eBay

montegupython · ‎10-15-2015

Why is it that sellers on ebay always want to wait for me to leave seller feedback before they leave buyer feedback? Presumably there should be no real connection between the two actions. I bid on items (or use the Buy Now option) and then pay for the item immediately. Once I have done this I have done everything I can do as a buyer and should be entitled to positive feedback regardless of whether I have left feedback for the seller. The two things should be completely independent. Unfortunately it seems that a number of sellers on ebay are not prepared to leave feedback for buyers until the buyers leave feedback for the sellers. It appears that sellers on ebay have decided that they will only leave positive buyer feedback if the buyer leaves positive seller feedback which, in my humble opinion, undermines the entire feedback system on ebay. That is one of the things that annoys me about ebay and one of the reasons I don't use it very much.

reallynicestamps · ‎10-16-2015

They don't always wait.

Many sellers , myself included, leave feedback on shipping.

Since FB is basically useless for buyers, who can only receive positive feedback, I make it work by giving the date of shipment and service used.

Some sellers prefer to be sure the item has been safely delivered, the transaction complete, and the buyer happy before leaving a comment on the entire transaction.

All feedback is voluntary.

In my opinion, more sellers leave feedback than buyers. Even so only about 70% of transaction engender any FB at all.

This may be a stupid question, but what others sites have feedback at all? I've listed on half a dozen including AZ, the Ranch, the Moon, the Doll, and the Red Road, without ever getting feedback, positive or negative. Not many sales either of course.

momcqueen · ‎10-16-2015

reallynicestamps: You lost me at The Moon. Eh? There must be a whole wide world out thereof which I am I'm woefully ignorant.

But yes, feedback is entirely voluntary. One-third of my buyers leave it for me but I leave it for each buyer on shipment. I do agree with you, however: to not have feedback left feels like a gesture to shake hands that is left ignored by the other party.

reallynicestamps · ‎10-16-2015

eCrater

momcqueen · ‎10-16-2015

Oh, of course. What's The Doll and Red Road?!

montegupython · ‎10-16-2015

Thanks for the replies. I agree that many other sites don't have feedback but I have always been of the view that the feedback is one of the key features of ebay. I am not a frequent user but when I do buy something I rarely, if ever, have bought from a seller with less than 95% positive feedback.

I agree with the comment about shaking hands which is why I always leave feedback.

dmil8030 · ‎10-17-2015

Hello 'montegupython',

<< sellers on ebay always want to wait for me to leave seller feedback before they leave buyer feedback>>

Really? I find that most leave it first. There are any number of reasons for that, but it has been my experience

that most sellers leave feedback first.

You have a comparatively low feedback score so I can understand you wanting to boost it quickly, given how

prickly sellers are about "low feedback buyers". I have even seen it written in listings, "If you have a feedback

score of less than 10, your bids will be removed." Eeew. How unfriendly can ya get.

Once you get past the 60 mark you'll find you don't really care whether you get any more or not. It's just nice to get rid

of that screaming yellow 'newbie' star.

You will have already seen this link that explains everything and anything about feedback:

http://pages.ebay.ca/help/feedback/allaboutfeedback.html

Basically, because it is voluntary all ebayers can choose to leave feedback or not, and when they want, so long

as they do it within 60 days (and that it does not violate any of the policies).

Some of those major retailers leave it automatically after you pay. I find most 'smaller' sellers leave it after the item

is in the mail. There are those which leave it automatically after you leave your positive. And yes, there will always

be a few who wait to see if you leave them a positive with full 5 stars or you won't be getting any at all.

It's their choice, and all are okay with ebay.

And no one way of doing it is 'better', -- how a seller leaves feedback is that individual's personal policy, and in no

way denotes a better seller.

We used to be able to gauge how a seller left feedback by comparing the date/time on the incoming vs. the

outgoing, but alas that particular loophole of inquiry has been closed off to us.

Ah well, -- the surest way to get the positive you want is to leave it. (Doubtless the reason so many sellers

leave it first).

reallynicestamps · ‎10-17-2015

Betsy Wetsy - a doll in the 50s which we fed water in a bottle and then changed her diaper. So etsy.
And Ruby Lane.

00nevermind00 · ‎10-17-2015

@montegupython wrote:
I rarely, if ever, have bought from a seller with less than 95% positive feedback.

In high school, 95% is stellar. On eBay, it's really the bottom of the bottom. It's unlikely that a seller with 95% feedback will be around for very long. Unless they are a casual seller who ran into one problem.

Seller feedback is useful, but it's not the Holy Grail. I've had excellent transactions with sellers with spotty feedback that I was willing to take a chance on for whatever reason. The percentage doesn't tell the whole story, especially for casual sellers. You have to read the comments. I find sellers' replies to neutral and negatives especially useful because they give you an idea of how the seller deals with problems.

Buyer feedback is completely useless because sellers have a choice between a) leaving a positive, or b) leaving no feedback. Savvy sellers will not even glance at your feedback received, but they will check your feedback left for others. So make sure never to leave a neutral or a negative until you have exhausted all other avenues of solving a problem. And if you must leave one, make sure it is calm and factual. To a dispassionate observer, angry feedback comments will always say more about the buyer who left them than they will about the seller on the receiving end.