*JMHO* - to be taken with a grain of salt!
I've gotten a little more wary. If it's a repeat customer I leave it immediately, but for the new ones, I've started waiting until I'm sure they're happy. I'm now beginning to agree with those who feel that the buyer must indicate whether he/she is happy and if not, have given the seller a chance to make it good, before the transaction is complete and it's time for feedback.
Glenda
Glenda
In the silver/antique biz there seems to be a minimal risk of buyer trouble. When the bidder pays, they get their feedback right away. I also can't sit around and keep track of who did what where.
I have only had to leave negs for peeps who did not pay their bill. The items were still sitting here so I relisted. Only one kook called me 9 months later and asked me where his stuff was. I said, "Probably Texas".
I have only had to leave negs for peeps who did not pay their bill. The items were still sitting here so I relisted. Only one kook called me 9 months later and asked me where his stuff was. I said, "Probably Texas".
Chris, I leave feedback at the end of a transaction when the customer expresses satisfaction. I started out leaving feedback immediately after payment... switched to leaving feedback after the buyer left feedback.... switched back for a three month period... now I've switched back again.
Too many buyers use feedback the wrong way. If USPS is slow this week - neg the seller. Package tied up in Customs - neg the seller. Didn't read the whole auction description so the product is not what they imagined - neg the seller. Received a reminder for payment from the seller - neg the seller.
I'm not sure the use of the word "blackmail" is even remotely accurate. eBay suggests feedback be left by both parties at the conclusion of the transaction. Where does blackmail enter into it? Payment by the buyer doesn't even come close to the end for most sellers. There is still that period of time before the buyer receives his or her widget that so much can, and sometimes does, go wrong.
For example, I shipped an item two weeks ago by small packet to Hawaii. My emails are clear as to the time frame involved for delivery to the islands. Last night I receive an email from the buyer demanding to know where their item is and that I had better respond within 24 hours or face negative feedback. How do you respond to a buyer with that attitude? My response was that I had previously emailed the shipping time frame and that a review of our previous emails would reveal that he still needed to be patient. I also pointed out the I am always happy to respond to emailed questions but that I have an allergic reaction to feedback threats so his were not appreciated. I pointed out that after 3 years on eBay I was not going to toss a part of my livelihood away by attempting to steal his $16. I also asked that we keep our emails business like as it would be unfortunate for us to both get a neg over miscommunication. Today I received a one word apology from him. Moral of the story... maybe my words had an impact or maybe it was the idea that our transaction could be reduced to a couple of negs that caused him to rethink - and you know what? Who cares?
Feedback is a personal thing. If you feel comfortable leaving feedback the moment a buyer closes your auction - go for it. If you prefer to leave glowing feedback the moment the coins hit your Paypal account - more power to you. Some of us prefer to leave feedback until the end of a transaction and that should be no less a valid opinion.
There are probably as many valid negs left by sellers for poor buyers as there are negs left by buyers for poor sellers but tainting a valid opinion with a word like "blackmail" seems a little harsh, doesn't it?
Bill
Too many buyers use feedback the wrong way. If USPS is slow this week - neg the seller. Package tied up in Customs - neg the seller. Didn't read the whole auction description so the product is not what they imagined - neg the seller. Received a reminder for payment from the seller - neg the seller.
I'm not sure the use of the word "blackmail" is even remotely accurate. eBay suggests feedback be left by both parties at the conclusion of the transaction. Where does blackmail enter into it? Payment by the buyer doesn't even come close to the end for most sellers. There is still that period of time before the buyer receives his or her widget that so much can, and sometimes does, go wrong.
For example, I shipped an item two weeks ago by small packet to Hawaii. My emails are clear as to the time frame involved for delivery to the islands. Last night I receive an email from the buyer demanding to know where their item is and that I had better respond within 24 hours or face negative feedback. How do you respond to a buyer with that attitude? My response was that I had previously emailed the shipping time frame and that a review of our previous emails would reveal that he still needed to be patient. I also pointed out the I am always happy to respond to emailed questions but that I have an allergic reaction to feedback threats so his were not appreciated. I pointed out that after 3 years on eBay I was not going to toss a part of my livelihood away by attempting to steal his $16. I also asked that we keep our emails business like as it would be unfortunate for us to both get a neg over miscommunication. Today I received a one word apology from him. Moral of the story... maybe my words had an impact or maybe it was the idea that our transaction could be reduced to a couple of negs that caused him to rethink - and you know what? Who cares?
Feedback is a personal thing. If you feel comfortable leaving feedback the moment a buyer closes your auction - go for it. If you prefer to leave glowing feedback the moment the coins hit your Paypal account - more power to you. Some of us prefer to leave feedback until the end of a transaction and that should be no less a valid opinion.
There are probably as many valid negs left by sellers for poor buyers as there are negs left by buyers for poor sellers but tainting a valid opinion with a word like "blackmail" seems a little harsh, doesn't it?
Bill
I sell in a tough category (clothing).
I do two things. I NEVER mention feedback...after all, it is VOLUNTARY.
...and my auction manager leaves feedback for the bidder when it sees positive left for me.
ebay recommends that feedback be left when the transaction is complete. That means I need to hear from the bidder, either to work out any issues, or to leave feedback.
I do two things. I NEVER mention feedback...after all, it is VOLUNTARY.
...and my auction manager leaves feedback for the bidder when it sees positive left for me.
ebay recommends that feedback be left when the transaction is complete. That means I need to hear from the bidder, either to work out any issues, or to leave feedback.
My thoughts exactly catseye,
I also sell in a tough category (cellular & electronics) and therefore we wait for feedback first before leaving feedback, if everyone left a feedback, our rating would be @ 30,000+ right now but unfortunatly its very hard.
I spoke to a few pinks in ebay live in Florida and they told me the same thing, that feedback should be left after the entire transaction is over, not just because the buyer paid fast, so big deal, we ship fast but its the post that takes so damn long.
momo.
I also sell in a tough category (cellular & electronics) and therefore we wait for feedback first before leaving feedback, if everyone left a feedback, our rating would be @ 30,000+ right now but unfortunatly its very hard.
I spoke to a few pinks in ebay live in Florida and they told me the same thing, that feedback should be left after the entire transaction is over, not just because the buyer paid fast, so big deal, we ship fast but its the post that takes so damn long.
momo.
