Feedback changes announced!!!

StaffsSW · 29 January 2008 at 2:18PM

http://pages.ebay.com/services/forum/new.html

The eBay Feedback system was originally designed to provide a simple, honest, accurate record of the buyer's and seller's online experience to ensure safe and satisfactory trade. It was driven by two factors: transparency and accountability. Over time, we found that the transparency of the existing Feedback system makes some members reluctant to hold others accountable. For example, buyers fear retaliatory Feedback from sellers if they leave a negative.

Therefore, we'll be making a few significant changes to eBay's Feedback system to continue to improve accuracy and accountability. Within six months, these changes should help to differentiate and reward sellers who provide a positive buying experience on eBay.

There are five key elements to the new Feedback system being introduced in the first half of 2008:

1. Beginning in February, buyers and sellers will be able to earn up to one Feedback per week from the same trading partner. Today, members may only affect each other's Feedback scores one time, regardless of the number of transactions between the parties. This change will both encourage repeat transactions and reward good service.
2. Sellers will no longer be able to leave negative or neutral Feedback for buyers. This change will occur in May, 2008.
3. Removal of negative and neutral Feedback left by members who are suspended or who fail to respond to the Unpaid Item Process (UPI).
4. Positive Feedback percentage will be based on the past 12 months of Feedback, rather than lifetime, since it is most indicative of the seller's recent performance.
5. Restrictions on when Feedback can be left:
* Buyers must wait three days before leaving negative or neutral Feedback
* Instead of 90 days, members will be able to leave Feedback for 60 days

I truly do not know what to say about this.... so a buyer stiffs me with a neg because of their inability to read the descripton, or because they can not communicate problems to me, and I am not allowed to leave a warning feedback comment??

This is a bad move.

chrisxr2 · 29 January 2008 at 2:20PM

Getting a bit big for their boots now ebay. Just my opinion.

Badger_Lady · 29 January 2008 at 2:30PM

Sounds like a brilliant idea to me - more open and honest, plus the protection of having negatives removed from a buyer who fails to respond to Unpaid Item Disputes. The end of retaliatory feedback - I'm all for it.

And, from a personal point of view, I get my 100% back, as it's been 3 years now since that chap wrongly left me negative feedback meant for an entirely separate eBayer.

ormus · 29 January 2008 at 2:33PM

rebel (EBAY) without a clue.

fuzzgun19 · 29 January 2008 at 2:33PM

2. Sellers will no longer be able to leave negative or neutral Feedback for buyers. This change will occur in May, 2008.

This is bad in my opinion.
Ebay seems to think that buyers do no wrong, and always seem to be gearing changes towards making things easier for the buyer.

I am a seller and a buyer, but this rule stinks, as sellers cannot warn other sellers about @rse hole buyers who scam people!!!

sockospice · 29 January 2008 at 2:36PM

Oh dear. I had hoped this was just a rumour.

So how exactly do you warn other sellers about nightmare buyers now then? I can only hope that along with this ebay tighten up the UID process.

I'm off to read the ebay community forums. Should be fun over there

Badger_Lady · 29 January 2008 at 2:37PM

fuzzgun19 wrote: »

I am a seller and a buyer, but this rule stinks, as sellers cannot warn other sellers about @rse hole buyers who scam people!!!

But you can still open a dispute with them, they will incur a record with eBay and get struck off if they really are scamming. You'll still be able to leave comments, they just won't have a % score (unless they're also using the account to sell).

I think this is a minor point compared to all the benefits the new system should bring.

StaffsSW · 29 January 2008 at 2:43PM

Badger_Lady wrote: »

But you can still open a dispute with them, they will incur a record with eBay and get struck off if they really are scamming. You'll still be able to leave comments, they just won't have a % score (unless they're also using the account to sell).

I think this is a minor point compared to all the benefits the new system should bring.

Unfortunately you can not open disputes for buyer stupidity, only non-payment. If i receive a neg because of a postal strike, or if because my PS2 game will not work on PS1, then does that buyer still deserve a positive because they managed to pay quickly?

I'll be switching off my automated feedback now I think. My feedback is at a level where i do not need to concern myself on getting any more. I'm happy to not to leave or receive any more feedback.

tkane · 29 January 2008 at 2:43PM

Not being able to leave a Neg for a buyer when they have not paid is utterly disgraceful. If anything, it's sellers who should be getting more powers since we're the people who ultimately keep ebay going through their extortionate fees.

freddysmith · 29 January 2008 at 2:45PM

The next move will be all Ebay sellers activity will be given to the Tax Office each finanial year just to check that all sellers are being fair to the Government :rolleyes:

Badger_Lady · 29 January 2008 at 2:51PM

Remember that these things will apply to all sellers, though (except Steve)... we may all get more negatives - that's the point - but we will ALL get them, and there will therefore be clearer differentiation between sellers.

So, if you lose out due to a postal strike, that's pretty rough... but they shouldn't be put off doing so purely because they're afraid of getting one back. If anything, they should be put off doing so because you've been so friendly, understanding and communicative.

Most of us will have to stomach a few more negs than we're used to because of a sale that didn't go perfectly according to plan (whether within or outside our contol); but if we're genuinely good sellers we'll still be more positively portrayed than our dodgy counterparts.

So maybe the new average for everyone is 75% - any seller who has more than that should be considered exceptionally reliable, and any with lower is a bit more dodgy.

It's better than everyone in the marketplace being over 95% purely because all their buyers are too scared to neg them.

Feedback changes announced!!!

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