Ebay feedback blackmail

maleman · 18 May 2007 at 2:15PM

As a buyer, I win an auction and always pay instantly via paypal. At this point in the transaction I expect the seller to be able to give me positive feedback, having completed my side of the transaction.
Why then, do sellers not give feedback but wait until I have given them positive feedback re their service and goods.
In effect this is a form of blackmail. Sellers only returning like for like, the buyer fearing bad feedback in retaliation, although they have done nothing wrong.
I will not, and encourage others who are buyers not to give any feedback in these circumstances. Sellers would then not achieve high positives giving a false impression of their service.
Thoughts?

DrFluffy · 18 May 2007 at 2:24PM

The transaction is not completed until the person has received the item and any niggles that might have occured have been ironed out.

samanthaknd · 18 May 2007 at 2:25PM

Because of people buying items and then doing a chargeback later saying card was stole etc. so they keep the item and get their money back. Most sellers don't leave feedback until the sale is over. I for one only leave feedback once I know that my buyer has recieved the item and is happy with transaction if not I try to make it better. But I never ever give people a neg in retaliation, never had a neg though, but wouldn't do that just to retaliate.

smartie1976 · 18 May 2007 at 2:26PM

As I see it you have NOT yet completed your side of the transaction yet.

I see it as complete once a buyer has the item in their hands (I mostly buy, not sell before anyone jumps...)

What If the buyer doesn't go an pick it up from the post office, and it gets sent back to the sender, then the buyer gets arsey about it being resent and then leaves a neg. The seller isn't at fault the buyer is.

Best to wait until all parties are happy. It's churlish to expect feedback as soon as you've paid as there is still the potential for stuff to go wrong on both sides.

annie-c · 18 May 2007 at 2:28PM

I see the OPs concerns and certainly believe there is potential for blackmail to occur but it works both ways. I don't believe there is an ideal solution, but personally , on the whole I agree that buyer should give feedback first to confirm they are happy that the transaction is complete.

I say this even having had a seller attempt to blackmail me. It's the 'least worst' option, I guess.

appleblossom · 18 May 2007 at 2:34PM

tbh, I'm normally stunned when I see someone has given me fb before I receive the item as I don't see the tranx as being complete until I have received it. I buy and sell,more buying though lol, I never expect fb as a buyer until I have left it, and likewise, I never leave fb as a seller until it has been left for me. If a buyer chooses not to leave me fb, then I dont either.

StaffsSW · 18 May 2007 at 2:50PM

It's all voluntary anyway! Why lose sleep over it? If it's left for me, I reply, if it's not, I move on.

And you could always meet a buyer like this!!

DrFluffy · 18 May 2007 at 2:52PM

"Sorry for the late feedback. I stopped to think and forgot to start again."

CLASSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

tripled · 18 May 2007 at 2:55PM

I have always thought the feedback would only be truely impartial if the feedback left was kept hidden until the other party had left their feedback too.

After, say, 28 days if one party hadn't left feedback then the other parties would then go down anyway but without chance of responding (if you see what I mean).

hjb123 · 18 May 2007 at 2:56PM

We must have several threads a month (or more) on this subject.

As a buyer I leave feedback once I have received the item and it is as described etc I leave feedback. As a seller I wait until I have heard from the buyer or the buyer has left feedback and is satisfied, that way if there are any problems I can try to resolve any problems

Hermia · 18 May 2007 at 6:22PM

maleman wrote: »

Why then, do sellers not give feedback but wait until I have given them positive feedback re their service and goods.

It's 'cause there are a lot of buyers out there who are troublemakers or don't read the description. As a seller you are rating the whole transaction not just the buyer paying, in the same way as when you rate a seller - i.e. you are not just rating the goods, but how the seller behaves, deals with problems etc.

I had a buyer leave me negative feedback because a video I sent her had a cracked case, despite the fact that the second line of my listing said, "the videocassette is in excellent condition, but the case is cracked." I'm sure most sellers on here have had a similar experience. It would have been a bit annoying if I had given her a glowing positive feedback and then she ruined my feedback because of her inability to read the item description.

Ebay feedback blackmail

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