Private Feedback - is this new?

bluep

What's all this I see lately about people making their feedback private on eBay? I can understand making auction items/buyers private if you are selling slightly racy goods lol, but feedback?? Doesn't that negate the whole feedback system?

I presume people are doing it becuase they have one or more neg comments where the actual comment (rather than just the rating) reflects very badly on them. I think eBay are wrong to allow this as a function - the whole point is to be able to see what other buyers/sellers have said about that person in the past. If someone leaves a crappy comment without reason to, you have the option to respond...

Any other opinions or further light to shed on why this is appearing more and more?

soolin

It's been going on for ages and it does seem rather an odd thing to do as it doesn't hide the actual feedback score, just the comments.

I tend not to trust sellers with private feedback because I can't work out what they are doing it for.

Soo

alanobrien

Absolutely agree with soolin, whats the point in making it private ? What do they have to hide ?

I wouldn't even consider bidding on an item where the sellar hides their feedback.

it all looks very dodgy to me

DaisyNelson

I agree with the others. If they are making their feedback private, it means there is something in there they don't want you to see. Is it likely to be a complement? Even if they had a valid reason for this (can't think of one) it will still be perceived as suspect, therefore a pointless exercise.

divadee

I agree with all the above, it looks like they have got to much to hide.


mr divadee's friend who seels on ebay has just made his feedback private (dont know why he had good feedback only 2 negs out of 500+ transaction) but he has noticed his sales fall rapidly since he has done it, so hes going to go back i think to showing his feedback.

why do people hide it, i also hate it when someone with private feedback buys something off me, makes me very wary

Chalky87

Yes, it all is a little dodgy, I never buy off anyone with private feedback, as mentioned above it doesn't exactly flood one with confidence. Maybe 'Divadee' you could ask your mate why they chose to make there's private and we might have an insight on the subject!

Tar

divadee

whitey1987 wrote:

Yes, it all is a little dodgy, I never buy off anyone with private feedback, as mentioned above it doesn't exactly flood one with confidence. Maybe 'Divadee' you could ask your mate why they chose to make there's private and we might have an insight on the subject!

Tar

i will call him later on tonight and ask him for us all. never got round to asking but thought it odd when i saw he had made it private. but i thought it odd also that he hasnt rectified it straight away when he noticed his sales dropping.

oldagetraveller

I did have a "private feedback" buyer recently and everything did go smoothly. However, since this, when selling, I always now state "no private feedback bidders please" in the listing. I suppose it may lose the odd bid but I'd rather see feedback comments and as has been stated there must surely be a reason for not wanting feedback comments visible.
Also I will never bid on an item with a "private" feedback.

bleugh

its a way of ebay letting good sellers go bad and rip off buyers.
if someone has 100+ feedback, you cant see that recently they may have had 50 odd bad feedbacks for non delivery!

icarus_2

Not really private feedback is mainly used when a bidder (usually a non paying one) has left abusive and derogatory feedback and it is in the process of being investigated by ebay.

Sellers are allowed to protect their reputations whilst this is in the process of being removed hence the private functionality.

elmer

I made my feedback private recently when I disputed a misdescribed pair of trainers I had bought and the seller replied with the comment that I had recently purchased another pair from someone else.
As that was irrevant to my complaint and I still needed to provide my son with trainers, I went privare whilst resolving the situation, so that any further sales wouldnt be thrown in my face.

Thankfully after just a little persusion, the seller accepted their mistake and we were able to sort out the problem, so I am now back to public feedback.

Elmer