topic Re: Feedback in Selling

Feedback

bunnycat — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 01:48:41 GMT

Is there any point in leaving feedback any more?. I know it's been a few years since sellers have been unable to leave anything but positive feedback which seems a total waste of time. After all if you can't warn other sellers about a bad buyer why bother at all. The other side of the coin is that fewer and fewer buyers are bothering to leave feedback. I haven't received feedback for anything I have sold in the last 12 months. SO, again what is the point???

Re: Feedback

sandypebbles — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:07:47 GMT

Leaving a neg would not warn anyone anyway

Nobody else can see who the neg is for (as in, nobody else can see the buyer's user ID)

So it is not warning other sellers who do not have a clue who the dodgy buyer is

But feedback is voluntary anyway

If you don't want to leave it don't

It's been more than a few years, 2008 as far as I can recall

Re: Feedback

countessalmirena — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:08:49 GMT

You may want to leave feedback in order to bestow a burst of dopamine upon your buyers. If your buyers feel happy about various aspects of the transaction, they are more likely to buy again from you.

You may want to avoid peeving any buyers who feel that feedback is part of the entire transaction, and will mark you down and potentially even give a negative if they themselves don’t receive any feedback. (Such buyers do exist.)

You may want to give feedback as another (quickly referenced) form of “sent that on such and such a date”. Redundant … but redundancy is a safety feature.

You may want to give feedback do as to ensure your eBay presence shows current activity, which may be a factor in some buyers’ purchasing or not purchasing.

Your tone in feedback can provide a reassuring note of professionalism.

On the flip side, being able to give nonpaying buyers an invisible strike by cancelling the sale after 4 days with the reason “buyer didn’t pay” is arguably more satisfying and effective in the long run than giving a negative.

It’s up to you. I’m a buyer only; I don’t purchase in order to get feedback but my view only applies to myself. I believe that most other buyers expect feedback.

Re: Feedback

sugar249 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 02:39:11 GMT

I for one still look at feedback when making a purchase, gives me an idea of the integrity of the seller. No guarantee, but if they have negs I definitely read and make a decision based on that.

As for leaving for buyers, I do leave it (each sunday I do a bulk FB giving session). But what is the real point of leaving a neg for a buyer, even if they have 100 negatives, you wont know until they have purchased, Unless they make an offer, but once purchased you don't have much control.

Re: Feedback

springyzone — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 04:51:34 GMT

Yes, feedback is valuable.

As a seller, if you find a buyer gives you trouble, just don't leave feedback at all. An ebay claim for non payment etc is more effective anyway.

If they give you trouble in other ways, just block them but no feedback.

That way, the buyers who are given positive feedback, that should mean something.

As a buyer, I definitely look at a seller's feedback & especially any negs or neutrals. I look at where the seller is registered. It definitely affects my buying. I am not saying I would not buy from anyone with a few negs but I do take notice of feedback.

I also give feedback.

But it is all voluntary, so some will, some won't.

I consider sellers who do give feedback after a successful sale as more professional. Same as I consider sellers who upload tracking details (if applicable) as more professional.

Re: Feedback

sugar249 — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:18:07 GMT

Just a PS to my comment, I find about 33% of buyers leave feedback.

And you know the old saying, be nice to one customer and they will tell one person, upset one customer and they will tell 10 people. So you need to work hard to get positive feedback,

Re: Feedback

curraone — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:55:24 GMT

I always give feedback as soon as the buyer pays. For several reasons, but one is that it is an easy reference for me if I am looking for a previous sale, or for a previous buyer (there are other ways I know but this is simple). I do feedback straight away because I would never remember otherwise.

Re: Feedback

mytreechange — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:03:11 GMT

I generally give feedback when I mark items posted (untracked) or add the tracking number.

Sometimes I'm a day or two later if I was running a bit late to go into town when posting (I mark things posted once packed, then go into town & post them).

Occasionally I have a feeling that the buyer may be a bit of a problem, so don't give feedback until they have, or not even then in some difficult cases.

Re: Feedback

p9games — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:39:53 GMT

feedback for buyers? Honestly little to no point at all. Just automate it. If a customer leaves you feedback just leave a cookie cutter response "Great customer, thanks for shopping with XYZ"

Re: Feedback

mytreechange — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 07:08:00 GMT

That' understandable for bigger businesses, but we only have a couple of thousand listings, and like to leave slightly more personal feedback, especially for regular buyers, of which we have quite a few.

We have the time, and it keeps our buyers (and ourselves) happy, so why not.

Re: Feedback

springyzone — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 20:29:24 GMT

@mytreechange wrote:

That' understandable for bigger businesses, but we only have a couple of thousand listings, and like to leave slightly more personal feedback, especially for regular buyers, of which we have quite a few.

We have the time, and it keeps our buyers (and ourselves) happy, so why not.

You know, I do think it can make a difference, at least in good will.

I remember some years ago now, giving good feedback to a seller. And I was surprised as they replied and said it was lovely to hear the positive comments.

It let me know that it truly was a smallish business & I have often found I get more personal help from smaller businesses than those stores that sell in the millions. I'd rather support them when I can.

Re: Feedback

paper-jack — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 22:05:41 GMT

I have a theory that leaving feedback depends on the item. I'm more likely to get feedback for items that I have handmade (different ebay account). Overall I've noticed less feedback being left than in the past. I suspect the constant emails requesting feedback for non-ebay online sales and services has turned people off.

For example, every time I have a parcel delivered, Australia Post ask for feedback.

Recently I bought shoes from a store online and they automatically 'subscribed' me to their constant sale emails and started begging for feedback.

If other buyers are similarly bombarded with what are really junk mail messages, no wonder they are less likely to leave feedback anywhere.

I suspect ebay sellers are more likely to leave feedback when buying as a courtesy to fellow sellers. Members who are only buyers are less likely to make the effort, unless they are in the increasingly small percentage of generously minded, unselfish people out there.

Re: Feedback

sugar249 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 01:42:37 GMT

@paper-jack wrote:

For example, every time I have a parcel delivered, Australia Post ask for feedback.

I have found they only send these on the ones that went like clockwork. But if they were late with delivery, or left dumped in the wrong spot no feedback request.

I took the car in for service a few weeks back, got a call from them a few days later, asking if I could rate them 10 out of 10, if so they would send me the feedback survey. I said yes so I got the survey, than rated them the 7 they deservede.

Re: Feedback

cam-2793 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 03:47:43 GMT

The constant requests for feedback does get extremely tiresome! Ive had sellers send requests before the item has even arrived and a few days later. If i feel nagged I'm less likely, although once I gave a neutral to a seller specifically stating it would have been positive except for numerous requests for feedback( 3 from memory).

Sugar- ive had Ozpost send feedback surveys when things dont go well.

Re: Feedback

cam-2793 — Fri, 23 Feb 2024 03:58:34 GMT

P.s. I think feedback would mean more if buyers could receive honest feedback( which includes neutral and negative), only being able to get positives kinda demeans it and the only reason I can think of for buyers getting feedback is reciprocity - it doesn't tell you anything meaningful, but encourages them to leave feedback.