Feedback

[cameragearandthingssaved]

I’m newer to selling and I wonder how common this is: a buyer bought an item and included a note “ship asap and I will leave great feedback.” The buyer made the purchase on a Sunday night (the weekend just before a holiday). So, needing as much positive feedback as possible since I’m new here, I dropped everything to package and ship the next morning. Package arrived quickly and I never got any feedback from the buyer. Do buyers often promise feedback and then fail to deliver? Kind of disappointing.

[mtgraves7984]

Do buyers often promise feedback and then fail to deliver?

@cameragearandthingssaved 

Usually mine don't promise feedback and then don't deliver. 😐

[reallynicestamps]

The seller controls shipping.  Never give in to bullying.

Feedback is not used by eBay to measure member accounts.

If the bully buyer had left bad feedback,  his note could have been used to have it removed for Feedback Extortion.

Personally, I would have shipped normally, and sent a Message to the buyer that  the purchase had been shipped on Monday at the post office/outlet but with the holiday the mail is moving slowly. Then added the last estimated date for delivery that eBay gave him and tell him that it should nonetheless arrive before then.

[12345jamesstamps]

Your buyer stated "ship ASAP' for great feedback.

Not a lot of buyers leave feedback. Its just a fact.

I usually don't leave feedback for a buyer who purchased something expensive first. That buyer needs to give me feedback to know item was received.

I leave feedback first when a buyer purchased something inexpensive from me.

[ckimodog]

@cameragearandthingssaved 

Feedback is not required by the seller or the buyer.  Maybe they're busy with life, etc.  Not a good idea to ask for it either.  Just keep selling and I'm sure it will come along. 

Happy Selling

[krazzykats]

Don't poke a sleeping bear.  I say over 70% of my buyers do not leave feedback.  And that's fine with me, I don't ask why.  

And I simply forget to leave it sometimes when I buy things.  👵

But when I am the buyer, I do not like a seller asking me to leave feedback.

[wastingtime101]

Don't stress about it @cameragearandthingssaved . This isn't the old days where feedback was much more meaningful and about 90% of transactions resulted in feedback. These days approx 10% of buyers leave FB on one of my selling accounts and maybe, stretching it, 20-25% leave feedback on another of my selling accounts.

eBay will send out automatic feedback reminders to buyers after their purchase. Your buyer will either get around to it eventually, or they won't.

It'll take a little time, but you'll build up both your sales and your feedback if you stick with it. Come back any time if you have questions.

[soh.maryl]

You do know that FB is entirely optional for either party in an eBay transaction, right?

[gb58]

I probably would have responded to the message after I packed the box, something like, "thank you for your purchase. Your box is all packed and will be going out in the mail on ___". 

That way the buyer would have known you are attentive and responsive to his message. 

I wouldn't have mentioned anything about feedback in my reply.

He may still leave you feedback, I've had buyers sometimes leave feedback weeks after their purchase. I think in cases like that, perhaps they do their feedback once a month, I don't know. 

If he doesn't leave feedback however that is OK too, don't message him about it.

Your feedback totals will grow in time.

[legalbeagle52]

@cameragearandthingssaved 

When I first started selling & for a long time afterwards, I too would drop what I was doing... to mail right out, if I got one of those "please mail asap."  But you learn that it doesn't pay to do that.  Just mail according to what you have listed as a handling time.  But what I find does help is to communicate. Send a nice note thanking the buyer & letting them know you appreciate their business. Let them know you will be getting their item ready to ship & will be able to mail it on ----------.  I find that goes a long way to keeping the buyer happy. 

As others have said, don't worry about feedback. It is not as important as it used to be.  I agree that less than 10% of buyers now leave it.  And NEVER ask for feedback, we all agree on that!

What you can do to get more feedback right now is buy some things from sellers that always leave feedback. You can buy some necessities so you're not just wasting money.  I buy all of my toothbrushes, coffee, bubble wrap, etc. on ebay.   Just continue to be a good seller and your numbers will gradually go up 

Good luck!

[luckythewinner]

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@cameragearandthingssaved wrote:

 So, needing as much positive feedback as possible since I’m new here, I dropped everything to package and ship the next morning. Package arrived quickly and I never got any feedback from the buyer. Do buyers often promise feedback and then fail to deliver? Kind of disappointing.

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Feedback is voluntary and you do not need it as much as you think you do.