My opinion of the new ebay feedback. A needed change?
By coolseeds
@coolseeds (3919)
United States
June 17, 2008 8:54pm CST
I understand everyone is upset. However this is a needed change. I personally will not buy from a seller who acts like a child and leaves their ignorance as retaliatory negative feedback to a buyer. So this change will bring new buyers to those sellers.
The feedback system does need to change. A seller shouldn't be able to leave negative feedback for a buyer if they pay promptly. Pay fast and provide the correct mailing address. That is the buyer's job.
But I think if there is a problem and the buyer isn't willing to communicate or just being dumb a "Neutral" is justified.
And if they don't pay then a negative is acceptable.
But there is a problem that ebay is not willing to face. You can create an infinite amount of ebay names. If a buyer gets bad feedback all they have to do is create a new name. So what IS the point of a seller leaving negative feedback?
My only problem with feedback is the ignorant buyer. Some people think the USPS is infallible. A buyer replied to my message. "I've been receiving mail at this address for 59 years and have never had a problem receiving mail." I said to myself.... "Then explain why your package is sitting on my desk, stamped by the USPS undeliverable address."
The USPS is terrible. They lie on their website saying 1st class mail ships in 2-5 days. It usually takes 9-14 days for something to get to Washington where I live. But they buyer thinks the USPS is perfect and my shipping was slow.
Once they delivered a delivery confirmation package to the wrong zip code. When I contacted them they said "Well it was delivered." I said "WTF did you just say?" I print the invoices from the computer. I didn't make any mistake but once again had to pay for the USPS's errors.
The buyer also thinks that Paypal and ebay are perfect. I get at least 2 orders not marked as paid but actually paid via Paypal every month. The buyer thinks it is my fault when in reality it is ebay or Paypal's fault because they automatically mark an item as paid when payment is received. I can't get a straight answer to why it happens.
I don't think it is possible for a seller to cross reference 50 payments in Paypal with ebay buyers each day. I have noticed that a lot of the confirmed Paypal names are different than the ebay members names. So it would take even more work. Maybe ebay should combine Paypal information for the buyers. It would make it easier as a seller.
These are the only 2 problems I have faced as a seller that would get me negative feedback. I have had problems with non-paying bidders but that isn't nothing new.
If a seller is concerned with bad feedback they should ship as well as respond to messages on a daily basis. Slow shipping and poor communication are the 2 main problems buyers face.
Buyers should also learn to read. That is a very big problem on ebay. I am sure we all have seen the feedback. "Item had a chip in it." Then you check the listing and the description says in the 1st line. "Item has a chip on the outer rim." It is a shame that people can be so dumb.
90% of the questions I get from potential buyers are written in the auction. People should read when they are spending their money. I understand it could be a test to see how fast I respond but I doubt more than 1% are testers.
Lets face it. Anyone can sell on ebay. Some of the sellers are sloppy and far from professional. Buyers need to feel safe to leave proper feedback. Otherwise a seller's rating is not true. A buyer's rating is pointless.
I am a professional business owner. I check my ebay messages at least 2 times a day as well as ship on a daily basis. I have no fear of bad feedback. If shipping an item the same day payment is received as well as providing an accurately described item isn't good enough then there was nothing I could do to make them happy.
How do you feel about the new ebay feedback? What changes do you think it needs?
7 responses
@dizzblnd (3073)
• United States
18 Jun 08
All of those are VERY good points. However, the GOOD sellers like you (and like I used to be before the sh!t hit the fan) get the raw end of the deal. I think the feedback system should be changed back to the was it was ... the DSR's gotten rid of, and the FVF go back to a more reasonable percent. Greedbay always has to mess with a good thing. This time they have gone too far and I refuse to sell there anymore. I just wish they would lose so much money from sellers leaving, that they go belly up or at least revamp for the better.
Until then... as a hobby seller... I will keep doing what I am doing and hope someone in corporate comes to their senses.
Very good post with well though out points!
@dizzblnd (3073)
• United States
18 Jun 08
take this "buyer" for instance http://feedback.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.....items=25&page=1 leaving nagative feedback just because the could, and new the seller couldn't retaliate. Either this person is just evil, or the account was hijacked.. either way.. I'd put them on you BBL if I were you
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Oh believe me I have a big list. I block anyone who is ignorant. If a seller goes through the trouble to complain about someone I block that bidder. I also look at seller's feedback. Buyers that leave bad feedback also get blocked. I do very well on ebay and don't need any drama.
Most of my buyers are older. The usual dumb thing they do is believe the USPS is infallible. LOL They quote the USPS website. "But the USPS website says 2-5 days is 1st class shipping." I don't understand people when they can check the tracking # to see how long it was in transit. Rather than just assume that I mailed it late.
You will like this. I have sent a lot of emails to anyone who has anything to do with corporate ebay about how it is messed up that I can not leave neutral feedback for a buyer who didn't pay which is ridiculous. I will be mailing letters soon.
No one in their right mind can say that it is good that I can't leave neutral feedback for a non paying bidder.
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
19 Jun 08
The link came up page not found.
Also if I had the time I would make a place for sellers to black ball ebay's worst buyers. I own the cool-auctions website but am too busy to operate it with everything else. Or I would put it there.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Well I personally buy and sell on eBay and I hate the new system for feedback. I have had a few buyers that do not make a fast payment and I send an invoice every day as well as make a comment that it needs to be paid so item can be shipped. If I state in my auction that an item needs to be paid for within a certain amount of time, I expect it to be done so I can get the item out. I believe that buyers should at the very least receive negative feedback for their actions, and I also believe that their feedback is important because if a person is making transactions hard for sellers they need to be suspended and/or banned from the site. Another reason why their feedback is important is because buyers do become sellers and it is pretty safe to say that if they are a bad buyer they will probably be a bad seller. I have never left negative feedback for a buyer, I did not have any problems with buyers until the new policy and now my buyers are very slow to pay, or have created problems with shipping the item (after paying they want add insurance or confirmation).
The new policy has lead me to look at alternate sites for selling my items. I have other sites that charge a small yearly fee and do not have listing fees and do have a fair rating system with a mediation if it is required. There are a few items I still list on eBay but it is nothing like it was before the policy change. I also like the other site because I can have the buyer pay through RME and I don't have the fees involved like with paypal.
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
18 Jun 08
But the buyer can always make a new name. Negative feedback for a buyer doesn't stop anything. Ebay doesn't care or they would stop it by blocking ip addresses.
I've left neutral feedback for buyers who did not pay. They read "Payment was never received. I hope all is well and you are ok. Good Luck."
Only a foolish seller will say anything negative. Even my neutral comment is nice.
PM me the other site you like.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
18 Jun 08
Yes, I do not like the fact that you can just change names and eBay doesn't track it. They really should especially if the member is banned from the site.
@ZephyrSun (7381)
• United States
18 Jun 08
You mom's transactions sound a lot like mine have been going lately. My one I remember the most is I sold something and invoice for 4 days asking for payment, I then on the fifth day said that I would mark as payment not received and relist the item or go to a second choice option. Finally that must have got his attention because the next day he sent an echeck to paypal and sent me a nasty note of how he already paid. Well paypal took 13 days to clear the check. I did end up having to contact paypal and the buyer over this since it said that it would take something like up to 5 days to clear the echeck. Anyway someone put me onto a site and I am not sure if I can post this or not but I will spell the word and you'll have to put it together to get to the website, there is nothing for referrals and you can "look" around before you decide if you want to join or not. There is a section where you can sell there are some rules to selling and whatnot, you can trade and do all sorts of different things so anyway the site is call hot coupon world , just run it all together and add .com and there you go. The moderators are extremely nice and helpful and they are really good about tracking addresses and banning bad sellers, traders and buyers. I wouldn't recommend this site for cars, boats or houses but if you are looking to sell, buy, or trade every day household items, this is the place to do that. If you have any questions about the site I can help you or at least point you in the right direction. Best of luck!
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I just became a ebay seller earlier today. I have been a buyer though for several years now and I read everything before buying because it is necessary so you know exactly what your getting some people get excited about the bids and don't take the time to focus and read properly sometimes. I am hoping that I will do good and receive good feedback I haven't bought nothng in awhile so I don't know about the new changes. I think we should all have to be made to do the tracking numbers so we always know at all or most times where our packages are and if they are received. My sister in law had someone state they didn't receive items and so she was out of a Playstation 2 and 15 games plus shipping cost and had to return the money. Also one buyers asked her if she had anymore of a items she was selling and my SIL replied yes and the buyer wanted them for just next to nothing and not pay extra shipping when my SIL wouldn't comply with that she left a bad feedback and refused to pay even though she won the auction for the items but the buyer was mad because my SIL wouldn't add the extra items she wanted for next to nothing..So I am hoping I will survive ebay..and maybe have a less cluttered house. I think we they should only be able to leave negative if they don't pay not just because they get mad at seller/
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I have two scales but neither digital but I have been wanting to get one that is digital. one weighs up to 25 lbs. while the other only 5 lbs. Believe me after having to revise several times because I was told I messed up by my sister in law because I didn't tell them how soon they had to pay after auction was won. It will take me awhile and probably a tablet full of sved information I will need to help me. Thanks for the offer of help. It is appreciated.
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
20 Jun 08
If you can weigh 25 lbs then don't worry about getting a new scale. But the scale will save you time by not having to go to the post office as well as the liberty to print postage through paypal.
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I always use delivery confirmation. You can print shipping labels and pay for them through Paypal. No going to the post office. However you will need a scale. They are pretty cheap at Wal-mart. Check in the office section for prices. Then check the digital cooking scales in the kitchen section. Get whichever serves the purpose.
PM me your ebay name. If you have any questions send a message.
@creationsbyrobin (3071)
• United States
19 Jun 08
I'm not really fond of it, though I do like that Ebay has taken the seller's retalitory neg feedback away. I hate when a seller holds feedback hostage.
I don't like the fact that a scammer/buyer can now get away with not paying or paying as late as they want, with no way to alert future sellers other than to leave a negative remark in a "positive feedback or leave no feedback at all. Buyers can now take up to a month to pay....just as long as they get around to it, it's okay.
Buyers also can rate your service, which is also a flawed process. At the start of this feedback change, my "shipping & handling charges" rating was 4.8, it's now down to 4.6, because buyers can do whatever they want with little recourse from the seller.
How do I drop to 4.6 when every item I've sold in the last 6 months came with FREE shipping? What exactly weren't they happy about with FREE shipping that caused 1 or more sellers to knock me down a couple of notches. (the shipping time rating remained unchanged during this time...I don't get it)
To celecbrate the buyers stupidity, every item I'm selling, now has a shipping fee. If they're gonna knock me down for shipping and handling charges, I might as well be charging for shipping and handling.
end of rant...
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
20 Jun 08
Good for you. I would do the same if I offered free shipping. *F* it. You are giving them what they want. Right? Otherwise they wouldn't knock you on the S&H star. LOL
@aidenofthetower (1814)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I haven't been on ebay much lately. I just noticed the changes this morning when I went to leave feedback for the seller that I bought my husband's father's day gift from (having sold on ebay I always try to remember to leave feedback). I was a little shocked that they had made it so that sellers can't leave negative feedback for buyers. Of course, I can understand immature feedback that some people leave, but sometimes buyers can be unreasonable. The person who didn't read the listing, and says it is your fault that the pants don't have a tag even though the listing says "This is a pair of pants without a tag that are x" around the waist!" So, I have had my share of dealing with buyers. I don't know if the new feedback is bad or not. I just don't use ebay enough anymore. Of course there are lots of sellers who wish that there was an alternative that actually made sales...
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
19 Jun 08
Truthfully the people who don't read. Still don't read. And they still leave bad feedback.
This reason alone is a perfect example of why a seller should be able to leave neutral if nothing else.
I'm glad most of my buyers have some sense.
@walkerkdj (107)
• United States
20 Jun 08
I agree totally, I hate when people leave positive feedback will be left once it is recieved. I think that sellers feedback should only say if the payment was made promptly, if a seller sells something and they don't hold up their ed of the bargain the buyer should not be afraid of being honest for fear of retaliation.
Glad to see the change.
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
28 Jun 08
This would be better. Ebay makes an automated system. If the buyer pays within a certain period of time they get a positive. If the payment is delayed they get a neutral and if they do not pay at all, then they get a negative. This could be automated and the seller would have nothing to do with feedback.
However I do disagree with you. Some buyers deserve neutral or negative regardless of how fast they pay.
You wouldn't realize how much BS there is from buyers.
An example... A buyer uses echeck through Paypal and it takes 19 days to clear. The buyer attacks the seller over something they have no control. It isn't the seller's fault that the echeck took so long. That is Paypal. But the buyer doesn't complain about Paypal or to Paypal. The seller takes the wrath.
There are many more situations where the seller is blamed for something that had nothing to do with them.
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
18 Jun 08
I remember a time when there was no eBay. So whatever they want to do is fine with me. Yes, there are going to be problems. But they are obviously doing the best they can, and if people really hate the changes, the best thing they can do is go an try to created a better mousetrap. Free enterprise and all that. But not many will be able to do this. So for the time being I prefer to go along and get along.
I feel the same way about myLot when I see people complaining. I'd like to ask them, "Do you really think you could do it better?"
@coolseeds (3919)
• United States
19 Jun 08
A very good point.
If you don't like the rules... you don't have to play.
I am not upset about the feedback change. But it seems pointless to only be able to leave positive feedback for a buyer. It shows that the people who make the decisions aren't very smart.
Not much can go wrong and most of my buyers are over 45 so they have some sense. LOL
Now would be a great time to start a site like ebay. I know there are a lot out there but they are not sinking a lot of money into getting buyers to the site. So it is pointless to try to sell there.
I don't remember if ebay paid me to join. But Paypal gave me $5 to open an account. Implying that ebay's competitors should offer some incentive for buyers to generate sales as well as traffic to entice new sellers. Without selling fees this is next to impossible.
