Feedback Etiquette

[leerhyne71]

Hi all,

I'm very new to eBay and have made about 25 purchases in the past week or so.  I'm yet to leave feedback for my purchases as I'm not sure what is appropriate timing.  A bit of background, I paid for my purchases promptly, in most instances the goods I have bought have been shipped by the seller (s).  But, I really can't leave feedback until the purchase cycle is complete .... can I?  Until I receive the things I've bought, how can I leave honest feedback?

So, what's the etiquette involved?  Am I annoying the seasoned eBay'ers by not leaving feedback if they've shipped the goods so promptly?  I don't see how I can truly rate something I haven't received yet.

(I have left feedback for only one purchase, I just assumed that's what I was supposed to do - particularly given how quickly the goods were marked as shipped).

Thanks in advance 🙂

[foxette-in-sox]

Never leave feedback until the sale is finalised. Now that sellers can only leave positive feedback for buyers, a lot of them just don't bother to leave feedback at all, regardless of how positive the transaction was for them. However, they want you to leave feedback for them, to promote them to other buyers and to get them into reward categories. Lately, I have left good feedback for a few sellers, who just never bothered to leave feedback for me, feedback might be voluntary, but that doesn't make me feel like a valued customer. So, from now, I will no longer leave feedback for any seller, unless they leave feedback for me.  

I buy items on ebay not feedback but maybe I'm just odd 😄

[carly2579]

i must be too fox  LOL

[phorum_junkie*]

I buy items on ebay not feedback but maybe I'm just odd

Maybe you are but it has nothing to do with your feedback :-x

[carly2579]

😄

[shaneshirty]

yes an issue , most sellers including me , look for feedback from buyers as a sign that they have received the items they have purchased . please as a buyer as I buy and resell , if you are not happy with a seller let them know , packing , cost of mailing -- check what is on envelope as to what you have been charged -- some make quite a killing , remember they need you as a buyer if they are not suppling you with feedback first ask them , then go to resolution centre or contact customer support , you need your rating -- shaneshirty

[foxette-in-sox]

 if they are not suppling you with feedback first ask them , then go to resolution centre or contact customer support , you need your rating

Feedback is VOLUNTARY so what exactly are you going to go to Resolution Centre or Customer Support for ?

You can't open any type of case or dispute against a buyer because they choose not to leave feedback.

[davewil1964]

I work on the theory that if a buyer doesn't contact me or leave feedback in 45 days, they were happy with the item. End of transaction.

Once again, Shane, eBay allow a seller to automate feedback. One of the options is to leave feedback AFTER the buyer does. I hardly think that eBay will make a ruling that this is incorrect. Last time I looked there was no option in the Resolution Centre for "Seller didn't leave me feedback" anyway. And buyers DO NOT need feedback ratings. Neither do sellers, but seller feedback at least has a point.

[thesoulyearns]

I generally leave feedback once I receive the item and can do a reasonable inspect. Just a quick look over to see what shape it's in while comparing it to how the listing was described. Nothing has been SNAD yet, so I generally leave the appropriate number of stars in a positive feedback. I also sometimes make a quick note, e.g. if it's described as MINT and I find it about 9/10, I make a quick note that it wasn't 100% as described but that I'm happy enough. That's pretty rare, though.

[leader-of-the-band]

My ten commandments of feedback etiquette (no particular order except for #10)

1 - Feedback is voluntary

2 - 'NO feedback' is better than negative feedback

3 - Feedback has no monetary value

4 - False positives can be removed

5 - Buyers should contact sellers before leaving negative feedback - but many will not

6 - Don't ask for feedback as you might not like what you get!

7 - Sellers leaving follow-up feedback will draw attention to the original feedback

8 - If sellers choose to leave follow-up feedback it should be factual and professional

9 - Abusing a buyer in follow-up feedback will ensure that feedback revision request will be rejected

10 - ALL OF THE ABOVE . . . . . AGAIN

[viewmont1071]

Here is what ebay say about feedback..reads well doesn't it...

I wondered how sellers could leave honest feedback as ebay asks if they had a negative experience during a transaction given that ebay consider honest feedback integral in ebay's success flagging it as the "cornerstone of the foundation of trust"

copy and pastes directly from ebays help section

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/policies/feedback-terms.html

Feedback is the foundation of trust on eBay. Having terms and conditions that dissuade an individual from leaving feedback undermines the integrity of the feedback system and decreases trust within the eBay marketplace.

http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/feedback/howitworks.html

Whenever you buy or sell something, we ask that you leave Feedback about the transaction that reflects your experience with the buyer or seller. At the same time, we ask your trading partner to leave Feedback about you as well.

Why leave Feedback?

Leaving honest comments gives members a good idea of what to expect when dealing with other members. Leaving Feedback is also a way to express your appreciation for a job well done. Finally, if you are a buyer, you can help spread the word about a seller you like, and if you are a seller, you can help recognise and reward loyal customers, which encourages them to buy from you again.


http://pages.ebay.com.au/help/feedback/find-feedback.html

Before you bid on an item or buy it with Buy It Now, it’s a good idea to check the seller’s Feedback Profile to view their Feedback ratings and comments.

Sellers may also want to view a buyer’s Feedback Profile to see how reliable the buyer has been in the past.

Can nybody help me there... how do sellers view a buyers feedback profile to see how reliable a buyer has been in the past ???

.... I mean we really need to heed ebay instructions so that feedabck remains the foundation of trust ???

I noticed that not many other replies had links to ebay help....most times the "rules and polices are sprouting from every orifice"  in fact many helpers have stated the opposite in that feedback is not an important part of the transaction process at all and insignificant