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)

[hannah.granat]

It's hard to say, what exactly would be a reasonable window of payment (Paypal takes 3 - 5) days to clear a bank transfer and some sellers have their preferences set to an e-cheque which, again, takes some time to clear)?

I had a situation where a seller had gone on holidays at the time I had made an order and I wasn't actually able to confirm a payment until the seller had set shipping charges to my region, normally I pay instantly, but as it took 2 weeks for a reply I had to wait before clearing the payment by e-cheque through paypal (which added a further week). If there were an automated 'non payment' system I'd end up with a bad seller rating by default in that situation.

So there really is no perfect fix for every situation.

As for negative feedback, there are some sellers (and buyers) who use that maliciously. I think there should be a voluntary system for buyers to flag a user, which can then go through a review process.

[***super_nova***]

As for negative feedback, there are some sellers (and buyers) who use that maliciously. I think there should be a voluntary system for buyers to flag a user, which can then go through a review process.

that is just not going to happen; eBay is a computer program, what you suggest would have to be reviewed by human beings.  The reason we can list and sell for so little is because we, the users do it all ourselves, all eBay has to do is to maintain the site.  To employ staff to review every non payer would be too expensive.

So some people do not like the system, tough luck, that is what eBay is offering, it is their business, they make the decisions, it is up to us to work with what is on offer or find a better place.

I wish the mods would lock this topic; it has been done to death 🙂

[thecatspjs]

always happy when posterscomment and bump - more votes received over Australia Day weekend, so only done to death for some 😛

[pak335]

Buyers piss me off on regular basis. I check theyr feedback (100% one) and see "positive" feedbacks like "NO PAYMENT".

But eBay  does not care. They treat sellers as garbage.

[davewil1964]

Once again - read the thread. There are tools provided by eBay to deal with serial non-payers - use them.

Or go elsewhere, There are plenty of sites that allow sellers to leave negative feedback for buyers. If you can get buyers.

[thecatspjs]

and more polling ... :-x:-x

100% feedback for NP buyers, no matter how many strikes ??? mmm not a real good tool - lol

Not sure why some don't go elsewhere off this thread ?:|?:|-  no matter what - all opinions count on discussion boards not just a few - including those interested in casting their vote on the poll 

[***super_nova***]

and more polling ... :-x:-x

100% feedback for NP buyers, no matter how many strikes ??? mmm not a real good tool - lol

Not sure why some don't go elsewhere off this thread ?:|?:|-  no matter what - all opinions count on discussion boards not just a few - including those interested in casting their vote on the poll 

450  out of many millions of people who use eBay?  And most of those who are for NEGs for non payers here on this thread are people with 10 sales LOL

[thecatspjs]

lol 😄  all opinions on the discussion boards are valid, whether they are reflected in a small poll or posted comments

IMO -  one of the things the poll reveals is that there are actually a lot more discussion board visitors that differ in opinion with a few posters who might sometimes think that their opinion may reflect a larger majority than it does 🙂

[digital*ghost]

IMO -  one of the things the poll reveals is that there are actually a lot more discussion board visitors that differ in opinion with a few posters who might sometimes think that their opinion may reflect a larger majority than it does 🙂

Perhaps, but it is still not an accurate reflection of views in general. For that to be possible, a survey would need to be closed for comment, given to a broader spectrum of members, not just those that come to the selling board looking to complain about NPBs, and worded in a different way (as has been explained or suggested very early on in this particular thread, this one is both tainted and swayed - for anyone that wants to know why, just read this wiki entry on self-selecting bias). 

To help avoid that phenomenon, and gain a more accurate reflection of the views of the general eBaying community, I would personally suggest a poll question along the lines of the following:

What action, if any, should be taken against members who do not pay for a purchase? With a variety of options available that include 'No Action' and the current available actions. 

Now, I for one do not see the sense in the continual re-surfacing of a poll that fails to take into account that there are other options people might want to choose and claiming it's relevant just because some people agree with the current, rather limited options, but, you know... that's just "one voice", so carry on I guess. 

[thecatspjs]

Yes, DG I agree a poll with an improved question and broader options would be better,

I will leave it to others to come up with it, as this thread and the issues it relates to, and continues to raise, interest me.