This is why I, as a seller, will never leave feedback on an ebay sale, until after the buyer has indicated satisfaction by leaving positive feedback for me. http://blog.auctionbytes.com/cgi-bin/blog/blog.pl?/pl/2010/4/1271086641.html It is also a good reason why you should be extra cautious in negative comments made here about some sellers you are dissatisfied with. As a buyer, if I was dissatisfied with a sale, I would attempt to rectify the dissatisfaction by email, phone call or through ebay before simply posting a negatively commented feedback.
I always leave positive feedback on Ebay, once my item is recieved! I've only ever had one issue and w/ communication it was easily resolved!
I completely disagree with your line of thinking about when a seller should leave feedback. The instant the buyer has paid for an item, their half of the agreement has been satisfied and they deserve feedback for fofilling their end of the agreement. Withholding the feedback as a ransom for good feedback is ridiculous. That said, if a buyer is unhappy with what they receive they should contact the buyer and try and get it fixed prior to leaving feedback. I have had to contact several buyers over the years because of problems and in the end we have always worked something out...and I have ultimately always left a positive.
I feel sorry for you if 2 out of 1,000,000,000's of transactions make you do anything. Do you ever drive your car? Your odds of getting killed driving are orders of magnitude greater than getting sued (or receiving sueable feedback).
Concur 100%. Not only that, but IMO if you as a seller leave positive feedback once the buyer has paid, he/she is much more likely to contact you and resolve an issue, rather than fire a negative feedback right off the bat in the event there is something dissatisfactory with the transaction. Take the long term view, you're trying to cultivate customers, not alienate them.
I was a buyer only on ebay for a long time and had different thoughts. Now I'm a seller and a buyer. I still left neg to a seller a few months ago. The seller behaved in a way that I as a seller would never do. The seller offered discounted shipping based on multiple purchases. I bought a bunch and waited for an invoice that reflected the discount, just got an invoice with the full postage for each item. I sent an email requesting the discount. Waited. Sent a second email requesting the discount. Waited. Eventually just paid the invoice. I really would like to get my money on that silly thing, but the neg was truly earned. As a seller, I do not leave a positive until I receive one. Buyers can be bad for a lot of reasons and many of those reasons happen after I get my money. Buyers that don't like the way the coin looks, despite seeing pics when bidding. The list of ugly possibilities goes on and on. Buyers that ask you to use stamps on the package, almost implying that if you don't...
Two words regarding David's link in the OP.......frivilous lawsuit. Grow up you whinning baby. Air your differances on Judge Judy.
Okay question then. You don't leave feedback when buyer pays (when his part is done) Buyer is unhappy with your service packaging,product or whatever and leaves you a negative. Now what? you still cannot leave him a neg since they completed their part and paid.
I disagree with this completely. There are two sides of the transaction. Once the seller has received payment in a timely manner they have absolutely no reason not to leave positive feedback. If they don't get their money timely then leave neutral or negative feedback. I've got a list of sellers that I will not buy from any longer because they will not leave feedback. If ebay is to work efficiently and with some level of trust - sellers need to leave feedback. If the buyer then in returns posts negative feedback the seller can address it if it is unwarranted. Most people can tell if the buyer is being the south end of a north bound donkey. kc
If you don't appreciate the business from good buyers (you can check their feedback), the by all means, do not leave feedback. But I don't think it will protect you from receiving negative reviews.
Psst. You can't leave him a negative anyhow -- eBay removed the seller's right to leave negative feedback more than a year ago. As a seller, you can't even leave neutral feedback -- you can leave positive feedback, or none at all.
These days I'm finding it harder and harder to disagree with you! I've always left positive feedback as soon as I get the payment, and that is how it will remain. I just have to hope that the buyer is mature enough to not leave negative feedback and try to resolve any issues, if any, by other means of communication
I miss the point of this thread? Why is an incomplete story a good reason to not leave negative feedback? We have no idea how this case ended. Maybe the defendant not only counter sued for his 7k, but maybe he was awarded another 10k for his troubles.... just saying, who knows? But this story definitely does not give enough details of the end result for me to change my mind about anything.
The "seller" that filed the defamation suit was a lawyer. That explains alot. I'm sorry, but if a seller withholds feedback on me, after I have done everything right, and the transaction is done, I will (at the very least) ding him on communication. I don't think I would go so far as to neg him, but it would be on my mind. Withholding feedback for whatever reason is extortion, even without the threat of neg'ing the buyer. (I don't agree with taking negs from the sellers)
Well, I know I'm not going to change any minds; that's not my intent. I have gotten PM's agreeing with me; I don't blame them for not wanting to get beat up by making public comments here. Anyway, let's say you, a seller, sell a raw MS coin to a buyer who pays immediately. You leave him positive feedback saying something like, "Great buyer, fast payment, hope to do business again." and send out the coin (remember, you can't leave graded feedback but you can make a narrative comment.) A week later, the buyer leaves you a negative feedback with the narrative, "Seller lied, coin actually worn and cleaned, don't buy from him", and giving you just one star on item description. Now, the logical thing would have been for the buyer to contact you and discuss his dissatisfaction and allowing you to make things right with him. However, he is a hothead who feels wronged and simply wants others to know what he thinks of you. The buyer may be wrong in this case, but he got glowing feedback from you; while you are innocent but got publicly flamed by him. He keeps his good report, you keep your negative. Did the buyer "fulfill his part of the deal" simply by paying? Where's the logic in this situation?
The ebay feeback system is flawed, It was just time untill something like this happened. Ebay pushes their sellers to have a perfect score with 5 stars.
Sure as long as the buyer promises to leave feedback the INSTANT the item arrives because the seller has then fulfilled his end of the agreement. (Not after you have opened and examined it, the instant it arrives.) I still maintain that feedback is supposed to rate the WHOLE transaction and the transaction is not complete until both sides are satisfied with the the deal or the item has been returned and a refund made.
All this fuss over an item that cost $5.50! Anyway, the actual feedback reads: "Dishonest seller Ethics of a car salesman.Took my payment and ran.Real Nightmare" Nowhere does he state "used car salesman", lol.
Since 2008, a seller cannot leave negative feedback for a buyer. Ever. I quote from eBay's own feedback policy: "Sellers can leave only positive ratings for buyers. That means buyers should feel free to leave honest Feedback without fear of retaliation. We also have safeguards in place to protect sellers against unfair negative or neutral Feedback. " This policy obviates the benefit of "holding a buyer hostage" by not submitting feedback until feedback is left. As a seller, you can't retaliate for a negative feedback, with another negative feedback. Yes, this puts the onus on the seller to try and do everything within his/her power to ensure a smooth transaction. As a buyer I appreciate this policy. As a seller, I embrace it and try and do everything within my power to ensure a smooth transaction. I've found most buyers to be reasonable people, I always offer a refund if they are unhappy. Nobody has left a negative feedback yet. Is this policy slightly biased towards the buyers? yes. Has it done more to weed out dishonest sellers than it has hurt honest ones? we can't say for sure, but I would bet my next paycheck that the answer is yes.
Now this is stupid on ebay's part. Sellers should have every right to leave negative feedback. And frankly - if a buyer has a "pick number" of negative feedbacks then the seller ought to have the right to refuse the sale and go to the next highest bidder. Makes no sense. KC
