topic Re: Feedback in Selling

Feedback

quiltermemories — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 09:47:12 GMT

Hi all,

What are some suggestions about getting buyers to leave feedback?

I have heaps that do not leave any and I find this kind of frustrating considering I take the time to leave feedback for them?

What are your thoughts?

Cheers

Sharryn

Re: Feedback

2106greencat — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:01:08 GMT

I always used to put a little 'thank you' note in my parcels when I sent them.

Something along the lines of Thank you for choosing et etc, if in the unlikely event you are not 100% happy with your purchase please contact me prior to leaving feedback and I will assist etc etc.....and gave my personal email & phone number on the note.

Worked quite well actually, when I was selling, most likely 9 out of 10 were leaving fb, I don't care about it as a buyer, but to a seller it is important.

Re: Feedback

horizon1907 — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:11:11 GMT

Hi Sharryn, Feedback is completely voluntary. Sellers all like to recieve Positive Fb. If Buyers do not leave it, it may be a blessing. Some may leave you a Negative or Neutral which of course you don't want. Better to have none left for you I say.

Re: Feedback

umpteenbooks — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:13:43 GMT

I too have noticed a large drop in numbers leaving feedback, and I always leave positive feedback as soon as payment is made. I suspect that the culprit is the new drop down box that has about 3 options including returning the item before the buyer even finds the feedback option. Another really bright idea from the powers that be!!!!!!

Re: Feedback

i-love-my-sheep — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:35:13 GMT

I used to always leave feedback for buyers as soon as I had sent their item/s, but I found that very few returned the favour. Now, I don't leave it until they leave it first. Some of my more recent buyers, I am not expecting to get any because when I checked their feedback left for others, they hadn't left it for anyone.

I figure now that no feedback is better than bad feedback. When I send an invoice, I usually include a message saying if there are any issues whatsoever, please don't hesitate to contact me before leaving feedback. My feedback rate has gone up since including that message. The few issues that I have had, ALL the buyers have contacted me and their issue has been resolved to their satisfaction. Some of those didn't leave any feedback, the others all left glowing feedback and a 5 star rating. That said, I can count on one hand the amount of issues I've had.

My repeat buyers all seem to leave it, so I normally leave it for them when I send.

Re: Feedback

cq_tech — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:32:16 GMT

It's been exactly the same here sheep. I also leave feedback as soon as the buyer pays, but my feedback received has dropped to appalling levels recently so I'm going to follow suit and no longer leave feedback until I've received same from the buyer.

As you say, it's better to receive no feedback at all than bad feedback, and unfortunately there are an increasing number of inexperienced buyers who appear to have no idea how the DSR system works, and seem to think that 3 is acceptable because it's right in the middle, and therefore an average score.

Trouble is, if you cop a 3 for "item description", you also cop a defect. I now have 3 defects from buyers who left 3s for item description and eBay don't give a toss. If they're not prepared to educate buyers, then I'm not prepared to encourage them to leave feedback at all.

Re: Feedback

phorum_junkie* — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 23:17:38 GMT

I too leave it once it is received or once a week I go through my accounts and any transactions nearing the 60 day limit I assume they didn't have a problem and leave them feedback before archiving the item.

I have just checked one of my accounts and diregarding the transactions for the last 3 weeks I have only had 7 out of over 60 sales I have not received feedback for. There is a lower percentage for my store items but I would expect that. My third selling id only has a sale infrequently and that is standing at 100% received feedback.

Perhaps buyers can feel the vibes and know I couldn't give a rat's behind about feedback so they leave it

Re: Feedback

joxamara — Thu, 15 Jan 2015 23:36:12 GMT

I leave feedback for my buyers because it's automated. I leave feedback for any seller I have bought from because I'm courteous and belive in polite society. I would never change how I interact as a member of any community based on a reaction to what other people are doing and wouldn't have much respect for anyone who does. Feedback is voluntary, do whatever you would do normally based on your own "courtesy platform" and feel good about that.

Re: Feedback

i-love-my-sheep — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 00:28:02 GMT

I had to do a course at work the other day and at the end of the day, we were asked to fill out an evaluation form. There were about 10 questions about varying aspects of the course and you had to colour in the circles rating each section from 1-5. I had a bit of a smile on my face because I wondered if I gave them a 1, 2 or 3 for something whether they would get a defect 😄 😄 😄 I ended up giving them 5's for everything because it was a really good course and they did a great job presenting it.

Re: Feedback

thecatspjs — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 01:04:28 GMT

@quiltermemories wrote:

What are some suggestions about getting buyers to leave feedback?

Offer outstanding, exceptional service, significantly superior to other sellers in your market, so they feel compelled to take the time to leave feedback that sings your praises as an amazing seller

Re: Feedback

saarzi — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 01:57:52 GMT

I dont leave feedback automatically. I found that if feedback is left when the buyer purchases, by the time they receive their item, they have forgotten all about leaving any feedback for me (unless they are unhappy!).

So, I wait until they leave feedback for me.

For those who dont leave feedback, I wait 3-4 weeks after purchase, THEN I leave feedback for them. This seems to remind / prompt them to leave feedback for me too.

Ive had almost double the rate of buyers leaving feedback this way.

Re: Feedback

ausbargainbasement — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 06:54:02 GMT

Hi,

i leave feedback for all my buyers, but these days they rarily leave feedback, that could be due to buyers purchase a lot of stuff from websites these days, and there are no feedback facilities on wesites, therefore dont come back to leave feedback, which these days is well hidden on Ebay, whereas return this item smacks you in the face.

Cheers

Re: Feedback

englishrosegardens — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 07:09:39 GMT

@thecatspjs wrote:
Offer outstanding, exceptional service, significantly superior to other sellers in your market, so they feel compelled to take the time to leave feedback that sings your praises as an amazing seller

Totally agree!! While some buyers can never be bothered leaving it, most buyers are more inclined to do it if they received exceptional service (and products) from the seller.

If a seller doesn't leave feedback first, I usually don't bother to leave any. I'm not alone in thinking that I've done my bit by buying and paying promptly, so I deserve feedback. Buyers don't really 'owe' the seller anything except to pay for items when they buy them. If people want to sell things they need to look after their buyers, not the other way around. To think that a buyer owes them anything more than payment is unrealistic, and to try and blackmail them into leaving feedback by not leaving any first will usually backfire.

I always send buyers a message when I've posted their item and then I wait a few hours before leaving feedback. The delay is only so that if they contact me and say thanks (for letting them know it's posted) I leave better feedback than if there was no communication. I'd only be making more work for myself by waiting until they'd left feedback because I'd have to check through my emails so see what they were like as a buyer before I left feedback for them.

Re: Feedback

dylan11235813 — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 07:11:21 GMT

As cats said I also find that when buyers are very happy with a purchase they will leave feedback. Posting fast and professional packaging seems to do the trick, first impressions and all.

I have noticed a dropoff in feedback received in the last 3 weeks but seems to be picking up again., still only 75% of what it usually is. Baybe it was because of slow sales over chiristmas. but IMO ebay have done something.

Re: Feedback

davidc4430 — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 07:23:24 GMT

you could try offering to clean their houses, that might get some feedback. buyers who dont leave feedback are just nasty like something you tread in at the local park.

Re: Feedback

cherry*135 — Fri, 16 Jan 2015 11:55:19 GMT

People buy items from other online sellers too (not ebay) and aren't required to or have any option to leave feedback. I think buyers just don't think to do it.

Also if they don't buy very often, they may not log into eBay again for awhile after making a purchase.