Feedback

[bernie1m]

When a persons buys something from me and after they pay I  leave a positive feedback for them, for the most part after they receive  the item  they  purchase they leave a feedback  But there is always a person or two that just don't  respond. I guess my question is what is the best way to handle Feedback?

[kensgiftshop]

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@bernie1m wrote:

 I guess my question is what is the best way to handle Feedback?

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Don't worry about it.

Since it's optional, either seller or buyer can leave it or not.

[3eyedfishcatcher]

If they where not happy with the purchase you would hear. Never reach out to buyers asking for their feedback it is against eBay's policy for sellers and it can be like poking the bear. eBay will send them reminders and most likely they are just busy doing other things.

[geo2061]

  You just learn to live with it... There is little you can do besides your best (i.e. Shipping on time, Packing items in a manner that you would expect yourself (personal gripe of mine - nothing worse than finding the $100+ item you purchased 'rattling around' an over sized  box or envelope) or finding a way to go above and beyond what is expected (i, for example, give a small free related gift on certain of my sales or occasional upgrades on shipping)).  Still there is no way to read what the buyer is thinking and some just never leave feedback at all.

      **  As a Seller - Think Like A Customer **

[gracieallen01]

Always remember that feedback is 'voluntary' , not mandatory.  Buyers have little incentive to leave feedback because the can get nothing be positive feedback.  Way back when, it was a symbol of status, but that was then and this is now.  Feedback for buyers just 'is'.

As has been mentioned, be glad when they leave you feedback and don't stress if they don't, as you WILL know when they are unhappy.

[gwzcomps]

No feedback, no contact, and no dispute.  Those three things make up my favorite buyers.  Basically give me money and don't do anything else 🐮

Sometimes you do get some really cool buyers though.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

Gracie, I couldn't have said it better myself, I used to leave little notes for my buyers and state: Please feel free to leave a good feedback, that way I know everything's ok and you will get one in return...that didn't last and I stopped doing that...5 years ago. Most of my buyers left outstanding feedbacks and some even kept in touch, one buyer I even correspond with over a year! ( thru ebay of course)

[fashunu4eeuh]

Hi @3eyedfishcatcher, pardon my contradiction--asking for feedback is not against policy, not for sellers or buyers. Below you will find eBay's Feedback policy page:

https://www.ebay.com/help/policies/feedback-policies/feedback-policies?id=4208

'...If you've successfully completed a transaction with another eBay member and they haven't left you feedback, it's fine to send a message as a reminder. Remember though, leaving feedback is completely voluntary."

[points13]

If you are getting better than half you would be doing good. I leave one when they buy. About half give one back. I never chase a feedback. Remember that saying if you don't have something nice to say don't say anything at all. Well that might be the buyer you just poked.

[fashunu4eeuh · Accepted solution]

Hi Bernie! I thought you might be a new seller, but that is not the case. You have a nice, healthy feedback score.

As you are likely already aware, feedback was once part of the seller's metrics and something eBay evaluated when determining a seller's standing. But no more. It underwent a major overhaul in 2008 when seller's ability to leave poor feedback ratings for buyers was revoked. Since then, feedback has been slowly losing its importance in the community. Now there are other ways eBay measures performance. So, while some buyers and sellers still rely on feedback to inform them of a member's reputation, it remains entirely a voluntary process that has no bearing on eBay's seller evaluations.

Overall, some sellers consider it bad form to ask a buyer for it, the thought being that no feedback is good feedback, and therefore the request could be construed as asking for trouble. (That would be in case the absence of a buyer's feedback means they were unhappy with the transaction in some way, and chose to cut the seller some slack, and leave nothing rather than a negative or neutral--so don't poke the sleeping bear.)

[chapeau-noir]

Don't worry about it - feedback internet wide is only at about 35%, anyway - you're doing fine and have a great record so it's all good.  I always leave FB for my buyers, too, and if they leave one for me I appreciate it, but since it's voluntary I don't ask for it.

[gracieallen01]

I think most of us 'old-timers' have stories we could tell of the days when feedback meant something.  I had one partnered pair correspond for a long time who started out saying, 'Where's our feedback?!?!?!?!?!'.  I asked why it was so important and they said that they wanted their gold star!  That was when 10 got the buyer the yellow/gold star and one was, officially, a good buyer.  Ah, the good 'ole days.  😀