eBay

scalemotorcars · ‎05-04-2021

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.

vintagecraze50 · ‎05-04-2021

You could start a conversation with the buyer asking them if they would revise the feedback after you discuss with them why the problem happened. If for some reason the buyer made a mistake with that feedback many might consider revising it for you.

vintage-car-magazines · ‎05-04-2021

I think requiring buyers to contact the seller before leaving negative feedback would play out differently than you're envisioning. Most good buyers who want to solve a legitimate problem will contact the seller regardless and already do. For the others, a required contact can be easily weaponized. I envision the message something like this...

"eBay says that I need to contact you before I can leave negative feedback.....followed by a claim and a demand."

A required communication would quickly turn into eBay mandated feedback extortion.

Remember, most buyers are good, honest people....but not all.

powell-memorabilia · ‎05-04-2021

@scalemotorcars

It is one sided because if we lost 10% of sellers, we likely wouldn’t notice, and we might even be better off. If we lost 10% of buyers, you’d notice right away - a lot of sellers would be sunk.

fashunu4eeuh · ‎05-04-2021

@scalemotorcars wrote:
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.

Hi, thank you for taking the time to respond to my post. As I stated, I could not recall whether it was Power Sellers or TRS that received the 7 day wait before a neg or a neutral is left. Thanks to another poster, I see now it is for Power Sellers. Just wanted to clarify that point.

I thought you were indeed asking why eBay would not require buyer contact with a seller prior to leaving a poor rating. My answer was based on that. Perhaps you meant this as a rhetorical question instead. While I understand eBay's point of view, I am not saying I agree with how eBay manages its feedback. It would likely be of some help for sellers if buyer contact was mandated.

eBay has made it pretty clear that they support the buyer's interests first and foremost. For this reason, I do not believe they will change this policy, but good luck to you in your efforts. Opening a dialogue is often a positive thing.

itscalledapostingid · ‎05-11-2021

And now the 7 day grace period will be added to the TRS seller benefits as the Power Seller program is being retired on June 20, 2021. From the announcement that went out to Power Sellers today:

"So that you don’t lose the benefits of being a PowerSeller, starting June 20, your 7 calendar day grace period for negative and neutral feedback will now be included in the Top Rated Seller program."