eBay Changes Feedback Methods Again
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Online auction site eBay has said they will edit the feedback system, beginning in May, 2008. Sellers will no longer be allowed to leave negative or “neutral” feedback for Buyers. eBay claims that trade was being slowed down… due to Sellers retaliating to negative feedback left for them… by leaving unwarranted negative feedback for the Buyer. In a message from eBay founder Pierre Omidyar: “By creating an open market that encourages honest dealings, I hope to make it easier to conduct business with strangers over the net.”
This, in my mind, is ludicrous. I have been an avid eBay’er for several years. I cannot tell you how many times I have had to leave less than favorable feedback for a Seller, after receiving my item extremely late, damaged, or not at all. When I eBay, I ONLY use the “Buy It Now” option, and I pay immediately using my PayPal account. ALWAYS. My side of the transaction is complete. Therefore, the Seller should then leave me feedback PRONTO. There is nothing left on my side that will be done for them to need to leave feedback on. Once I receive an item, I leave fair and honest feedback based on my experience. If the Seller took six weeks to ship my item… why should I have to receive snotty, negative feedback from them? One should have no bearing on the other. Feedback should be left by the parties as soon as their side of the transaction is complete.
My solution? Force Sellers to leave feedback as soon as payment is received… not when they ship the item(s), nor when the Buyer leaves feedback. Leave it as soon as you receive your money. Then you can say whether or not the person paid, how fast they paid, etc. Why should there be any reason at all for Sellers to wait to post? Simple… they want to make sure they get higher and better ratings by browbeating the Buyers into leaving them good comments. That is a crock, and a disservice to the eBay community as a whole.
6 Comments
Liam
February 8th, 2008
at 11:45am
There is a problem with that though.
I once sold a car trailer on ebay and specifically said that within 48 hrs there was to be a downpayment paid for it via PayPal. 2 days later I heard nothing from the buyer. I contacted the person many times and heard nothing.
I had to leave negative feedback due to non payment. I am just glad I got that money back I paid for the auction.
Kat
February 8th, 2008
at 3:11pm
Liam: I absolutely see where you’re coming from, and agree with that. I should have clarified my point a bit. There should be feedback left immediately upon receipt of payment. There should be negative feedback (and proper actions taken) at the end of the set time period for non payment.
Brad
February 9th, 2008
at 11:32am
I think alot of sellers are lazy with there shipping method as they always blame it on the shipping service they provide. If a seller offers different methods for the buyer to use, that ebay allows you to use alot of negative feedback would be avoided. If your going to sell something on ebay you almost have to run it like its your own bussiness even if your not a frequent seller, because the buyer is your customer every transaction. Alot of this negative feedback just shows you how alot of sellers think they can run a legit bussiness when they fail to do so. All and all i agree when a seller gets money from a buyer they should leave feedback right away.
computrout
February 11th, 2008
at 4:20pm
The selling experience goes beyond when you get paid. I do not believe that feedback to the buyer should be left after payment. There are a lot of things that can go on after the item is paid for. There are some (thankfuly not many) people that switch out products and then state the recieved it broken. They report items some included items not sent (even though they are recieved - and you have shipping confirmation). I am sure there are countless other things that go on.
I think that EBay should continue to let sellers leave feedback to buyers, but change how it is done. Anti-retaliation methods need to be developed. It is unfortunate that there are dishonest people out there that wreck it for the rest of us.
Thirdly - ebay needs to STOP raising their prices. They are going to lower their insertion fees, but the final value fees have been increased dramaticaly. They are already making a fortune. They need to help their sellers who are the ones who get the product, sell it, and ship it.
Brady
February 26th, 2008
at 6:03pm
I, being both an eBay buyer and seller, think this is a great idea for eBay. In the past, I have given a seller feedback they deserve and they of course don’t agree they deserve it, therefore instead of giving me the feedback I deserve, they give me bad feedback just to get back at me for tainting their feedback percentage. I am very glad that soon sellers won’t be able to decrease my feedback as both a buyer AND A SELLER just to get me back for their problem. Just because they didn’t do their job and they got bad feedback from me shouldn’t mean that I have to have my sellings affected by this.
Daniel
September 20th, 2008
at 9:35am
EBay and My 2 cents
It’s gone bad!
I am a seller and a buyer.
Leaving bad feedback to a seller when the shipment is late or damaged don’t make sense, Feedback is suppose to be directed at the seller, A mom or pop not Sanyo or GM
Auction sites are for me and you and. You and I are not USPS or UPS, if the item is damaged or late in shipping Call the shipper. If the item is not what you expected work it out with the seller, If the seller does not try to solve the problem then leave appropriate feedback. There are bad buyers as well and a feedback system only works 2 ways not one?
Lately from buyers I have had the most bad feedback, the least amount of buyers trying to solve a problem, the highest non and late payments, the least amount of any feedback and the slowest shipment lately since the changes, time to look elsewhere, yesterday I was an EBay seller today I am a web seller, what about ECrater or EPier? Time to move on enough is enough
Just my 2 cents
Daniel