@manickmechanic wrote:
To leave anything other than feedback that matches the experience, just makes feedback worthless..
Surely earning positive feedback is what a seller should be seeking to do
In the spirit of wanting to be helpful rather than lambast you, and without in the slightest wanting to reward very bad sellers with glowing feedback, I will point out one thing that is heavily ironic: buyers can only receive positive feedback.
Only.
Even if they broke the item, claimed INR, received full refund, sent back fake instead of original... Even if they bombarded the seller with threatening messages... No matter how badly a buyer behaves, sellers can only ever give them positive feedback. Feedback on eBay, in terms of a buyer's integrity or politeness or even just simply paying for items, is "worthless".
I thought at the time, when the feedback policy changed, that it was unfair to good sellers and a bit of a free ride for buyers. It's certainly given some buyers a sense of untouchability... but on the other hand, sellers do now have the ability to open NPDs, as a result of which non-paying buyers will at least be issued with a non-payment strike. Anyway, that's by the way.
Feedback for sellers is still a worthwhile measure, although I have always been in two minds about it. Some buyers have what I consider is a lead foot on the feedback pedal. They give red dots almost indiscriminately, or at the very least without due consideration or a sense of perspective. Yet it's important for buyers to be able to make buying judgements when looking at a seller's feedback.
I do look at a seller's feedback. However, some negatives given to a seller will actually make me more inclined to buy from them, if I gauge that the buyer is being unfair. If I see a consistent issue or series of issues (by clicking onto the seller's negatives over a 12-month period), that gives me a context... and very quickly highlights something that pops up too frequently to be a coincidence.
Looking at the feedback that you've given, manickmechanic, I really do feel that you have a lead foot on that feedback pedal. I think you are too quick to give a negative, and I don't think you're always being wise in your buying. You will probably reject my suggestion that you save negatives for sellers whose behaviour is egregious and where you didn't get a resolution... but as you can see if you look at the feedback I've given, I'm sparing in my negs.
Another suggestion from me... Think of 99.5% as good, but anything below that, regard with caution. I mean... in relation to high volume sellers. The way in which that percentage score is calculated is not like getting, for example, 98% in a Latin exam - a result with which anyone would be entirely satisfied. And... click onto the seller's negatives over 12 months in their feedback profile, to zero in on whether the negatives convey a clear warning.
You may want to ignore this, but I think you've put yourself into an unenviable position by posting here in a way that invites feedback on your feedback, so to speak. There are many sellers who read these boards without necessarily posting. Many of these are going to be disinclined to have you purchase from them, based on the perceived lead-foot situation. If you want to continue to buy on eBay rather than running into more seller blocks than there are bristles on a hedgehog, your feedback behaviour needs to reflect something new.
I've been blunt - but sugar-coating it won't be of any use to you. I hope you have better experiences, and I think it will start with your choosing better sellers, having realistic expectations, and taking your foot off the pedal.
