Leaving feedback on eBay...what gives?

Question

If you're buying something and you've paid for the item in full your part of the transaction is completed. Why does the seller have to wait to leave feedback until you've left yours? If you've been great to deal with then you should get positive feedback. If something goes wrong between the time you paid and the time you get what you paid for...you'll leave negative feedback and then get some in return even though you've paid on time and did everything according to the terms and agreements.

Those people who leave negative feedback just because you got some....shouldn't be using eBay....you are all a bunch of babies (those who fall in this group)!

Can't take responsibility for your actions and have to feel "good about things" by leaving unwarranted feedback.

Sorry this is more of a rant than a question....

Good night.
Marc

Answer 1

In a perfect world, the seller would leave positive feedback as soon as they get paid and the buyer would leave positive feedback if they get the item on time and its in the condition described. That has generally been my experience (and my practice) but I know that its not always true.

You're right. The feedback you get from the seller should be totally based on whether you paid and communicated any information they needed promptly. If they didn't do their job, you had every right to leave negative feedback, without getting negative feedback for calling it like it was.

Answer 2

I had this very same conversation with my brother just today! Some sellers just don't want to leave feedback until they have received feedback. Maybe you paid on time and did everything right, but if the post office loses your package or damages your package and you blame the seller, that's not fair either. You should not leave feedback until you have gotten your item and inspected it. When you are pleased with your transaction, leave feedback indicating this! If you are NOT pleased, EMAIL your seller and try to resolve it first! It's best not to assume that the seller is a BAD GUY! He's probably not. Check their feedback rating. (You should check this before you ever enter a contract with them!)

Some people just don't get around to leaving feedback for a month or so! I think ebay gives you at least 30 days to do so.

It really doesn't matter who leaves feedback first! Be brave! Bite the bullet! Leave the feedback! Most sellers want to leave positive feedback and get it in return. That's how they stay in business! You also have the option of responding to feedback.

All in all, if you had a good experience, leave positive feedback, but if it was less than good, TRY TO RESOLVE your differences before you leave bad feedback. If you leave bad feedback, especially without a good reason, you'll get it right back! I will always look at a Neg feedback that someone has and see where it came from. If the person who left it has a bad reputation, I simply consider the source.

I hope this helps! Don't let one bad feedback or one bad experience keep you away from ebay though! Good luck!

Answer 3

Maybe not. It seemed like sellers were using the feedback system as revenge for bad feedback, which is why they changed it. But I am not so sure that it was a good idea to make it impossible for them to leave anything other than positive feedback. They probably think, what's th point, I can only give a positive anyway. They should have set up a system where the seller could leave negative feedback, but only if the seller actually did something wrong.

Answer 4

Rants are allowed ;)

And I know just what you mean. The feedback can be sort've a double-edged sword. Absolutely everything I have ever purchased from someone on e-Bay, has been paid for within five minutes of the end of the auction....or less than five minutes.

The very last thing I purchased.....was a *Buy now*.....the seller STILL hasn't left me any feedback....either negative or positive. I've e-mailed him several times in fact, asking for him to be so kind and leave me some feedback....and he hasn't even acknowledged my existence. I won't mention that he GUARANTEED me delivery five days BEfore Christmas and I didn't get the item purchased until Christmas eve. He blamed it on the USPS.....when I finally got it, I checked the postmark and found out he didn't even ship it until the 22nd of December....it made me so mad. I did leave him negative feedback...and listed the exact reason I was upset....so this is probably why he won't leave me any......but damn!

So yeah......stupid people! :(

Try Craigslist......I've heard good things about it!

Good night Marc ;)~

Answer 5

Feedback is made up of comments and ratings left by other eBay members you've bought from and sold to. These comments and ratings are valuable indicators of your reputation as a buyer or seller on eBay. They are included, along with an overall feedback score, in your member profile.

That is the way, feedback was, in a perfect world, supposed to be, when eBay was in its infacncy. But now, it is more misunderstood and often abused and misused currently.

I personally don't leave feedback until the entire transaction is completed. When I am a buyer, after the item is delivered safely, and is examined and found to be in workable, good condition, then I will leave feedback. When I am a seller, I will leave feedback after I have heard from the buyer that they have received the item and is satisfied with it.

Answer 6

I was confused on feedback. I left neutral once, nothing was special about the transaction, I got the book; late, but It didn't affect what I needed it for. I got negative because I gave him a neutral. I guess if you get the item, you put positive. I just had no negative or positive feelings about it.
I don't like the feedback, you just be able to put whether it was received or not.

Answer 7

I have been VERY fortunate with my Ebay sales and purchases, but I have heard much ballyhoo about the negative feedback debacle. It is something we have to live with...childishness is rampant everywhere.

Answer 8

I think the feedback thing could and should have been a good thing but human nature being what it is, especially if one is dealing semi-anonymously, it has become virtually useless.

Answer 9

I agree with you Marc. It doesn't seem quite fair does it?

Answer 10

I agree with you.

Good night.