are too weak);
4. Enhanced Ebay sanctions/controls for new buyers who abuse negative feedback and/or demonstrate a pattern of failure to pay. I believe new buyers should not be allowed to utilize negative feedback until they have accumulated at least 50 transactions on ebay. (see suggestion #2) This "learning curve" will serve to transition them into a more responsible buyer-seller relationship. Where buyers clearly abuse the system of negative feedback or non-payment, they should be debarred or suspended from ebay.
I realize that profit and earnings pressures that guide Ebay protocols require expanding buyer/seller metrics with emphasis given to the buyer side of the equation. That said, I believe the above suggestions would serve to make the whole experience by buyers and sellers better. Luckily, the majority of Ebay participants are good folks. In closing, more is not necessarily better for either buyers or sellers if Ebay allows poor examples of each to participate.
