Is there anything that can be done regarding members not leaving feedback?

[jedimasterskulish]

Getting a bit miffed as there seems to be an increase of people not leaving positive feedback after a smooth transaction... 

[westernstargifts]

Leaving feedback is voluntary.  For the past while the trend seems to be toward fewer and fewer buyers leaving feedback.

It is best not to ask for FB because you may not like what you get, particularly if asking for it causes the buyer to be annoyed.

[reallynicestamps]

As the philosopher Nicole Scherzinger has put it: "Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0K46C82v9o&list=RDg0UG4RRjV20

[mr.elmwood]

FB is yesterdays' news.

[jedimasterskulish]

Ahhh, great...just what the world needs...more unfairness. *sigh*

Thanks for the reply's folks! 

- Joel

[toby_le_pue]

[rose-dee · Accepted solution]

Hi -- I don't mind FB discussions, they remind us the way things used to be.  Sadly, this is the way eBay is now.  Even 3 years ago, my FB rate was 90% or more.  Currently I'm pleased to get 70%, and often it's lower.  I attribute it to people using mobile devices more and more, as I think that discourages them from returning to eBay to leave FB at all.  There are always so many other things to distract their attention.

That being said, the other posters are quite right.  Don't ever chase FB, and don't mention it in your listings (as some sellers do).  It isn't worth it.  Those buyers who are truly happy with your service and leave FB on their own give you the FB you really want. 

Besides, eBay is transitioning to a "defect" system this spring, where the actual number of FB/DSRs you get may not be as important as the quality of that input from buyers.  Just do your very best to give great service to all your buyers and be pleased when some do leave good FB/DSRs. 

By the way, one thing I've found that can encourage buyers to leave you FB without saying a word is to leave your FB for buyers immediately (or shortly after) a sale.  There's little reason anymore to delay.  Often I find that when a buyer sees their FB number go up (with my FB), it prompts a response.  Subtle, but sometimes effective, especially if it's been a really pleasant, easy transaction all around.

[jedimasterskulish]

Thanks for the info Rose, I appreciate it.

[mr.elmwood]

Rose, I leave FB immediately and my rate of return is below 40%. It "used" to be a little over 60%. Has been dropping the last two years.

[realjazz-123]

After mailing an item, I always feel a bit uneasy over the days, or even weeks, until the package arrives. I feel uncomfortable when getting an INR message. I feel a sense of relief when I hear back from the buyer that the package arrived and all is well. I smile when a feedback (assuming positive) appears because I know all is okay with the transaction. Sometimes I get an email letting me know item is ok and no feedback from the same buyer. It is still a relief because both buyer and myself are pleased. Feedback of some kind is very useful for some personality types (worriers??) and the increasing frequency of buyers not leaving FB is disappointing and frustrating for me.

[westernstargifts]

Sometimes I would prefer not to get FB at all.  Positive FB with a low rating accompanied by no communication, and no inkling from FB comment regarding a problem is unacceptable.

Usually I can figure out who might have left a low rating but sometimes it is impossible to discern which buyer left it.

[rose-dee]

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@mr.elmwood wrote:
Rose, I leave FB immediately and my rate of return is below 40%. It "used" to be a little over 60%. Has been dropping the last two years.

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Yes, it's true, mine is a lot lower than it used to be too, but my little stratagem tends to work on the ones who may be inclined to leave FB/DSRs and just haven't got around to it. 

Also, I tend to leave FB as soon as I expect parcels have arrived if I'm running a "free shipping" promotion (where I'm careful about communicating only through Paypal and/or on the eBay transaction page too).  This means, with my 1-day or less shipping/handling and my -- hopefully -- thorough descriptions and photos, there isn't much left to complain about in the DSRs anyway. 

Still, I pick my times carefully, and never, ever chase after FB directly. 

I noticed a recent article in eCommerce Bytes about Et...y getting good results by having management, instead of sellers, send a friendly reminder to buyers about leaving FB (in their case these are reviews, which I think are a better idea anyway).  Apparently it's working well for sellers there. 

I think the eBay FB/DSR system is perceived in a very adversarial way -- maybe because of past history where it was once a free-for-all insult fest.  I believe the whole FB/DSR system is also misconstrued by many buyers as merely an "opinion survey" or a rant forum, with no real consequences for the seller -- in other words a meaningless poll.  This is something eBay got very wrong. 

Lastly, I think that putting the FB/DSR system in a separate "forum" on eBay, makes it a lot less convenient for buyers to access.  I'd rather see a big button right up front somewhere.  Even I, after all these years, must admit that I find leaving FB as a buyer is a bit of a pain -- not the actual FB, but just getting to the right page.  What does that say about new buyers?

And those are, IMO the reasons that it's a bad idea to send reminders to buyers about FB/DSRs on this site, whether sent directly from sellers or from management.  Why court problems?

(Yes, I've been lured back to the boards... )

[i*m-still-here]

Me too.

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@rose-dee wrote:

---

(Yes, I've been lured back to the boards... )

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Me too.

Welcome back Rose.

[fine-eclectic]

i understand and agree with comments regarding chasing feedback. Having said that, i do get concerned if sensitive/expensive items are shipped and i hear nothing. So i often do follow-up with a cut a paste message something along the line of:

"Hello

Gentle reminder has not been received for this item. If there was a problem with your order, please let me know so i can address it. Cheers, etc."

And you would be surprised how many have acknowledged forgetting, even thanked me for reminding them! i have had only a few respond that they did not leave feedback because of a concern with the order and even then, i was able to work out the issue some of them.

On the other hand, i understand eBay is going to change the feedback system and time is tight...

[pocomocomputing]

eBay sends out a reminder to buyers of items that have not left feedback. Sometimes this reminder will cause feedback show up so very late from a buyer.

In your account Preferences, there is a section for Managing Communications with buyers.

Go to My eBay > Account -> Manage Communications with Buyers

The emails sent by eBay are listed there in the order in which they are sent and when.  There is some customization allowed.

For example, if you allow buyers to combine shipping, you can turn off the reminder in the third section that is sent out after 48 hours. No point in harassing buyers who are still shopping.

The first email be customized to add information to the email sent to the buyer when they have won.

So since a reminder email is sent after 30 days by eBay, I would not bother a buyer at all about feedback. If you send an email reminder yourself and eBay sends one days later, a buyer might get upset.