eBay Feedback

[ukpuffy]

When should you leave feedback following a transaction on ebay? Should the buyer or seller go first?

[tugger2chews]

I don't consider money to be the 'present' for a couple of reasons. Why would you thank someone who has just bought their own present, afterall once an item has been paid they theoretically become the owner, I become their agent and as their agent I arrange shipping via the buyers prefered method of despatch. Imagine if you were to ring up Pizza Hut and order a Pizza, the guy on the phone would thank you for your order (I do this in the form of an email to the buyer thanking them for their payment) and the delivery boy (Agent) does the delivery. After you have been handed the Pizza you check to make sure the Pizza has the correct topping, thank him and the transaction is now considered completed.

It has happened on a couple of occasions that I have been paid via Paypal and sent the goods only to find that 6 weeks later the buyer is claiming non-delivery, informs Paypal and their money is refunded despite me having the postal receipt. I know this would make no difference whatsoever if feedback had been left or not but what it does mean that as a seller I am never completely in control of the payment until 60 days after the transaction. It is for this reason that I don't consider payment to warrant immediate feedback, however once they have left feedback I can safely relax knowing the money is finally mine!

I do know what you are saying Kempie I always used to leave feedback first but since receiving 9 negatives, 6 of which were unnecessary I have had to change my policy and believe me things have run a lot smoother. I also leave personal feedback for each transaction unlike some sellers who use computer generated rubbish.

[kempie]

...but money certainly can be a present (consider the number of people who receive either cash or gift vouchers as a Xmas present); does this mean the sender of this type of gift has purchased the gift they receive in exchange and so no thanks are warranted by either party?

I think the feedback system does not work as intended simply because some Buyers use it as part of (or instead of) the dispute process and prefer to vent their spleen in a nasty Negative rather than contacting the Seller directly to rectify any problems in a productive manner.

Whenever I see a handful of this type of feedback amongst a Seller's predominantly Positive feedback I tend to lower my estimation of the Buyers rather than the Seller. Then again, perhaps I'm not your typical eBayer.

[KRUSTY]

I'm sorry tugger2chews, I stick by my original statement that I expect feedback on how I paid and the speed in which the said payment was made. I do not expect my feedback to be judged on whether or not I'm kind or honest about the sellers goods or services. I can only assume that you have had problems with buyers in the past but I have no wish to be considered a possible bad customer until I leave feedback to say how nice you are? Your suggestion smacks of 'guilty until proven innocent' and without wishing to be personal I can only assume that you are a 'glass, half empty type of guy'!

[tugger2chews]

So Krusty if you stand by your original statement then the only comment a seller can leave for you as a buyer is 'Item Paid For' a little bit unoriginal don't you think? Perhaps EBay should scrap the seller feedback system and use the Amazon system where only the buyer leaves feedback. I prefer to leave a comment for buyers which represent how they have conducted themselves 'Excellent Buyer, Fast Payment, Friendly Emails, A Most Welcome Customer Hope to do Business Again'' this is somewhat more personal, I have even had emails after the feedback process from buyers thanking me for the kind remarks, or even leaving a follow-up with similar wording. All the time I receive these sort of responses I know I am doing it correctly, afterall I've tried the other way and it just doesn't work. How can I leave a glowing buyer feedback just because they paid, thats ludicrous!

Kempie is correct what she says about buyers & sellers abusing the feedback system and it makes a mockery of it. It is about time EBay got it sorted by implementing an 'EASY' system where unjust feedback can be edit or even removed, once again Amazon have got it right!

[tugger2chews]

One last point to end the arguement is the process I use in dealing with buyers;

1/ The Buyer Pays

2/ The buyer is sent a message thanking them for payment, information as to when the item will be sent and details about contact if there is a problem.

3/ I email the buyer again once the item has been sent

4/ If the buyer emails me to confirm safe receipt I will leave feedback first but more often than not the buyer leaves feedback without emailing at which point I do the same.

There is no hard and fast rule about feedback but my logic is 'if it aint broke don't fix it' and my method doesn't appear to need fixing.