Who Leaves Feeback First?

goanmad

Can't remember how I did it but Ebay automatically responds to feedback left by buyers, leaving positive feedback for them on my behalf.

When I buy something from Ebay I leave feedback as soon as I receive the item and usually email the buyer to thank them for the item as well. I don't expect the seller to leave feedback first in case I complain about the item because I haven't read the description carefully or send a load of abusive emails as the parcel took more than 24 hours to arrive.

As a seller I don't think the transaction is completed until the buyer gets in touch to say that the item has arrived safely and that they are pleased with it. I've been caught out before by leaving postive feedback as soon as I recieve payment either by the buyer claiming the parcel hasn't arrived even though I've provided tracking details and the Royal Mail website clearly says the parcel is at the PO awaiting collection.

Hintza

CuddlesTC wrote:

Now my account automatically reciprocates feedback received and I have more time to concentrate on actually fulfilling orders, which is what really matters.

How do you get it to do that? That would save me sometime.

EBat themselves suggest buyers leave feedback first. I ask buyers to leave feedback once they are 100% happy and state I will reciprocate. I have had the odd neg for things like item doesn't do X when if they had read listing Or manufacturers website) they would have known it didn't do X.

~cleo~

I tend to agree with the replies just above, i now only leave feedback once i know my buyer has recieved their item and are happy with it and left me feedback as i dont see the transaction as ended until i know they are satisfied with the product - also i was spending a lot of time leaving feedback and not getting any in response - its harsh but i think thats the way it should be

tigrul

When buying, I leave positive feedback when I receive the item, if I'm happy with it and it matches the description given.

When selling, I used to leave positive as soon as the buyer paid, but soon ran into bad experiences.

1. Many people complain 'oh, you charged 50p for P+P even though the stamp only cost 35p'. If you've already left +ve for them, they'll leave negative. It's only the fact I don't leave feedback first when selling that stops them negging me.

2. Got scammed once- buyer paid, I left +ve and dispatched. Buyer claim item didn't arrive, I refunded, RM refused refund as the seller's address had come up so many times in lost mail claims it was blacklisted! With scamming buyers like this, the ONLY way to stop them is get 3 strikes on their account and get them suspended. If you leave +ve first you can't do this. This person went on to scam over 50 more people, and I was powerless to do anything.

Fatso_the_wombat

I'd say buyer should leave feedback first. It is only when the buyer has received their goods, and is satisfied with them, that a transaction is complete.

If there are problems with the sale after the seller has received payment (re delivery, condition etc) and the buyer acts like an idiot (or a scammer), the seller has no comeback with regard to feedback.

lky2k23

When payment is received I always think the seller should leave feedback for the buyer.

You can always respond to feedback recieved, just go through the help and find out how.

Fatso_the_wombat

lky2k23 wrote:

When payment is received I always think the seller should leave feedback for the buyer.

I guess it all depends on what a person thinks the feedback should cover. I would argue that a seller's feedback to a buyer should not concentrate solely on the speed of payment etc, but also how they deal with an item when it arrives.

If they pay really quickly, but then start to kick up a fuss when the item arrives and it's not what they expect/broken in transit/whatever, then surely this should be borne into consideration? If they are amicable, and friendly then bosh, positive feedback. But if they act like an idiot... well. If the positive feedback's already been given, then there's no chance to give them a neg.

And, yes, you can respond to feedback, but it doesn't give them a neg, and so doesn't affect that % at the top of their listings...

shelly

Totally agree Fatso the wombat. Thats why hubby doesn't leave it till he knows buyer is happy or has left f/b first. If he's the buyer he leaves it first. Also though, just to point out, it doesn't bother him at all if he doesn't get any.

CuddlesTC

Hintza wrote:

How do you get it to do that? That would save me sometime.

I suspect it may be a feature of Selling Manager Pro only, but I'm not entirely sure. It took me a while to find it just now, but it's in the My eBay Views box on the left of the My eBay summary page under 'Automation Preferences'.

It actually gives you a choice of leaving feedback when the item is paid for, or when it's paid for and feedback has been left, but as I said before, that second option leaves you wide open to abuse.

When I buy I always leave feedback as soon as the item arrives and also email the seller to let them know I'm happy (without mentioning feedback - I don't want to look like I'm nagging). Those times when a seller has left feedback for me as soon as I've paid have just made me think "poor guy - luckily I'm nice, but sooner or later he's going to learn the hard way not to do that".

fiobee

I reckon feedback should be left at the end of the transaction, which should comprise the buyer paying, the seller sending and any disputes resolved - it doesn't matter who leaves feedback first, so long as the "transaction" is completely finished. After all, most people leave feedback about not only receiving/sending the item but also communication, speed, packaging and dispute resolution.