POLL - Why should I leave Feedback First?

johnnyboyrebel

MyOnlyPost wrote: »

When I sell something I don't consider the transaction complete until feedback is left. Usually buyers don't notify you they have received item so feedback is the only way you find out.

If I leave feedback saying fast payment etc.etc., but then buyer becomes unreasonable, wants to return item without good cause outside DSR time limit, expects me to pay return postage because they have changed their mind, gets aggressive or starts threatening etc. I would then have to change that feedback.

As a seller I cannot leave negative feedback in any circumstances yet buyers still use it as a threat to get what they want (Not happened to me but I know it happens), so why should I leave feedback first?

eBay should make feedback compulsory and have strict guidelines as to it's application. Delivery with the time frame stated on the listing should be automatic 5 Stars etc. If it was compulsory wouldn't matter who left feedback first. To enforce it they could simply suspend accounts from buying or selling who have not left feedback within 21 days of a completion for instance, unless a dispute has been opened

I disagree, eBay feedback has been harped on about since the dawn of time stating how important it is to sellers and 'its all about feedback' etc. It very well may be but only because people use it and make it so important. The likes of Amazon and Playtrade deem feedback irrelevant really, it has no bearing on choosing a seller on there as all feedback is pretty much the same. On eBay people leaving petty feedback because Royal Mail delivered it slightly later as they couldn't be bothered taking it out on their first round damages the seller and, as we all know, could
seriously affect your account.

Hardly any customers on Amazon leave feedback (from many thousands of transactions over the years we have had only a tiny percentage them actually leave feedback so the number of feedbacks may still be large but in comparison....) As for Playtrade many don't even realise they can leave it, it is that irrelevant.

eBay would benefit hugely from having the same kind of attitude. If you send an item on time as promised and it arrives in condition it was listed in, this should be the end of it. People leaving neutral because they were 'not quite happy with the postage costs' is just garbage, it gives no help to a potential customer who is thinking of buying from that seller and if they dont like it, dont order the bloody thing! Its the mentality of many online customers who dont know their !!!! from their elbow.

Speech over.

As for the poll, the seller has dispatched the item therefore completed their end of the deal at that point so why on earth do they need to leave feedback for the customer? At what point do they leave feedback anyway? Only the customer will know when it arrives so should therefore leave the feedback then. Buyer feedback seems pointless too. Amazon allow buyer feedback but I have yet to hear any seller who actually uses it!

MyOnlyPost

You make a good point and I agree in principle JohnnyBoyRebel but eBay make a big deal of it with their best match. As your selling history and DSR's go some way to ranking where in the listings yours appear.

I would be happy if either eBay dropped feedback all together or made it compulsory as previously stated. The current, only if you feel like it helps no one.

johnnyboyrebel

MyOnlyPost wrote: »

I would be happy if either eBay dropped feedback all together or made it compulsory as previously stated. The current, only if you feel like it helps no one.

I agree with this (I would have said this if I had not gone into rant mode )

Either noone leaves feedback or everyone has to. The way it is, a lot of feedback runs the risk of being deemed irrelevant as there is no consistency. But definitely get rid of rubbish like 'packaging feedback'

leboof

If you read all the comments, there are some great arguments both sides here, Feedback is a problem for sellers I can see that and I was amazed when 'unable to leave Negative Feedback' was introduced by eBay.

A lot of people say "Who Cares?". Agreed, a lot don't, but two things.... most of the adverts I see request that the buyer contacts the seller before leaving negative feedback and even post a note with items with that regard, so they care all right. I personally do look at the feedback comments before purchasing, however, I would not necessarily avoid a seller because of one or two people bent on leaving negative for what does seem some ridiculously stupid reason, so I do have sympathy with sellers there.


*** ONE REALLY INTERESTING CONTACT I HAD, SIMILAR SCENARIO ***


A seller contacted everyone, including me, who purchased from her that particular month stating several people had left her low star scores for purchases. She was asking who it was to retract as this would mean her Top Rated Seller status would be withdrawn affecting her business badly. Perhaps someone wasn't happy at all.


Thank you for all the replies.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Feedback for sellers and feedback for buyers are very different, buyer feedback is pointless, seller feedback is important.

Who looks at every buyer's feedback before deciding whether to send the item? Who looks at a seller's feedback before buying?

It was mentioned on a eBay board than an Amazon seller on the face of it seemed OK but when you looked at their feedback they got by on most sales going OK but as soon as a problem occurred and a buyer got in touch, they just ignored it.

On Amazon and PlayTrade a lot seem to buy on price having no idea on feedback and thus service. On eBay feedback is sold as very important and it tells you a lot about a seller. The DSR ratings being used in Best Match mean a reasonable price coupled with excellent service can gain sales over a cheaper price with poorer service.

Good for buyers good for sellers.

One plus with the feedback profile of a buyer, if you are new and have purchased a few things, when you come to sell that first item those positives do say you have a bit of experience on how the very basics of eBay work.

Other than that it just tells me you can click a button to pay for something you want. And if a buyer doesn't pay for items, constantly asks for part refunds, claims excessive INR, is rude or clueless and anything else negative you'd never know because buyer feedback must be a green dot with a positive comment.

Sellers not negging buyers was one of the best things eBay could have done for all honest buyers and all decent sellers. At the same time it left a buyer's feedback profile rather pointless. The only benefit is to entertain those who find it important to keep them shopping on eBay as if it were some kind of loyalty scheme.

But for anyone who thinks their profile as a buyer has any relevance at all, I would be interested to know what that is exactly?

Quenastoise

Also, so many sellers/buyers are afraid of leaving neg fb for fear of retaliation that the whole thing is pretty pointless anyway.

It especially matters when you start out. I have only been active on Ebay for a couple of months so my star count is 25 100 %, one bad fb and I'd dip to 96 % - not impressive !

soolin

Quenastoise wrote: »

Also, so many sellers/buyers are afraid of leaving neg fb for fear of retaliation that the whole thing is pretty pointless anyway.

It especially matters when you start out. I have only been active on Ebay for a couple of months so my star count is 25 100 %, one bad fb and I'd dip to 96 % - not impressive !

There is no longer any fear of 'retaliation' as sellers can only leave a positive.

leboof

Any more votes?

Sellers are catching up fast! It's neck and neck almost.

Question if you votes, are you a seller or a buyer>

bruticus

As a seller, I leave feedback after feedback is left, so I know the buyer is happy with their purchase. If I'm a buyer, I'll leave feedback when I'm happy with my purchase!

whenispaydayagain?

I always leave feedback as soon as the buyer has paid - Albeit some do take the mick and I sometimes wish I hadn't but the way I see it, they have paid for the item so providing they don't try and scam you down the line or turn out to be nightmare buyers - they have fulfilled their end of the bargain so why not?