eBay: Getting feedback = Pulling teeth

Joel Terry · June 9th, 2004, 02:22 PM

What in the name of all that is reasonable has happened to the sellers on eBay these days? It's getting harder and harder to prod them off of their lazy fundaments and get them to post just a word or two of feedback about the buyer. And vice-versa, I'm sure.

I'm at the point where I expressly inform them, as politely as possible, "When you leave positive feedback for me, then I will do the same for you." After all, they're the seller--the onus is on them to post feedback first, I feel; in fact, they should post feedback for the buyer as soon as they receive payment, in my opinion.

Bear in mind, all of my transactions have been great otherwise--all items I wanted at good prices and delivered to me in great shape within a reasonable time. I make sure I communicate with them on a consistent basis from the time I win the auction until I have the item in my hands. And, I always pay either by PayPal, or, in some cases in the States, by U.S. Postal Service money order overnight; either way, they are quickly paid.

I've only purchased off of eBay; I've never sold anything on it. That fact notwithstanding, I would think that the badge of merit and credibility for eBay merchants is their feedback rating. (It's certainly the first thing I take into consideration when sizing up a seller.) If this is true, why the feet-dragging on their part?

Just a bit aggravated,
Joel

Bob Rogers · June 9th, 2004, 03:07 PM

As a seller, I don't feel that the sale is complete until the buyer is satisfied. So I don't leave feedback until the buyer has. After that I try to leave feedback right away. When I'm a buyer, I leave feedback as soon as I've confirmed that I've really received what I asked for.

fontaine · June 9th, 2004, 03:17 PM

I will never again leave positive feedback for ANY seller!!.
Until mine is recieved.I have had to practically beg for feedback. I have even gone back and ammended
feedback.(which worked by the way)And i'm fixin
to do it again!!!!Can you tell i'm cross? I know, let's
have a spelling contest.

BLACKCAT69 · June 9th, 2004, 03:28 PM

has completed his end of the bargain to my satisfaction. I've had people leave neutral's for no good reason, but you simply can't please everyone. Once I get paid and the item is shipped I leave feedback. I know some seller's hold off until they receive a positive just to protect their rep. And this practice is understandable in my book but I don't do it. I bend over backwards for customer satisfaction, so there is usually no need for me to worry about getting screwed by neg. feedback.

e-merlin · June 9th, 2004, 04:16 PM

As a seller, I leave feedback as soon as the item is paid for.

As a buyer, I leave feedback after I've had a chance to make sure the item is as described.

If the other guy doesn't leave feedback, that kinda chaps my butt, however I'm going to be the good guy.

I only leave negative feedback if I can't complete the transaction.

If the seller is too chicken to put up feedback before I leave mine, I'd really have to need something pretty bad to do business with him again.

TheGoodTexan · June 9th, 2004, 04:33 PM

As a seller, I'll leave feedback on the day that I ship the item.

As a buyer, I'll leave feedback on the day that I receive the item.

But I think that the entire Ebay feedback system is a crock anyway. There are WAY too many positive feedbacks for A LOT of the sellers. It's just too easy to manipulate that system.

I place much more faith in phone and email contact, in conjunction with their feedback.

I also hate that Ebay throws up warnings when you try to leave a neutral feedback. To me, neutral is not bad, but should equal "normal".

Maybe they should just eliminate "netural" as an option, as no one really uses it that much anyway.

Scotland · June 9th, 2004, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e-merlin

As a seller, I leave feedback as soon as the item is paid for.

As a buyer, I leave feedback after I've had a chance to make sure the item is as described.

If the other guy doesn't leave feedback, that kinda chaps my butt, however I'm going to be the good guy.

Exactly the way I do things too.

Mik · June 9th, 2004, 04:41 PM

Just emailed an ebay seller:

As per your direction I left you (positive) feedback May 25, over 2 weeks ago and you still have not returned positive feedback for me. I'm sure you'd agree that leaving feedback is an important reason Ebay works, for seller and buyer. I've made several requests now for your positive feedback (the transaction was made early May) and followed your direction of leaving you feedback first, so you'd know if I was satisfied with the deal. Still no feedback from you. Again, please return the courtesy and post positive feedback to my account today.

Mik

Tony · June 9th, 2004, 04:45 PM

I've ever made, except one.

I bought a CD, that was advertised as "sealed, mint". It came sealed, with a crack in the case. I bought the CD not because I wanted to listen to it, but because I might want to sell it if the price appreciates.

I could open the packaging and flip on a new lid, but then it is no longer sealed.

I was not angered enough to leave negative feedback, nor happy enough to leave positive feedback. I won't leave neutral feedback because I didn't even bother asking the seller for a new one. I'm sure it wasn't broke when he sent it.

I've had buyers not leave feedback. I have only 91 feedbacks, but that is enough that I don't care if one or two fall through the cracks.

e-merlin · June 9th, 2004, 05:02 PM

As a buyer, one other thing I do is when I send an e-mail confirming the purchase, I say something like, "I will post feedback upon inspection of the item. Please leave me appropriate feedback as well." That lets them know my intentions.

Bob Rogers · June 9th, 2004, 05:11 PM

I edited my post above because a typo gave it the opposite meaning from what I itended. To me a sale isn't complete until the buyer is satisfied. Even after I've received money there are a lot of things that can happen. Some of them, like damage during shipping, might not be the fault of either party. How the endgame of the sale is conducted is a legit concern in leaving feedback.

Tom P. · June 9th, 2004, 06:11 PM

I will leave feedback as a buyer or seller when the item has been satisfactorily recieved.
I always leave feedback and request same.
I have been shorted about 10-15 responses, I won't bug people, but it aggravates the heck outta me. :x

fontaine · June 9th, 2004, 07:35 PM

If you have ninety feedbacks who cares! But if you
have 8 like myself and you are trying to reach that
magical "10" and you email and get responses
like "no problem, man" and this goes on for 6 weeks?
I'm gonna lay down for that? Nope!Maybe the
feedback thing is a crock but what else do they have?
Nothing.So you have to go with whats available.
I mean its a code of conduct ,a common courtesy,
The term Buisiness ethics may now be oxymoronic
but must it be perpetuated!? Not by me!! Its like
i tell my customers' if you don't hear from me ,send
flowers cause i'm Dead'!

June 9th, 2004, 02:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
Joel Terry Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Old Hickory (Nashville), Tennessee, USA Age: 40 Posts: 4,405 17 Photos	eBay: Getting feedback = Pulling teeth What in the name of all that is reasonable has happened to the sellers on eBay these days? It's getting harder and harder to prod them off of their lazy fundaments and get them to post just a word or two of feedback about the buyer. And vice-versa, I'm sure. I'm at the point where I expressly inform them, as politely as possible, "When you leave positive feedback for me, then I will do the same for you." After all, they're the seller--the onus is on them to post feedback first, I feel; in fact, they should post feedback for the buyer as soon as they receive payment, in my opinion. Bear in mind, all of my transactions have been great otherwise--all items I wanted at good prices and delivered to me in great shape within a reasonable time. I make sure I communicate with them on a consistent basis from the time I win the auction until I have the item in my hands. And, I always pay either by PayPal, or, in some cases in the States, by U.S. Postal Service money order overnight; either way, they are quickly paid. I've only purchased off of eBay; I've never sold anything on it. That fact notwithstanding, I would think that the badge of merit and credibility for eBay merchants is their feedback rating. (It's certainly the first thing I take into consideration when sizing up a seller.) If this is true, why the feet-dragging on their part? Just a bit aggravated, Joel __________________ Jesus saves--and He passes the savings on to YOU! ASPCA "Well...."

June 9th, 2004, 03:07 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bob Rogers Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 1,710	I see it differently As a seller, I don't feel that the sale is complete until the buyer is satisfied. So I don't leave feedback until the buyer has. After that I try to leave feedback right away. When I'm a buyer, I leave feedback as soon as I've confirmed that I've really received what I asked for.

June 9th, 2004, 03:17 PM	#3 (permalink)
fontaine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 338	Here,Here!!! I will never again leave positive feedback for ANY seller!!. Until mine is recieved.I have had to practically beg for feedback. I have even gone back and ammended feedback.(which worked by the way)And i'm fixin to do it again!!!!Can you tell i'm cross? I know, let's have a spelling contest.

June 9th, 2004, 03:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
BLACKCAT69 Friend of Leo's Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Canada-Windsor-Ont. Age: 37 Posts: 2,633 5 Photos	As a seller I leave + feedback once the buyer... has completed his end of the bargain to my satisfaction. I've had people leave neutral's for no good reason, but you simply can't please everyone. Once I get paid and the item is shipped I leave feedback. I know some seller's hold off until they receive a positive just to protect their rep. And this practice is understandable in my book but I don't do it. I bend over backwards for customer satisfaction, so there is usually no need for me to worry about getting screwed by neg. feedback. __________________ http://www.lukefisher.com/blame.wav

June 9th, 2004, 04:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mik Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,416	thinking about this today Just emailed an ebay seller: As per your direction I left you (positive) feedback May 25, over 2 weeks ago and you still have not returned positive feedback for me. I'm sure you'd agree that leaving feedback is an important reason Ebay works, for seller and buyer. I've made several requests now for your positive feedback (the transaction was made early May) and followed your direction of leaving you feedback first, so you'd know if I was satisfied with the deal. Still no feedback from you. Again, please return the courtesy and post positive feedback to my account today. Mik __________________ a "motor-bike with a touch of blood in it is better than all the riding animals on earth, because of its logical extension of our faculties, and the hint, the provocations, to excess."-T.E. Lawrence

June 9th, 2004, 04:45 PM	#9 (permalink)
Tony Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Sacratomato Posts: 830	I've left feedback on every transaction I've ever made, except one. I bought a CD, that was advertised as "sealed, mint". It came sealed, with a crack in the case. I bought the CD not because I wanted to listen to it, but because I might want to sell it if the price appreciates. I could open the packaging and flip on a new lid, but then it is no longer sealed. I was not angered enough to leave negative feedback, nor happy enough to leave positive feedback. I won't leave neutral feedback because I didn't even bother asking the seller for a new one. I'm sure it wasn't broke when he sent it. I've had buyers not leave feedback. I have only 91 feedbacks, but that is enough that I don't care if one or two fall through the cracks.

June 9th, 2004, 05:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
Bob Rogers Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Blacksburg, VA Posts: 1,710	Check that I edited my post above because a typo gave it the opposite meaning from what I itended. To me a sale isn't complete until the buyer is satisfied. Even after I've received money there are a lot of things that can happen. Some of them, like damage during shipping, might not be the fault of either party. How the endgame of the sale is conducted is a legit concern in leaving feedback.

June 9th, 2004, 06:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
Tom P. Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Eastern Ct. Posts: 909	I'm feelin' this one... I will leave feedback as a buyer or seller when the item has been satisfactorily recieved. I always leave feedback and request same. I have been shorted about 10-15 responses, I won't bug people, but it aggravates the heck outta me. :x __________________ Just Pickin'

June 9th, 2004, 07:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
fontaine Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 338	Right!! If you have ninety feedbacks who cares! But if you have 8 like myself and you are trying to reach that magical "10" and you email and get responses like "no problem, man" and this goes on for 6 weeks? I'm gonna lay down for that? Nope!Maybe the feedback thing is a crock but what else do they have? Nothing.So you have to go with whats available. I mean its a code of conduct ,a common courtesy, The term Buisiness ethics may now be oxymoronic but must it be perpetuated!? Not by me!! Its like i tell my customers' if you don't hear from me ,send flowers cause i'm Dead'!