Feedback on e-bay. Fair or not?

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

If I have no ebay, I have no inexpensive vintage. There's no way I can boycott. However, follow-up feedback is required here, for sure.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

The new eBay policy is unfair. But they are responding to a serious problem, namely retaliatory negative feedback. The powers that be at eBay have judged - in my view rightly - that the sellers are the major problem in this regard. If you were to read the eBay seller boards for just a few minutes you would get a firm vision of a small cadre of spiteful, vindictive, charlatans pretending to know what they're talking about. I've given up trying to correct some of these cretins about their mis-representations of their "knowledge" about vintage clothing (how many time do you need to say, and back up with documentary evidence, that zippers were not "first put into men's trousers in the 1950s"? or that "buttons ceased to be used in men's trouser flys in the late 1940s"?). I was, and am, shocked by the level of self-obsession i continuously see on those boards.It's no wonder eBay has trouble with the feedback habits of these people. Not one of them will take any sort of critique without getting into a pissy fit.

I am of the opinion that the changes to feedback are counter-productive and will ultimately destroy the feedback forum.


On topic: Spitfire, that situation sucks. Complain to the eBay hounds. They will get the feedback revoked and - let's hope - destroy that sellers business for good.

bk

 

[Vintage Betty]

I spent 30 minutes last night trying to find an article I read as a link from Yahoo Finance.

In it, a representative from ebay is quotes as saying that the reason they decided to do away with the negative feedback is that is the #1 reason buyers leave ebay.

In the same article, the rep is quotes as saying: Whether sellers finish the sale or not, we get our money from the listing fees. And that is what we care about, not whether they finish the sale or not.

When I first read it, I actually had to read the article three times, because I couldn't believe the guy was actually quoted as saying that.

Vintage Betty

 

[Tomasso]

I have sent out hundreds of hand-written thank yous over the years, but not once did anyone say anything.

I bought a Frette bathrobe on Ebay last year and was pleased to see that the seller included a sweet little thank you note in the shipment. While I did leave positive feedback, I didn't reply to the note, per se. BUT, I did mention my purchase to several freinds, resulting in at least a half dozen sales for the seller. ...........................The power of the thank you note.

 

[Bruce Wayne]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20080208/tc_cmp/206106065

http://news.yahoo.com/s/prweb/20080208/bs_prweb/prweb681714_1

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/66782

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Out of curiousity, what forms of thank you are acceptable to you? Is a pre-printed Paypal invoice with a thank you acceptable? Is positive feedback acceptable? A hand-written note? It's hard to convey a "tone" via printed word, but I am sincere in wanting to know this.

I have sent out hundreds of hand-written thank yous over the years, but not once did anyone say anything. I stopped doing the hand-written thank yous, and found the feedback was exactly the same.

Just curious-

Vintage Betty

Just the feedback forum is fine! I figure if a buyer has taken the time to shop around, watch an item and monitor the bidding, place bids and comes back to 'snipe' at the last moment to obtain the item of their interest, that it deserves a 'thank you for your patronage' positve feedback.

I don't leave a feedback stating "thank you for allowing me to shop and pay the final price for your item that you were hoping to sell" until it's arrived on time, in good shape and and in the expected condition.

One would think, after the seller's job is done and they've received payment, that a positive feedback form of thank you would be in order. But, you'd be surprised at how many are on my list awaiting feedback because they never acknowledge my patronage first. If my spending money with a seller isn't worth positive feedback, it isn't worth a thank you for allowing me to do so!

-dixon cannon

 

[ShortClara]

I bought a Frette bathrobe on Ebay last year and was pleased to see that the seller included a sweet little thank you note in the shipment. While I did leave positive feedback, I didn't reply to the note, per se. BUT, I did mention my purchase to several freinds, resulting in at least a half dozen sales for the seller. ...........................The power of the thank you note.

This is nice to know, as I am a seller who also always writes a hand-written thank you with my invoice.

There are alternatives out there to eBay. I was hoping to sell full time there, but the new search, rankings, PayPal holding money for 21 days and only positives for buyers policy has made me strongly reconsider.

Check out Main Street Vintage, Etsy, Ruby Lane, Specialist Auctions... these places are more about nice people doing business together than the bizarre purchasing of positive feedback.

 

[ShooShooBaby]

This is nice to know, as I am a seller who also always writes a hand-written thank you with my invoice.

There are alternatives out there to eBay. I was hoping to sell full time there, but the new search, rankings, PayPal holding money for 21 days and only positives for buyers policy has made me strongly reconsider.

Check out Main Street Vintage, Etsy, Ruby Lane, Specialist Auctions... these places are more about nice people doing business together than the bizarre purchasing of positive feedback.

it's good that there are alternatives! i considered doing more selling on ebay, but i hate how much time i put into stuff and the unpredictability of my selling prices. the new changes beat the final nail into my consideration. i was selling in a co-op shop and now i'm doing a sale once a month in my basement which is going great -- it's fun, and i've made a few new friends. i really like meeting my buyers face-to-face, and i can keep my prices low because of the minimal work involved! it's not for everybody, but i'm really enjoying the experience of selling to people in my own city

 

[jake_fink]

Ebay bugs in so many ways but the feedback thing is the bugginist.

Any seller who doesn't give me feedback when I complete my end of the transaction simply gets no feedback from me unless there is some really really good reason to leave negative. The tit for tat things is moronic.

 

[Mojito]

I've had two bad ebay transactions, and I'm afraid I lacked the courage to leave a neg feedback in either case, out of fear of retaliation. One in particular was very poor - item wasn't in stock when I bought it, seller never answered emails, and it didn't work when it arrived. Seller never responded when I told them there was a problem. I just wrote it off - it was partly my fault, as I should have checked their rating more closely and had a look at their negs (a mistake I've never repeated). He had a history of leaving retaliatory feedback. I felt rather guilty for my cowardice, as in a way I was enabling his poor practices by not tackling him.

 

[Twitch]

Spit- it sounds as though this is actually the sellers fault in shipping and not postal shipping as you kindly said.

I have seen where sellers with good ratings versus huge number of sales are complained at when it actually is the slow post office.

Your seller should have accepted the split of the difference in the rating you gave him since it seemingly was not the pst office in this case.[huh]

 

[pgoat]

Ebay bugs in so many ways but the feedback thing is the bugginist.

Any seller who doesn't give me feedback when I complete my end of the transaction simply gets no feedback from me unless there is some really really good reason to leave negative. The tit for tat things is moronic.

I do think as a seller I get nervous about leaving feedback for the buyer before they acknowledge receipt of the merchandise. This way if there are any issues, you can work on resolving them.

For example,
-I sell item, auction ends.
-winner pays promptly.
-I ship item promptly
-winner receives item but has problem with it (size? condition? etc.)

OR

-winner never receives item (stuff happens, ask the Post Office! )

at that point the winner may need to communicate clearly, return the item in original condition, etc etc.

I agree that the buyer really deserves Positive feedback if they pay appropriately. I also don't like the tit for tat thing. I have been leaving positive feedback upon receipt of payment in the last year or so, but it still makes me nervous.

 

[BAZ]

I do think as a seller I get nervous about leaving feedback for the buyer before they acknowledge receipt of the merchandise. This way if there are any issues, you can work on resolving them.

For example,
-I sell item, auction ends.
-winner pays promptly.
-I ship item promptly
-winner receives item but has problem with it (size? condition? etc.)

OR

-winner never receives item (stuff happens, ask the Post Office! )

at that point the winner may need to communicate clearly, return the item in original condition, etc etc.

I agree that the buyer really deserves Positive feedback if they pay appropriately. I also don't like the tit for tat thing. I have been leaving positive feedback upon receipt of payment in the last year or so, but it still makes me nervous.

You're right pgoat. As a seller, I think I do offer a very good service.
After a item sells I pack it, address and wait for payment.
As soon as Paypal payment arrives, I ship the SAME day!
I guess this is why I get pissed off if I have to wait THREE weeks for a book from CT!!!

 

[pgoat]

yup, I'm the same way

I just emailed someone in another country to ask how much shipping was on an item I wanna bid on, and their reply was "it's $____; if that's too much, don't bid on it." pretty darn rude. They didn't list s/h costs so what else can someone do but ask?

I always try to answer everything fully and politely. oh well...

 

[SarahLouise]

If I have no ebay, I have no inexpensive vintage. There's no way I can boycott. However, follow-up feedback is required here, for sure.

I agree. Buying vintage from the US is incredibly cheap for me due to the exchange rate so I'm not sure I can boycott either.

 

[ShortClara]

I agree. Buying vintage from the US is incredibly cheap for me due to the exchange rate so I'm not sure I can boycott either.

Can't you boycott for just one week to help support the vintage sellers you love? Feb 18-25

 

[Micawber]

I buy, I sell and have used eBay for well over ten years, I have a 100% positive feedback record.

As a buyer I always leave appropriate feedback. When I buy I make sure I read all the terms and conditions and abide by them to the T. I always pay promptly and ensure I have the correct method of payment available. I always leave feedback once the item has arrived and I am happy with it. If I am not happy with an item I contact the seller in a courteous manner and we discuss and resolve the situation. I have only ever left negative feedback once after a seller sent a incorrectly described item but did not issue a refund as agreed after I returned the item via a traceable means.

As a seller if someone pays quickly, is courteous in their communication then I'm happy. I only leave feedback once the buyer has taken delivery of the item, is happy with it and posted feedback accordingly. Thankfully problems have been exceedingly rare, in fact I cannot think of any offhand but obviously I am more than happy to address genuine greivances.

Just recently I had a foreign buyer win one of my items the descrition of which clearly states that payment from foreign buyers must be via Paypal. Some days after winning the item he declared that he did not have Paypal and could not pay by that means - apparently he had not read the payment information. Days later he then said he would pay via cheque (obviously drawn on a foreign bank) sent via regular post meaning that payment would have been delayed and then incurred prohibitive handling, clearance and conversion charges by my own bank. I therefore informed the buyer that a cheque was not acceptable. More days passed and he then said he would like to pay via direct bank credit so could I send my bank account info, I informed him that this was not acceptable either. A week or two later he managed to find a friend to pay me via their Paypal account.

The above occurred some weeks ago but to date the buyer has failed to leave feedback. Given that his communication was always late and sparse bordering on the rude, not to mention that his payment was finally made some weeks after the end of the auction I am not inclined to rush to leave much in the way of positive feedback at all so will more than likely just not bother.

 

[MJrules]

Possible difficult buyer...why me???

Can't you boycott for just one week to help support the vintage sellers you love? Feb 18-25

I will! I wish my boycott could be indefinite, but unfortunately ebay prices are all that I can afford.

I thought I was being fair by leaving positive feedback for a promptly-paid-for textbook a couple weeks ago. I was a litle annoyed that I didn't get one (feedback) in return, but was just happy that the transaction went smoothly...UNTIL an hour ago when I got this message:

"I'm sending the text book back I had to drop the course. Please make arrangements to credit my credit card. I am sending you back the text book. Sorry for the for the mess."

My listing clearly stated "no returns unless I significantly misrepresent the item so please ask any questions before you bid". I guess he thinks I'm a campus bookstore...??? I sold that book so I could buy new ones this semester! I just sent him a polite note saying I was sorry that he didn't contact me earlier and not to send the book back as I couldn't refund him. However, considering he said he was returning the book twice in his message and he pretty much told me to give his money back, I'm afraid he will return it anyway and I will be forced to refund him. This makes me want to take my positive feedback back.:rage:

Anyone have a problem like this? I just got his message tonight and haven't received a response yet, I just have a bad vibe that he will return it despite my no returns policy, to get his money back. Just wondering what to do (can I do anything?). :cry:

 

[Spitfire]

I dont think you can do anything.
Rules are that you may return everything you buy on the internet within two weeks.
At least that's how it is over here - don't know about US though.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I will! I wish my boycott could be indefinite, but unfortunately ebay prices are all that I can afford.

I thought I was being fair by leaving positive feedback for a promptly-paid-for textbook a couple weeks ago. I was a litle annoyed that I didn't get one (feedback) in return, but was just happy that the transaction went smoothly...UNTIL an hour ago when I got this message:

"I'm sending the text book back I had to drop the course. Please make arrangements to credit my credit card. I am sending you back the text book. Sorry for the for the mess."

My listing clearly stated "no returns unless I significantly misrepresent the item so please ask any questions before you bid". I guess he thinks I'm a campus bookstore...??? I sold that book so I could buy new ones this semester! I just sent him a polite note saying I was sorry that he didn't contact me earlier and not to send the book back as I couldn't refund him. However, considering he said he was returning the book twice in his message and he pretty much told me to give his money back, I'm afraid he will return it anyway and I will be forced to refund him. This makes me want to take my positive feedback back.:rage:

Anyone have a problem like this? I just got his message tonight and haven't received a response yet, I just have a bad vibe that he will return it despite my no returns policy, to get his money back. Just wondering what to do (can I do anything?). :cry:

You have no duty to refund the money. You can't take something to a store and say: give me my money back because i don't like it. You can't get a car, pay for it, drive it around for a few weeks then take it back and get a full refund. If you buy something and there's something wrong with it, fair enough you can return it as mis-sold/mis-advertised (and i suspect this is what your law says, Spitfire). But just because you don't like it, or don't need it any more? No way can you return that for a refund . . . not even in Old Europe!

These cretins need to realise that that little "confirm your bid" page says "you have entered into a contract" or something similar is binding. eBay should back you up on this if any negative feedback results.