Should sellers be able to leave negative feedback for non-payments?

[2011emc2]

As a first-time seller, I had a buyer who didn't pay and didn't bother to contact me or respond to my emails. I opened an ‘Unpaid Item’ case, which again got no response, and closed the case today.

Yet the only feedback option available to me was to leave 'Positive' feedback for this buyer.

Really, eBay???

This 'buyer' still has a '100% positive' feedback rating on eBay. How is this honest or fair? Shouldn't a feedback system allow members of a community to comment on their actual dealings with people in that community?

Little wonder some sellers try to sneak in negative comments using the positive feedback option, to try to warn other unsuspecting sellers. Yet eBay deletes these from buyers' profiles.

I think eBay should change its feedback policy in order to allow equal footing for buyers and sellers. So sellers would be allowed to either: (a) leave negative feedback - if only for non-payment; or (b) automaticallly note non-payments into each buyer's feedback profile, so these are clear for all to see.

It's not a problem to demonstrate that a buyer hasn't paid. Why not give sellers the same rights as buyers to leave honest feedback? Wouldn't everyone benefit?

I didn't ship the item because payment never arrived or cleared.  Still, what a negative experience, especially the shocking attitude toward sellers whose fees sustain and enrich eBay.

What is your opinion on eBay's feedback policy for sellers?

(Newbies: FB = feedback, NP = non-payment)

[leader-of-the-band]

if the NP had two NP strikes a mark come up to a seller when they put a bid in you eBay could immediately withdraw the NPers bid and have a suceessful outcome.

I selectively edited your post, crossed out some text and added a little to make a point here.

By using the UnPaid Item process with strikes issued to non-payers and Bidder Blocks then:

if the NP had two NP strikes when they put a bid in eBay could immediately withdraw the NPers bid.

[thecatspjs]

Whilst there may only be limited posting - there is nonetheless new polling activity every time the thread is bumped.

The debate reflected in the previous posts also still have relevance, as the thread was still receiving a lot of views, even though no-one was posting.

By the way, nine more votes were recorded over the last 24 hours.

I, and obviously the others that add their votes, have an interest in this topic.

Whilst other posters may not be interested in this topic at all, can other posters please respect that I have same discussion boards privileges as others, including one to bump threads and the poll.

If other posters are not interested in this thread or the poll, then ignore it.

[leader-of-the-band]

The seller couldn't anyway, If there is less than 12 hours before the auction ends, then the seller can't end an auction or cancel a bid

excellent point . . . . . exactly the reason why eBay gives sellers the tools to do this through the UPI and Bidder Blocks.  Much more effective than having to monitor every one of your listings 24/7 as it is automatic if the Bidder Blocks are in place.

[thecatspjs]

My smiley was in response to the previous posters comment.

Posting a smiley - without comment is quite consistent with the practices of other posters on other threads.

[leader-of-the-band]

😮

[thecatspjs]

dear oh dear, still questioning my posts,

gosh - one would think the post with the shouting caps demanding the thread be locked is a little over the top in response to bumping a thread with a few smileys 😮

there were a range of reasons why i bumped with smiley - several, in fact, including as it was relevant to another thread at the time -

This is my last "justification" of my previous posts - as I have posted earlier I am breaking no discussion board rules bumping threads that interest me, and some others too who do not choose to not to post, but choose to view and vote.

[cclc1976]

I buy and sell on ebay. I have had 2 Non Payers in the last week. Despite sending an invoice and then opening the unpaid item dispute the buyer is able to maintain a 100% feedback score. Even though they committed to pay. Its just such a waste of time having to follow this rude and thoughtless behaviour up. There is zero communication from them, I have to admit I was shocked by this. If I commit to buy then I do just that. I don't make a buyer wait for their payment, or come up with a flimsy excuse eg. I don't have transport to get to the bank. I find it puzzling why anyone would bid or Buy It Now when they don't have the funds to pay. You wouldn't go in to a shop and give anyone that rubbish. Anyway, rant over. Someone also said that it is part of selling on ebay and one should just move on, so quite right. I can at least block that buyer from buying any of my items, and also make my conditions clear in my descriptions. Glad to have the space to discuss these issues.

[***super_nova***]

I buy and sell on ebay. I have had 2 Non Payers in the last week. Despite sending an invoice and then opening the unpaid item dispute the buyer is able to maintain a 100% feedback score.

when you close the NPB case they will get a strike, you will get the FVF back and it all has nothing to do with FB 🙂

[thecatspjs]

I think that the poster has clearly identified that, in their opinion, it does has to do with feedback - as the buyer maintains a 100% feedback score

I agree cclc - at a minimum the number of NP strikes an ebayer has received could show on their buying history - similar to the way the number of bid retractions show - easy peasy !!

IMO this would be a simple, transparent improvement to the NP system and may serve as a deterrent to some pressing buy-it-now or bidding, if their non-payment strikes were visible.  

Would it discourage buyers ?  Mmmm ... I don't think the vast majority of buyers who pay would be too fussed about such a system being introduced.

[silversterio2]

patchoo78'

"If there is less than 12 hours before the auction ends, then the seller can't end an auction or cancel a bid"

A seller can cancel bids at any time including within the last 12 hours.