Leaving feedback as a seller

[texasfredi]

I am a long time eBay seller and buyer, and when sellers wait to see if I've left them feedback before leaving feedback from my purchase it really makes me mad.  Feedback as a seller means, the seller leaves feedback about the transaction, i.e., paid promptly, answered questions quickly, etc.  The feedback should be left for the buyer as soon as the seller receives payment or at least as soon as the item is shipped. 

Come on sellers, you can even set up automatic feedback's and you don't have to do a darn thing.  

[7606dennis]

Feedback is and always has been voluntary on eBay.  Since 2008 sellers have only been permitted to leave positive feedback for buyers or none at all.  Many sellers have simply chosen the latter option.

[sodelight]

I ship next day, buyers received their package in 2-3 days. After receipt I've experienced these issues:

Complain about something that was clearly in the photos and description.

Complain I sent the pkg to an address they no longer live at, even though they provided the address. They chastise and threaten me.

File a chargeback when I'm clearly not the seller they had a problem with.

Demand a partial refund for a non existent issue. 

File a fictional reason for return so they don't have to pay return shipping.

Complain about the size of an item which was stated and shown in listing with a tape measure. 

Lie about an item saying it doesn't work so they can return it, I get it back and it works perfectly!

Need I go on..........

NONE of these buyers made for a positive transaction in my eyes! They all caused me stress, grief and unnecessary time and money. They DO NOT deserve positive feedback simply because they paid!! That's like saying a seller should get feedback the moment tracking shows they shipped the package.

It's always POST transaction that issues arise for either party. At least a buyer can always get their money back, a seller has no chance of retaining that money once a claim is filed, they risk losing $ and the item along with shipping costs.  If you have no problem with any of those things happening and feel they make for a positive transaction, then leave all your buyers feedback first, but let others decide for themselves.

[soh.maryl]

Or those other 7 people were repeat buyers in the same week so the FB would not have counted.

And there is also the possibility that he had a negative experience and so chose to leave no FB at all.  

[soh.maryl]

Sorry -- don't see anything wrong with auto-feedback.

[annadryl]

Nothing wrong with it, I probably would if I could (not with seller manager). It's just that that user is giving feedback to ASK for feedback, sorta reverse ipso facto...

[quiltgeek]

Feedback is VOLUNTARY. No one has to  leave it, ever.  Be annoyed if you want to, but sellers do not have to give you feedback, period.

You, as a buyer, can only get a Positive feedback with a positive comment. Maybe a  seller doesn't think the sale was positive, so they don't leave you any feedback.

[luckythewinner]

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@texasfredi wrote:

The feedback should be left for the buyer as soon as the seller receives payment or at least as soon as the item is shipped. 

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IMHO the feedback should be left by the selelr whenever the seller feels like it. 

And if that make some people "really mad" I do not really care. 

[cordell1]

I will leave feedback after the transaction has been satisfactory for buyer and seller.  I'm not going to leave fb until I have a happy customer.  Fb is for the whole experience not one portion of the experience.

[releasethekraken_1]

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@sueabu wrote:

Feedback is intended for rating the actual purchase transaction. If a buyer has earned their feedback by paying promptly, etc. then they deserve their feedback and provide a prompt response.

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Only amateurs believe that an eBay transaction is completed (on either side) when the buyer pays.

[max-list]

How do you leave feedback automatically? Do you have to have Selling Manager Pro, or is there another way?

[babclassics]

I do feel sellers leaving feedback is generally a positive thing but I don't leave it automatically for a couple of reasons.  To state that it must be left at the time of payment is only one of many ways to use seller feedback as a positive thing.  As has been discussed in this thread, things can and do go wrong on some sales.  I feel feedback timing can be a tool to help deal with things like late or lost packages or other issues with the order.  If you wait to leave feedback closer to the day of carrier scheduled delivery you can be pretty sure the buyer will actually get it and you can verify it is on time.   If the package is late you might contact the buyer and you can leave more accurate feedback to mention things about delivery like "thanks for your patience and communication during the USPS delays" or whatever fits the  situation.   So I find using the seller hub screen that shows which items are awaiting feedback as the easiest way to track that all shipments are on track to be delivered (or are late).  Once I leave feedback I don't have to track the delivery status any longer.  This is a very good tool for me but others may prefer the automated feedback to give immediate response after purchase.  I can see both points of view as being fine.  There has never been a buyer who said "why didn't you leave feedback sooner".  Once they see it was left at delivery day they seem to appreciate that way of doing it in almost all cases.  Also they are more likely to look at the transaction right after delivery and possibly increase the chances they will leave feedback for you!

[max-list]

If you've been on these boards for 10 yrs or more you'd get tired of reading these. But if you're new, or just want to see how others do it, it's a great discussion.

[katzrul15]

@max-list 

Yes, we use selling manager pro.  I am not aware of another way to do it, but maybe someone does.  

[jack_bucks_ghost]

sellers can't leave feedback--we can only leave positives, compliments, and praises...that's not feedback. and it would seem "automatic feedback" is even less genuine. 

[soh.maryl]

WHY?