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??

[phanoto]

---

@thatsallfolks wrote:

“I appreciate feedback upon payment since that completes my obligation. ”

Wrong. Unless you think the seller completes his obligation when he mails the package.

---

Wrong. Unless you think the seller completes his obligation when he mails the package.

---

The buyer is never obligated to do something else after the buyer pays.   The seller is sometimes obligated to do something else after the seller ships the package.

The fact that a seller is sometimes obligated to do something else after the seller ships is the reason buyers should wait to leave feedback until they are sure the seller does not need to do anything else.

The fact that some buyers feel that the seller should leave feedback at payment is the reason most sellers leave feedback at payment.   Serious sellers realize that it is best for the seller to not cause a buyer to be displeased over something that costs the seller NOTHING, like leaving feedback. 

I know that some sellers will say a buyer has an obligation after paying to tell the truth if the item is not as described.  But, the buyer was not obligated to notify the seller about the item not being as described in the first place.   Since the seller cannot say anything  bad about the buyer, it is unreasonable for a seller to wait to see if the buyer is going to do something bad, especially since that aggravates some of the seller's good customers. 

[thatsallfolks]

“The buyer is never obligated to do something else after the buyer pays. ”

Lulz

[phanoto]

"Paying does not complete your obligation, although many seem to think it does.  Most of the bad behavior a buyer can display will occur after paying, hence why some sellers wait.  They cannot post a neg about that behavior, but they can wait to be sure that glowing thank you is truly deserved, and you did not threaten bad feedback for a partial or full refund, file a false SNAD to get the seller to pay your return shipping, cancel after buying or winning, send back a rock instead of the item you were supposed to return."

What difference does it make if a seller gives a "glowing thank-you"  to a buyer who later tries to cheat the seller?

Why would a seller want to treat his/her other  199 customers out of 200 the same way the seller treated the one-in-200 who did something wrong?   And, lets the other 199 good customers know  the reason they are not getting feedback is because the seller is afraid they may do something wrong?

If  the seller will give a feedback right after the buyer leaves positive feedback, did the seller probably think the buyer was obligated to leave positive feedback?  I would be afraid my customers would think that about me if I  didn't leave feedback.

[campesinoplastic2014]

Buyers and sellers have differing expectation. I hve heard from a lot of buyers and here is what I hear:    They pay, and that is what their duty is. When their item arrives, they unpack it, look it over, test it and do whatever it is they do. Most of them have no compulsion to go online and leave feedback, when they paid for it their obligation was fulfilled. Here is what MOST of the reasonable sane buyer expect:

Ship shortly after they pay

Pack the item well

Leave feedback shortly after they pay

Answer messages promptly and professionally

Stand behind your products, your service and your verbal agreements

If you can really take those five seriously, you won't have many problems selling. They DO want their positive feedback promptly, I have no idea why though.... those who never sell have perfect feedback anyway so what difference does that next one make? I will never be able to get excited about feedback, it is merley pixels. You can't buy lunch with it or use it to improve your health.

[paulhua3]

"They DO want their positive feedback promptly, I have no idea why though.... "

In some cases it may just be they want someone to say something nice to them.

[castlemagicmemories]

---

@phanoto wrote:

"Paying does not complete your obligation, although many seem to think it does.  Most of the bad behavior a buyer can display will occur after paying, hence why some sellers wait.  They cannot post a neg about that behavior, but they can wait to be sure that glowing thank you is truly deserved, and you did not threaten bad feedback for a partial or full refund, file a false SNAD to get the seller to pay your return shipping, cancel after buying or winning, send back a rock instead of the item you were supposed to return."

What difference does it make if a seller gives a "glowing thank-you"  to a buyer who later tries to cheat the seller?

Because the seller feels they rewarded bad behavior and lied to boot.

Why would a seller want to treat his/her other  199 customers out of 200 the same way the seller treated the one-in-200 who did something wrong?   And, lets the other 199 good customers know  the reason they are not getting feedback is because the seller is afraid they may do something wrong?

They are treating all customers the same if they wait, just as those who may post immediately at payment.  Don't know why you would think they would tell their customers why they leave it after receiving it, that is not necessary.  They may simply want to know the buyer is satisfied which they do by waiting for the buyer to post positive feedback or to message them about any issues.

If  the seller will give a feedback right after the buyer leaves positive feedback, did the seller probably think the buyer was obligated to leave positive feedback?  I would be afraid my customers would think that about me if I  didn't leave feedback.

As this has been discussed in depth so many times, I am sure you know that the seller does not think the buyer is obligated to leave feedback.  Most sellers know that feedback is voluntary and act accordingly.  

Don't be afraid.  Just do whatever you think is best for you, and others will do what they think is best for them.  Or if you prefer, post feedback however and whenever you feel like, and they will do the same.  

Buyers and sellers.

---

[common1531]

Totally agree - also if individual  "buys it now" do I thank them for paying now since was stipulated?  And as a buyer refuse to leave feedback until have received the item.  

[planet_x_rider]

Well, I followed everyone's advice to change my habits so I left feedback for all the items I hadn't.  

After 10 days I have received feedback for none of those 6 items.  

Any more snarky advice from the jaded and supremely knowledgable sellers on here?

Honestly, I'm done with eBay.  The attitude here sucks.  The sellers that were friendly and helpful have been drowned out or driven away.    You can have it. 

[thatsallfolks]

---

wrote:

Well, I followed everyone's advice to change my habits so I left feedback for all the items I hadn't.  

After 10 days I have received feedback for none of those 6 items.  

Any more snarky advice from the jaded and supremely knowledgable sellers on here?

Honestly, I'm done with eBay.  The attitude here sucks.  The sellers that were friendly and helpful have been drowned out or driven away.    You can have it. 

---

You’re buying stuff. You can only get positive. It’s voluntary. You’ve received 503 and left 450.

And your obligation is done when you pay. WRONG.

[planet_x_rider]

This is from a ghost account with zero feedback and no listings.
Do you only come here to argue with buyers?

[thatsallfolks]

---

wrote:
This is from a ghost account with zero feedback and no listings.
Do you only come here to argue with buyers?

---

I posted my opinion. That’s what people do on a discussion board.

[tonedog99]

I agree to exactly everything you said, and do business the same way myself. Too bad eBay doesn't seem to value feedback as much as some of us--it's what causes us to have your last comment. But if we stop caring, we're just like eBay.

Feedback from sellers should be left immediately upon payment. It's the only responsibility the buyer has, and when they do it correctly, there should be immediate feedback. Some dealers consider feedback and a favor-type thing.

In fact, the more I think of it, maybe this feedback system is an eBay scam anyway. They're making money, and obviously don't care, so neither should we.

[walk2k]

In my opinion, feedback should first be left by the buyer, when they receive the item and are happy with it. Then the seller can leave feedback.

I know there are various opinions on this, but I think it's the best system.

If a seller leaves positive feedback after payment is received (but not cleared by Paypal) and/or when they ship, a whole host of issues can come up after that and the feedback can't (I don't think?) be changed or revoked.

Personally as a buyer, I leave feedback when I receive the item, it's as-advertised, shipped on time, etc.. This is what I expect as a seller too.

On a couple of recent items I left positive feedback on items I sold when I got the delivery confirmation. Both of these, now a month+ old, still have not received feedback from they buyer.

Personally I don't care a whole lot about feedback, I'm not a big seller (or buyer) and have been on Ebay since 99 or 2000 and have 100% positive, but I don't see the point in wasting time leaving pos. feedback for buyers who won't return the favor.

[lookng2015]

---

wrote:

---

@work_is_over wrote:
I agree!! I am so tired of leaving positive feedback for sellers and they don't leave any for me, even after I message them and tell them I have left "positive" feedback for them and would appreciate they leave feedback for me. Never to hear from them. So, now I will not leave feedback until they leave for me.

---

I have had MANY buyers SAY they will leave me positive feedback and NEVER do.  Even though I've left many a positive FB for them.  However, I do get a number of private messages from buyers thanking me for everything and how pleased they are, who never leave me feedback.  Do I wish they would?  Of course!  Do I ask them to?  NEVER.  Their personal thank you is enough and my ego can handle that.  My FB rate is 30% and I'm fine with that.  Oh, and multiple FB's from one person only count as one.  Feedback has become redundant since the 'Wild West' days when I first started, and Sellers could leave truly honest FB for buyers who were a problem.  Even then, we exercised caution and chose our words carefully due to the 'relatiation' factor.  Just saying.

---

Glad it's not just me that happens to lol

[lookng2015]

---

wrote:

---

@mikedybus wrote:

In my opinion Ebay should automatically add generic positive feedback for any transaction not disputed after a realistic waiting period.

---

In my opinion, people should understand the word 'voluntary'.

However, I also feel they should eliminate the current system and implement one that automatically updates a seller profile page with completed sales, on-time shipments, late shipments, seller initiated cancellations, returns, complaints filed, complaints resolved and unresolved, etc.

---

As long as they ALSO add the number of times a buyer has cancelled an order, filed a SNAD/INR or not paid...