Why doesnt eBay require a buyer to message the seller before a negative feedback?

[scalemotorcars]

I've been full-time on eBay for 20 years and it still bewilders me that eBay doesn't at least require the buyer to send a message before they trash a seller's feedback. 

Of the sellers I know, ALL of them will fix whatever problem you have if you just send them a message. It seems highly counterproductive for eBay not to require this one simple step in the feedback process. 

So eBay, why don't you require at least 1 message before a negative can be left? I REALLY want to know. 

[evry1nositswindy]

Exactly--good sellers want happy buyers!

[eleanor*rigby]

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@scalemotorcars wrote:

Of the sellers I know, ALL of them will fix whatever problem you have if you just send them a message.

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That has not been my experience as an eBay buyer. Perhaps we know different sellers . . .

eBay is a buyer-centric site. They are not going to force a buyer to contact a seller before leaving feedback. It just isn't going to happen.

I've had such disappointing luck when contacting sellers before initiating a return, I never do that anymore. Also, when contacting a seller, a buyer is not allowed to even mention the word "feedback" without the seller screaming "EXTORTION," so I don't bother with that, either.

That being said, I can't remember the last time I left negative feedback for a seller . . .

[powell-memorabilia]

@scalemotorcars 

I don't disagree that it would be nice for buyers to provide the opportunity to fix issues.  However, to stop a buyer from leaving negative feedback seems like a bad thing.  If the transaction was truly horrible, a buyer should be able to leave the proper feedback, without having to jump through hoops.  

[fern*wood]

All too often a required message like that would come across as blackmail of a seller.   They do suggest contacting the seller, which I feel is more than enough.    I'm fine with buyers contacting me if there is a problem or question, but I personally bristle if those messages even mention feedback.

[scalemotorcars]

You have no idea how many times it's the buyer's fault.

One issue is that many are buying on their phones and eBay doesn't display the description unless specifically clicked. 99% of all issues I have are because the buyer didn't read the description or they simply ordered the wrong parts. Every bad feedback I've gotten in the last 4 or 5 years was the buyer's mistake. I fixed it anyway but a simple message before leaving a bad review would fix this.

If the seller doesn't reply in a reasonable timeframe or doesn't fix the problem then fine, negative to your heart content but at least give them a chance. Even if you've been burned in the past. Not all sellers are bad. 

[powell-memorabilia]

@scalemotorcars 

I do agree that most sellers are good - scratch that - great.  However, can you imagine being a buyer that is burned by a horrible seller, only be told that they need to wait to leave feedback?  I can just picture those eBay community posts!

Don't buyers already have to wait to leave negative feedback (which is think is a bit hinky)?  I went to leave positive feedback today, but was prompted that I can't leave negative feedback for seven days.  

[Anonymous]

"Why doesnt eBay require a buyer to message the seller before a negative feedback"

Feedback is not compulsory, therefore any pre messaging should also not be compulsory.

[katzrul15]

I'm fine with buyers contacting me if there is a problem or question, but I personally bristle if those messages even mention feedback.

Agreed.  It makes me question if there is really an issue if FB is tied to the message at all.

Before you can leave FB that is anything other than a Green Donut, it does ask the buyer to consider contacting the Seller.  

I do like that they make the Buyer wait 7 days to leave anything other than Green.  And honestly, after 7 days, contact to the Seller is not going to change their mind if they are he77 bent on leaving you a neg.

[fashunu4eeuh]

In some cases, the buyer must wait 7 days before leaving a negative or a neutral feedback. (This is a benefit for Top Rated Sellers, or Power Sellers, sorry, I cannot recall or find which circumstances it applies to.) But beyond that, eBay won't ask a buyer for accommodations of any kind. They want a buyer's experience here to be free of any constraints. Their philosophy is buyers come first.

[scalemotorcars]

That's what I thought also but it seems to be from the day of sale and not from the date of delivery. So it's kind of mute if shipping took that long. They get it and automatically think they got burned rather than find out if they made a mistake or were lazy. 

People seem to think it's a negative to require a message 1st. Why, shouldn't the buyer be required to order the right part or at least read the description? Like I said 99% of the time it's the buyer's fault, at least in my experience. 

How about this. If the seller doesn't at least reply in a set period of time it's marked against them. Another defect if you will. (Vacations excluded). Have a 5th feedback metric that rates the seller's ability to resolve issues quickly. 

It seems only common sense that this would motivate sellers to resolve issues and help build trust with customers. And isn't that what we all want. Happy customers. 

And who knows since eBay is completely reliant on sellers and customers shouldn't it make sense to try and protect both. 

[scalemotorcars]

OK. but that feedback is directly related to the item sold or the seller so shouldn't the buyer be at least required to read the description or make at least 1 effort to get a resolution to the issue.

Why is it so 1 sided. eBay doesn't exist without sellers. 

[scalemotorcars]

This is not true. I'm a top-rated seller on every store I have and I just got a negative 2 days after they receive the item. I'm 100% sure they ordered the wrong parts. No message, nothing, they just assume it's my fault. 

Just read the replies above. eBay has a problem with buyers assuming they're going to get scr**ed over. Give the seller at least 1 chance to fix it, that doesn't seem unreasonable. 

Like I said, if the seller doesn't fix the problem then fine, defect and eventually remove that seller but incentivize them to fix it and I'm sure it would improve eBay and its seller's reputation. 

[fern*wood]

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@scalemotorcars wrote:

Like I said, if the seller doesn't fix the problem then fine, defect and eventually remove that seller but incentivize them to fix it and I'm sure it would improve eBay and its seller's reputation. 

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Do you seriously want to suggest to ebay to add another metric to judge us by?  Feedback isn't currently a defect, which it was a few years back, and I sure don't want to see that come back.

[luckythewinner]

@scalemotorcars wrote:

How about this. If the seller doesn't at least reply in a set period of time it's marked against them. Another defect if you will. (Vacations excluded). Have a 5th feedback metric that rates the seller's ability to resolve issues quickly. 

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"Dear buyer , I just got your message a few minutes ago. Go pound sand".

Phew! Issue "resolved quickly" 🙂