Feedback

[shellmailitems]

Feedback is such a waste.  I've decided to stop sending feedback until I receive positive feedback. I'm not boosting anymore buyers accts when they don't have the common courtesy to do the same.  The reason is 5 out of 10 buyers who have 100% feedback and buy on a regular basis refuse to send feedback to the seller regardless of the level of communication, quality of item, super fast shipping or 5 star feedback you leave for them.  If you send them a friendly reminder after a few weeks they ignore it.  I've seen other sellers who post in their description that positive feedback will be offered in return for positive feedback. I won't post that in my listing but from today forward I will not send feedback unless it is received. What are your thoughts about that and how many of you sellers out there have this same issue and how do you handle it. I take it personally. I strive to make sure everything I send it as described and quality.  I also don't appreciate a buyer sending an offer that I cannot accept and they buy it anyway and send negative feedback yet wont return the item for a full refund, and e-Bay allows that to happen, or a buyer says 2 weeks after getting their item that it was missing a button when the button was clearly visible in all photos provided and they are allowed to leave negative feedback and affect my rating.  Tell me what you think??

[flyinhawaiiangirl]

As a seller, I leave FB immediately after payment. Buyers like being told they are great.

As a buyer, I REFUSE to leave FB UNLESS the SELLER leaves me FB FIRST. If the seller has not left FB prior to me receiving package, I hide the order immediately, and move on never to think about FB again for that item.

If the seller has already left me feedback, and I am less that satisfied with the entire transaction, but not so unsatisfied I want to return item, I do not leave FB at all.

My FB guidelines aren't written anywhere, weren't a suggestion from someone else, just what I have come to over the years on how to deal with feedback. I am SUPER ANNOYED by any request for FB if I have not left it. I am BEYOND IRRITATED with a second request for it.

FEEDBACK MEANS NOTHING. EBAY MANIPULATES IT SO THAT YOU CAN NOT WARN OR BE WARNED OF OTHERS MISDEEDS. THE SOONER WE ALL ACCEPT THIS AND STOP CARING, THE SOONER IT WILL GO AWAY FOR GOOD.

[sabrinmurraon_0]

You might want to read this post https://community.ebay.com/t5/Bidding-Buying/Feedback-Extortion-Question/m-p/27705905#M238312

[southern*sweet*tea]

What do I think?

Feedback is voluntary. Nobody has to leave it, and no news is good news.  I leave feedback upon shipment. If a buyer returns feedback, that's fine. If they don't, that's fine, too.

[castlemagicmemories]

I've read that the average feedback given is only 30% of total sales.

You might not want to ask for feedback; buyers don't like being reminded to leave feedback.  They might just post HERE'S THE FEEDBACK YOU BUGGED ME FOR! along with a nice red doughnut.  Board wisdom has said, never poke the sleeping bear and no feedback is good feedback.  The buyer may also have had an issue with the transaction but has decided to let it go.  Your asking may inspire them to spell out what they are unhappy about for all to see.  Many buyers choose to leave no feedback than to leave a negative and this is a good thing for sellers.

I leave feedback for purchases but not if something was not right, unless there is truly egregious behavior.  You have to really earn a neg.  Yet these sellers sometimes contact me to leave feedback.  I explain that I do unless there is something wrong, and in one case, said I didn't think you wanted me to say that the fragile vintage porcelain rare figurine was shipped in a mail plastic bag with no packing material.  Ditto for the seller who had a lot of undisclosed damage.

Apologies all around.  

Just a thought, if you don't post feedback for the buyer when they pay, you run the risk of getting one who feels that is rude and will neg you for not giving them their green doughnut for paying fast!

Feedback is voluntary.  

[311revolution]

I personally think eBay needed to change the feedback options for buyers, why not make it 2 ways? One way street is never good on fair trade.

[mistwomandancing]

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shellmailitems wrote:..........Tell me what you think??

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I think you get to set your own policy regarding the leaving of feedback in any way you want.  Leave it whenever, or not.  That is something that is entirely up to you.

Personally, I leave buyer feedbacks when the merchandise shows as delivered.  And that's it.  I not only don't care whether I get feedback from buyers, in many ways... it can only someday be a regret.  lol  I've never had a negative and only a single neutral in my long time on eBay.  Someday I expect my long run of luck will end. 

Actually, I'm one of the members who would like to see eBay go to a transaction count only and end the feedback thing completely.

[buyselljack2016]

My feedback policy as a seller has evolved to this:

Before leaving feedback I look to see if the buyer leaves feedback, or at least if they have lately.  Often see last feedback "more than a year ago", even with recent purchases.

If they do not leave feedback as a buyer I look at that as "they place no value on feedback", or do not want feedback leading to what they have purchased , and I do not leave any for them at that time.  If they do happen to leave it for me, I prpmptly leave it for them.  Buyer feedback is meaningless, so I understand that they do not bother.  It isn't like a seller can vet the buyers when selling fixed price. No poption to cancel before it ends like an auction.

If they have a pattern of leaving feedback I leave it for them a day, or two after shipping.  Not that it matters , as buyers just get a + anyway, but I want to a least wait to get beyond the "request to cancel".  I do not have a "1 hour" cancel limit. Request is always honored if I have not "physically" shipped.

[buyselljack2016]

and I meant to add that I don't really care if the buyer leaves feedback, or not.  I have enough.

Also, the feedback left for buyers is not some **bleep** about what magnificent asset they are to to eBay.  they buy, they pay, I ship

[dhbookds]

I think only of myself when it comes to feedback.........  I leave it upon mailing so that the one squirrel who thinks that's the way it should be done is happy.........  I don't expect/look for/ask for/think about whether anyone leaves it for me..........

In 2 seconds all that angst is taken care of.........

[phanoto]

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@shellmailitems wrote:

Feedback is such a waste.  I've decided to stop sending feedback until I receive positive feedback. I'm not boosting anymore buyers accts when they don't have the common courtesy to do the same.  The reason is 5 out of 10 buyers who have 100% feedback and buy on a regular basis refuse to send feedback to the seller regardless of the level of communication, quality of item, super fast shipping or 5 star feedback you leave for them.  If you send them a friendly reminder after a few weeks they ignore it.  I've seen other sellers who post in their description that positive feedback will be offered in return for positive feedback. I won't post that in my listing but from today forward I will not send feedback unless it is received. What are your thoughts about that and how many of you sellers out there have this same issue and how do you handle it. I take it personally. I strive to make sure everything I send it as described and quality.  I also don't appreciate a buyer sending an offer that I cannot accept and they buy it anyway and send negative feedback yet wont return the item for a full refund, and e-Bay allows that to happen, or a buyer says 2 weeks after getting their item that it was missing a button when the button was clearly visible in all photos provided and they are allowed to leave negative feedback and affect my rating.  Tell me what you think??

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As a seller, I would not do it the way you plan to do it because it would cause more of my customers to be dissatisfied about something.

It has been found that a customer who is dissatisfied about something else is less likely to be forgiving when they are slightly dissatisfied with the item not being exactly as they expected. 

[div_style]

Mine is 62%.  I think it depends on the categories.  Collectibles buyers seem to leave more FB than in some other categories.

[shellmailitems · Accepted solution]

Very interesting array of replies to my rant about Feedback from buyers. I will take all into consideration. Most likely will not care one way or the other if I get feedback anymore.  Thanks for the insights.

[thadoublej]

I'm of the same opinion.  Once I bid or buy, and pay, I've completed my obligation.  At this point it's the seller's obligation to ship my thing, and leave me feedback.  Once I get my thing, and I'm happy with it, I'll reciprocate.  I would have at least 150% more feedback on my account if sellers didn't hold positive feedback hostage until getting positive from the buyer.  I don't even think the buyer should be allowed to leave a positive until the seller does.  Neutrals and Negatives are a different matter...

On the flip, as a seller, I leave feedback ASAP after I get paid, the buyer has done his job and sent me money, and I send a thank you right back.

[nawlinsron2]

Be happy with 30%...you're here to make money, not build a fan club.