Private feedback creates a playing field not on the level.

[wooddoc]

Buyers with private feedback are not permitted to sell. They can buy. What others have to say about them is only seen by themselves. The problem is that they can buy, and if they have enough larceny in their hearts, they can try to extort a discount from the seller with every purchase they make. Oh, they don't do this on a direct basis as bold as actually asking for money back... Ebay could see that. No, they complain that the item was received and is not up to their expectations. Either the picture was bad, or the description was insufficient. All that being a large suggestion that the seller should make the problem go away by giving money back. 

  I just had such a scam aimed at me. If I do not give in to the scheme, the buyer can give me a "negative", while I cannot even make a comment on their feedback.

  This private feedback should be ended. Lets have a somewhat level playing field. Yea...I know... I am only dreaming!

[judydu2]

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@wooddoc wrote:

Buyers with private feedback are not permitted to sell. They can buy. What others have to say about them is only seen by themselves. The problem is that they can buy, and if they have enough larceny in their hearts, they can try to extort a discount from the seller with every purchase they make. Oh, they don't do this on a direct basis as bold as actually asking for money back... Ebay could see that. No, they complain that the item was received and is not up to their expectations. Either the picture was bad, or the description was insufficient. All that being a large suggestion that the seller should make the problem go away by giving money back. 

  I just had such a scam aimed at me. If I do not give in to the scheme, the buyer can give me a "negative", while I cannot even make a comment on their feedback.

  This private feedback should be ended. Lets have a somewhat level playing field. Yea...I know... I am only dreaming!

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I can understand your frustration, but since only positive feedback can be left for buyers, there can never be a level playing field.  And if you try to leave a positive feedback with negative connotations for a bad buyer, you will find quickly that it's not possible AND may cause problems with eBay. 

[dash-2773]

Since they can't get negative feedback who cares?

[18704d]

Buyers with public feedback can do the things you've complained about.

And the vast majority of private feedback buyers, chose that way, for reasons other than scamming sellers.

Lynn

[corvettestainless]

@dash-2773 Since they can't get negative feedback who cares?

....or negative comments in the green donut

[dash-2773]

And so many of those are from cruddy sellers who have earned a neg

[luckythewinner]

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@wooddoc wrote:

If I do not give in to the scheme, the buyer can give me a "negative", while I cannot even make a comment on their feedback.

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Your premise is flawed. Any comment you left on their feedback that was not entirely positive would be removed anyway. 

Actually, the entire premise of a "level playing field" is flawed.

• There is no level playing field.
• There never has been a level playing field.
• There never will be a level playing field. 
• eBay has never promised a level playing. 

When you sell on eBay, you are at a disadvantage. Period. 

[fab_finds4u]

Who cares are the sellers that want to see the amount of negs they leave.  Some buyers leave negs for all their sellers yet they keep on buying.