Feedback down to a Trickle!!

wigglebeena

Has anyone had massive numbers of buyers asking for feedback? It used to be a rare occurrence for me: now I get it continually. Why are they suddenly so obsessed with it: is it because of the changes so they think sellers are just going to stop leaving it, and this is the last chance saloon to get some?

I just had my first buyer ask for feedback with theirs being conditional upon mine, i.e. 'i'll show you mine if you show me yours'. Not impressed, told them it was against my policy.

peter999

Kerilinann wrote: »

Though if this is the case, it could be argued why is there a massive feedback upheaval/change.

Because established sellers started to play the feedback game:

-Seller only leaves feedback after Buyer
-Seller leaves retaliatory Neg feedback, if Buyer leaves a truthful Neg feedback

I bought 5 items from a seller, left 1x Neg & 2x Neutral feedbacks.
Seller hitback with 2 retaliatory Negs, so he had 3 in reserve if I left further poor feedback !!

I never left the 2 feedbacks remaining, in case he left further retaliatory Negs.

peter999

StaffsSW

Buyers' feedback is insignificant in the scheme of things - it's rare for a seller to vet scores prior to accepting sales, and in the case of BIN's and snipes, there is nothing a seller can do about it.

Unless a buyer receives more than 3 or 4 unpaid strikes in a month, they will remain on eBay regardless of negatives received, (except in the rare cases where they end up with -4) so negatives do not affect buying ability.

If negs are received, then buyers can still opt for Private feedback and continue to buy as much as they wish, but as long as it's paid for (and there is no feedback extortion or offensive comments left), eBay generally will not consider any negatives they receive for grounds to ban them.

If buyers had not been so protective of their scores and used the feedback system properly, then this whole debacle would not be happening. Not leaving feedback for fear of a retailitory is the sign of a weak person IMO.

peter999

stevew8975 wrote: »

Buyers' feedback is insignificant in the scheme of things - it's rare for a seller to vet scores prior to accepting sales, and in the case of BIN's and snipes, there is nothing a seller can do about it.

Unless a buyer receives more than 3 or 4 unpaid strikes in a month, they will remain on eBay regardless of negatives received, (except in the rare cases where they end up with -4) so negatives do not affect buying ability.

If negs are received, then buyers can still opt for Private feedback and continue to buy as much as they wish, but as long as it's paid for (and there is no feedback extortion or offensive comments left), eBay generally will not consider any negatives they receive for grounds to ban them.

If buyers had not been so protective of their scores and used the feedback system properly, then this whole debacle would not be happening. Not leaving feedback for fear of a retailitory is the sign of a weak person IMO.

So why do many sellers wait until the buyer has left feedback ??

Sellers have more to lose.
Many sellers have fallen into trap of the feedback game.

The feedback system had fallen into disrepute.

peter999

amcluesent

>So why do many sellers wait until the buyer has left feedback ?<

'Cos I don't believe I can give feedback until the buyer is happy.

I did sell ~10 items on Jan and non got feedback from buyers, funnily enough recent sales have had feedback. Maybe everyone was hungover?:D

jamtart6

i think feedback should be made compulsory for both sellers and buyers. its the only true reflection of how the transaction has gone. I haven't done a few feedbacks because the transaction wasn't great and didnt want to risk getting a negative

peter999

amcluesent wrote: »

>So why do many sellers wait until the buyer has left feedback ?<

'Cos I don't believe I can give feedback until the buyer is happy.

And if the buyer is not happy & leaves Neg, then what ??

I will always try to resolve problem before leaving poor feedback, unless the item is blatantly misdescribed & the seller is deceiving people.

When I left Neg feedback, the seller was misdescribing & deceiving people, I assessed situation & decided other buyers needed to be warned, even though he had refunded me.

peter999

wendym

I've noticed an increase in buyers asking for feedback. Oddly, I recently had an email asking for it when I won, then another when it was dispatched, and there was a handwritten note asking for it wrapped round the item. I must have been in a very good mood, cos I left very positive feedback straight away, and...you've guessed it...have had nothing myself.

sjc_2

I state in my item for sale posts that feedback will be let once feedback has been received. As I view receiving feedback from the buyer as them confirming receipt and are happy with their purchase.

I always leave feedback when they leave theirs and do the reverse when buying something myself. I also state as much with the email I send confirming dispatch of the goods and tracking number.

If after one week I have not heard anything I send an email asking if they have received the goods and asking if there are any issues with their purchase that I can assist with as no feedback has been received.

Too date this approach has worked well.

peter999

From this announcement it looks like everyone's Feedback score will be recalculated in May to take into account repeat weekly feedback credits going back to 1996.

Now Available - Repeat Feedback Credit for Buyers and Sellers
http://www2.ebay.com/aw/uk/200803.shtml#2008-03-11123106

So, many people's feedback score will change dramatically to take into account repeat transactions.

peter999