What is a reasonable feedback ratio?

[bigtexasyardsale]

Last year I ran around 50% of items to transactions where feed back was left.  I'm set up to leave feedback once the buyer does, because I believe that until the buyer leaves feed back who knows how they felt about the transaction?  I know sellers can only leave positive feedback and I've noted that when I've purchased something some sellers immeadiatly leave positive feedback.  Any thoughts about how to increase the percentage of transactions leaving feedback?

To clarify, I downloaded all of last years transactions and there is a column for feeback left (yes/no) and put in a formula to count the yeses and then I divided by the total items.  For purchases of multiple items each item gets counted so this ratio is not buyers but items to items.   So to better focus my question, for those sellers who leave feedback prior to the buyer leaving feedback are you getting a higher level of responses than those of us who wait for the buyer to leave feedback before you leave feedback as the seller.   

[stainlessenginecovers]

1st- feedback is meaningless (not measured and since buyers can only get Positives...)

But- 20-30% is an average. 

Whatever you do, don't set up 'bugging' 'emailing' etc. a buyer for feedback. It's annoying at the least and some will simply retaliate with giving you a NOT glowing feedback.

[bigtexasyardsale]

I agree that 'nagging' would probably be counter productive which is why I don't do it.  Outside of just 'doing a good job' are there any other strategies that might get buyers more engaged?

[chapeau-noir]

I leave feedback when I ship the item, thanking the buyer and saying the item is on the way. That may or may not make a difference.

[inhawaii]

0% to 100% is reasonable.

[stainlessenginecovers]

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@bigtexasyardsale wrote:

I agree that 'nagging' would probably be counter productive which is why I don't do it.  Outside of just 'doing a good job' are there any other strategies that might get buyers more engaged?

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They are engaged already with the most important thing on the face of your own personal business life.

They bought from you.

Period.

Just about everyone buys online at multiple places and every one of those places send emails wanting a 'review' on what you bought (ebay, amazon, lowes, walmart, homedepot...you name it).

Everyone's over it.

You get what you get.

Best to spend the same amount of time worrying about feedback....as you spend worrying about the neighbor 4 doors down is using enough Toilet Paper after....

[collectintime]

I agree. Just wait until the buyer makes the choice to leave feedback. Some buyers just aren't interested in leaving feedback. Why should they want to be "more engaged." Why would they care if you leave them a feedback?? They paid you, they are keeping the item, isn't that enough for you? Try to remember, no news is good news!

Also you can only leave a positive for a buyer, no matter how horrible he /she may be. There is no way for you to warn other sellers. But I have left some truthful positive feedbacks which were not considered a "false positve." Example: This buyer paid right away for this Christmas display, and had the item for 28 days during the Christmas holiday, on day 29 decided to send it back, and I paid $32 for the postage both ways." That is just honesty, no false positive here. I got somewhat off track, but as long as you have some positive feedback that is all a buyer wants to see if they even bother to check. These buyers know whatever they do, send back, break it, etc. eBay will back them 100 percent. 

[mantle1951]

I don't worry about feedback anymore, take care.

[powell-collectibles]

Past a certain count, feedback doesn’t matter. Sure, for most buyers, there might be a number that they prefer. But, at the end of the day, they are shopping based on price. Other factors come in, but those are secondary. Feedback is important – but I can’t imagine passing up on something because the seller has 3000 feedback, rather than 4000. I’d probably take the 3000 feedback seller, all other things being equal, then the zero feedback seller, but that is an extreme case. 

[chapeau-noir]

I just appreciate the feedback I get and don't worry about it. After a certain amount of feedback one has established a solid rep and that's pretty much its only value for anyone who is browsing your items

[jg.mason]

I would say 50% is pretty good. Over all I'm at around 40%.

As a buyer the total number doesn't matter to me, it's all about the negatives. The reason they were left (looking for any reoccurring problems) and the responses from the seller if there is any.

[ethylsgarage]

50% is pretty good. 23% is about average overall. We get about 72% of our buyers leaving feedback. We leave feedback when we ship the item. Every item includes a handwritten note thanking the buyer and asking for feedback.

[iamalwaysright]

1 feedback for every 10 sales

[mam98031]

For me, about 20-25% of my buyers leave feedback.

[johnrj1226]

1.  I received  62.5% FB -of the 1665 items I shipped with only 1 negative.  Peersonally   I - ALWAYS  left buyer a Feeddback the  moment I purchased the shipping lable.  2. Never held a buyer  hostage.  They  paid up front  before  receiving their  purchase 2.  Always shipped with in one day and very often the same day even shipped on Saturday even though eBay says  you can  have the weekend off including holidays..  3.  Never over  staned the condition of pre-owend items in fact understated in my opinion  - sold primarily men's/women's clothing and footwear - stuff with good   names/reputations - not walmart stuff

3.  Customer  FB says they like pronto shipping/delivery.

4.  Learned early in a  41  year career of selling/marketing the buyer & his/her money is King/Queen.  Treat 'em right they will come back for more.

5.  Yes you will run into some one that will try to run a game on you.  You have to out fox the fox without them knowing you did.  Never get into a battle of exchanging harsh words  with internet  muscle (similar to beer muscles in  a local bar) - you will loose. Just do this

by doing either or both of these suggestions  your call