You can read "How to Escape a Hostage Situation" here. Reply to this message to discuss it.
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quote:When a buyer pays, they have done their job. They deserve feedback. If a seller is honest and doing their best, they have no reason to fear.
quote:All in all it is a more fair system now on Ebay
quote:The thing that REALLY gets to me is the star system for delivery time. I get the stuff out within the 3 days promised. I use Canada Post. The item may or may not be delivered expeditiously but I do NOT control that yet, I get measured - rated on the Post Office's performance!
quote:When a buyer pays, they have done their job. They deserve feedback. If a seller is honest and doing their best, they have no reason to fear. ************
Are you a ebay cheerleader?
quote:Originally posted by pj:quote:All in all it is a more fair system now on Ebay
NO it is NOT a more fair system in ANY way.
Buyers STILL earn NEG FB just because ebay says they cannot get it does not mean they should not get FB they earned rightly so sometimes a buyer earns a NEG Really it does sound like you believe that EBAY GREEDBAY & buyers can do no wrong. LOL there is 1000's of buyers who need to be NARUED. The FB system is NOT fair not even to buyers, as thier FB looks same as a bad buyer does. Wake up & smell the stink that ebay forces on sellers who sell there
quote:Originally posted by tubagurl:
I'm not so worried about negative feedback - I'm concerned with "performance stars" - I've had all my buyers leave glowing feedback, yet have received 2 "stars" in the 2 level, putting me at risk for being removed from selling... how is that possible? No one has contacted me, no one has complained in feedback, how can they be allowed to leave low "stars" if everything is "fabulous?" Also, Ebay won't tell sellers who left low stars so you can't figure out what might have been wrong so you can correct issues in the future... Hostage feedback is the least of my problems!
quote:Originally posted by eastwoods:
I try to always leave fb for the buyer when their payment clears my bank (I "suck" money from Paypal the day it arrives). As the author mentioned, a [timely] payment is all that's required from the buyer to complete their side of the transaction.
I have never had negative feedback, perhaps because I have an unconditional return policy.
Simply put, all a buyer has to do is return the purchased item (same condition as when I shipped, of course) and then I issue 100% refund, INCLUDING the return shipping costs. I do not care whatsoever the reason they complain or want a refund--buyer's remorse, item not as they hoped, etc.--the guarantee of full refund usually eases any potential negative situation.
The real beauty of this policy is that I only have returns once or twice per year. But it's a good selling point--I always mention this policy to potential bidders who send me questions.
quote:: "Take a look at the feedback that others have left for them" (buyer) "and note a couple of key points."
Oh I do agree with you!!!!! Ben there & hated it.quote:Originally posted by gusfirefly:
While I agree completely that excellent service as a seller is the best way to avoid negative feedback, I disagree just as completely with the concept that the buyer's only job is to pay. Not so! The buyer is also responsible to handle any questions, concerns, issues in a reasonable way. When buyers BEGIN to express their dissatisfaction with negative feedback, they are not doing their job. When they first email with threats, obscenities, insults, and more, they are not doing their job. Given that Ebay and Paypal give all the power to the buyer, the only power I have left against such obnoxious individuals is that I do not have to add to the false impression that they are wonderful customers with lots of positive feedback. I can't tell you how many people include in their emails things like "after all, I have 100% positive feedback." How meaningless! I have discussed with my Power Seller rep at Ebay that at the very least a buyer who does not pay, as documented by the unpaid item process, should be subject to negative feedback. Other sellers deserve to know that the buyer is a risk.
quote:Originally posted by csblue:
Danna,
You have written a wonderful article here. This should be required reading for every Ebay seller.
I am a seller, but mostly a buyer. I remember well the terrorizing by sellers in feedback. Sad as it may be, ther ARE dishonest sellers out there. When I was burned and left negative feedback, the seller always left scathing feedback on me. It just seems that they were always part of that 2% of dishonest sellers, and those are the ones who cannot stand to have anything said critisizing them. But how could you warn others without leaving honest feedback?
So, I am glad for the new feedback policy. As far as the responder who said buyer feedback is useless, don't listen to them. Buyer feedback is important and as a buyer I used to resent it when a seller would wait to leave feedback until I did. You are right. When a buyer pays, they have done their job. They deserve feedback. If a seller is honest and doing their best, they have no reason to fear.
If I have a problem with a purchase I always contact the seller first, before leaving feedback. I will never leave negative feedback for a seller who deals with me honestly and sincerely. 98% of sellers do. They are usually anxious to resolve any issue the buyer has. 98% of buyers are honest too, and just want what the auction description says they are getting. There is, I admit, an occasional seller that I am compelled to leave negative feedback on still. There are just always some who are unreasonable and not willing to deal fairly with you. Usually they are abusive and dishonest (as I said before) and you can usually tell with a little research on them, because other buyers will have been unsatisfied as well and left negatives on them.
All in all it is a more fair system now on Ebay.
Again Danna, I would like to thank you for a detailed and insightful article.
Steven
quote:Originally posted by tubagurl:
I just received my first negative feedback in my 8 years at ebay... no hostages involved, just take no prisoners. I'm not a big seller, I'm mostly a buyer... I sell things for my kids or, in this case, some extra balls of yarn... A newbie just negged me because they bought 2 balls of yarn and I mailed 1. Was it a serious error, yes. Am I sorry, yes. Did they contact me? NO! I would have expedited their ball of yarn so they'd have it tomorrow! I did that anyway after an ugly worded neg and no contact... will they revise? Most likely not. What's an honest, but human seller to do?!