topic Buyers Feedback Hidden??? in Selling

Buyers Feedback Hidden???

helenm777 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 04:50:05 GMT

Just noticed for the first time when checking on a buyers feedback, all feedback is "Hidden" with a message that the "This person has requested that their feedback be hidden" ???

The buyer has around 95% feedback rate and I can see there is 1 neg, of course not sure why, as I cannot see the feedback!

How is this allowed??

I often check on buyers when sending low cost items without tracking and then make up my mind whether to Register the item, depending if they have feedback from Sellers eg Item not received, requested refund.

How can Ebay justify being able to hide feedback???

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

imastawka — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 04:56:59 GMT

They must have been a seller in the last 12 months to get a neg.

As a buyer, you can't get neg fb

If you have private fb, you can't sell.

If they have paid, then their private feedback doesn't matter.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

thecatspjs — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 05:11:30 GMT

@helenm777 wrote:
Just noticed for the first time when checking on a buyers feedback, all feedback is "Hidden" with a message that the "This person has requested that their feedback be hidden" ???

The buyer has around 95% feedback rate and I can see there is 1 neg, of course not sure why, as I cannot see the feedback!

How is this allowed??

I often check on buyers when sending low cost items without tracking and then make up my mind whether to Register the item, depending if they have feedback from Sellers eg Item not received, requested refund.

How can Ebay justify being able to hide feedback???

I think sellers should be able to block any person with private feedback - as the feedback that is left for sellers by buyers is important in some sellers decision making as you have indicated. Particulary those sending by letter post.

eBay falicates fraud though on a regular basis - as is evidenced by posts on the boards and the money back guarantee that sets up requirements for proof of delivery which is not lawful under Oz legislation.

With your private feedback buyer - if it were me I would send by registered post just in case the buyer is hiding a pattern of being difficult like leaving negatives etc or sellers have made follow up comments regarding items not received.

Whilst some buyers chose to keep their feedback private for privacy reasons thats their choice, sellers should also have a choice to block them from purchasing.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

lyndal1838 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 05:52:52 GMT

Sellers can block buyers with Private feedback by adding them to their Blocked Bidders List.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

davewil1964 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 06:25:23 GMT

As auctions are a vanishingly small percentage of eBay sales, it really makes no difference.

The only time vetting a buyer is any use is when you have a chance to make a decision prior to purchase.

Plus what stawks said - the neg is, by definition, from selling.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

digital*ghost — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 06:36:55 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:

Whilst some buyers chose to keep their feedback private for privacy reasons thats their choice, sellers should also have a choice to block them from purchasing.

I can understand the reasons behind sellers wanting such an option, I know I sometimes find it a little discomfiting when I see a buyer of mine has private FB and there's been a problem (this is usually the only time I check).

But, at this point in time, AFAIK, there's no minimum timeframe that has to pass if you make your FB public or private (i.e. like there is if you change your username), so something like that would also have to be introduced, otherwise you'd likely end up just getting buyers who change to public FB to purchase, then change it back straight after.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

lane-ends — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 07:04:37 GMT

Maybe it is because they want to keep their transaction records private for personal reasons, ie not from their trading partners, but from family and friends, and even potential other people who may know them with malicious intent.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

thecatspjs — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 07:31:00 GMT

I was thinking more along the lines of the feedack being visible to anyone you are trading with, including asking a question. Sure there are other feedback or blocking mechanisms that could be removed or set.

Not a giant leap in technology required.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

helenm777 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 09:53:15 GMT

This buyer has less than 26 feedback anyway. I can understand why customers would not like others to see what they are purchasing,

But my issue is why would Ebay allow feedback to be hidden at all

Does any body know why this would be??

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

thecatspjs — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:09:06 GMT

I would assume its due to buyers complaining about privacy.

eBay is responsive to whinging buyers.

Others will argue its privacy legislation, but I have yet to see any evidence that it would be the case - particualrly when public view is of a self selected user name and details of purchases are not visible.

I reckon there would be more buyers hiding feedback for not good reasons in terms of trading, rather than the reverse. Just speculation though.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

digital*ghost — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:12:19 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
I was thinking more along the lines of the feedack being visible to anyone you are trading with, including asking a question.

That would certainly be more practical.

@helen, members have been able to make their feedback private for as long as I've been on eBay (about 8 years), so I don't know when the option was introduced, and couldn't really tell you what their reasonaing behind it was. It's probably more related to when member IDs weren't hidden on seller FB profiles, and item titles plus links were shown on all profiles. Some of that kind of information may well be protected by privacy laws, so maybe they were (or are) obligated to at least provide a voluntary option to keep that information private, though I suspect the option wouldn't be removed even if it were just the comments that were visible, and no other information like seller ID and item title.

Edited to add: on public Fb profiles, it's often actually still really easy to find out what someone has purchased, and who from.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

lyndal1838 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:12:55 GMT

@helenm777 wrote:
This buyer has less than 26 feedback anyway. I can understand why customers would not like others to see what they are purchasing,

But my issue is why would Ebay allow feedback to be hidden at all

Does any body know why this would be??

You have already answered your own question.....some buyers prefer that others cannnot see what they are buying.

And why would ebay not allow feedback to be hidden?

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

thecatspjs — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:15:03 GMT

@lyndal1838 wrote:

And why would ebay not allow feedback to be hidden?

"Why would eBay not allow feedback to be hidden ?" because it is one of the only ways sellers can identify consistent patterns that may indicate a scamming low life buyer and a safe trading place is good for everyone.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

davewil1964 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:33:33 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
@lyndal1838 wrote:

And why would ebay not allow feedback to be hidden?
"Why would eBay not allow feedback to be hidden ?" because it is one of the only ways sellers can identify consistent patterns that may indicate a scamming low life buyer and a safe trading place is good for everyone.

But buyers can only receive POSITIVE feedback, so any scamming low life buyer would presumably know enough to get anything other than glowing positiver feedback deleted. And give the seller a strike, to boot.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

thecatspjs — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 10:49:56 GMT

You missed the point entirely.

The feedback buyers leave sellers can be very revealing of quite a bit.

As can follow up comments by sellers, who have left feedback prior to running into problems.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

davewil1964 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 11:08:48 GMT

Did I? It has has been noted that it is totally irrelevant if the buyer BINs. Which is the predominant method of purchasing these days.

Once they pay, you send. Unless you are one of the number who cancel out of the possibility that it MIGHT be a less than optimal transaction.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

thecatspjs — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 11:13:07 GMT

As identified in the OP it can be a prudent check and assist in deciding to send a letter registered or not.

It can also be useful evidence in a Paypal or eBay case, if there is a history of not received and refunds in follow up comments.

And... it can also be useful in deciding whether to insure a parcel or not for an extra dollar or two.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

helenm777 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 14:02:29 GMT

Thanks thecatspjs you get my point exactly.

I have sent items that I would normally sent as a letter rate so no tracking or signature, as Reg Post when I have seen feedback left by sellers stating on the buyers feedback "Item Not Received.. Refunded Buyer".

It does not happen a lot, but it does happen, and if a buyers feedback shows many Non receipt of Items..it is a little suspect!!

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

collect247 — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 20:10:44 GMT

Just the same with public feedback as well.

Lucky the sellers I deal with know who I am and don't block me like you and cats think they should lol.

Private feedback has nothing to do with being a bad buyer as there are bad buyers that aren't private.

Re: Buyers Feedback Hidden???

digital*ghost — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 23:39:32 GMT

I don't think anyone here is saying private feedback equals bad buyer....

I do think that anyone here who has ever blocked a serial neg leaver, or at the very least thought someone who has left 80% of comments saying something like 'didn't receive' was suspicious, should be able to understand the point that's being made.