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Author
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Topic: eBay to ban negative seller views
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gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-05-2008 12:08 PM
   
Another well-thought-out ebay move:BBC: eBay to ban negative seller views quote:
From May, those selling on eBay will not be able to leave unfavourable or neutral messages about buyers.
Paul |
jut2y
Member Posts: 260
From: worthing west sussex united kingdom
Registered: Aug 2005
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posted 02-05-2008 12:16 PM
Paul, I guess it had to happen. It's probably an infringement on dodgy buyer/sellers human rights.Paul. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-05-2008 12:20 PM
eBay describes what is changing and why here. The changes to feedback effect more than just negative seller reviews: quote:
There are five key elements to the new Feedback system being introduced in the first half of 2008: - Beginning in February, buyers and sellers will be able to earn up to one Feedback per week from the same trading partner. Today, members may only affect each other's Feedback scores one time, regardless of the number of transactions between the parties. This change will both encourage repeat transactions and reward good service.
- Sellers will no longer be able to leave negative or neutral Feedback for buyers. This change will occur in May, 2008.
- Removal of negative and neutral Feedback left by members who are suspended or who fail to respond to the Unpaid Item Process (UPI).
- Positive Feedback percentage will be based on the past 12 months of Feedback, rather than lifetime, since it is most indicative of the seller's recent performance.
- Restrictions on when Feedback can be left:
- Buyers must wait three days before leaving negative or neutral Feedback for sellers with an established track record
- Instead of 90 days, members will be able to leave Feedback for 60 days
As to why they are making the change with regards to negative seller reviews: quote:
Since buyers take the primary risk in a transaction (sending money to a stranger), the goal of the Feedback system should be to enable them to accurately assess seller performance. This facilitates safe and satisfactory trading.When buyers receive negative Feedback, they reduce their activity in the marketplace, which in-turn harms all sellers. The threat of receiving retaliatory negative Feedback from sellers, prevents buyers from leaving honest feedback about sellers, undermining the accuracy and value of the Feedback system.
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Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-05-2008 02:38 PM
If sellers can't leave negative feedback, IMO more people won't leave [U]any[/U] feedback. Because how is leaving only positive feedback really "feedback" about a transaction? Notwithstanding my observances now that 1) some people look as feedback as a way to get external, personal self-worth and 2) WATTA ITEM!!!!!!!!!! A+++++++++++++++!!!!!!!!!!! doesn't really tell me how the transaction went... |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-06-2008 04:04 AM
quote:
4. Positive Feedback percentage will be based on the past 12 months of Feedback, rather than lifetime, since it is most indicative of the seller's recent performance.
This is THE only positive element of the move IMO. I have one negative in around 800 feedbacks - left by an impatient ****er who bought a $15 signature which never arrived and who declined compensation. Why should I, as a seller, be refused retaliatory feedback under such circumstances?Paul |
1202 Alarm
Member Posts: 436
From: Switzerland & France
Registered: Nov 2003
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posted 02-06-2008 05:48 AM
It's perfect!When I buy on eBay, and I pay right away, I used to have a good feedback from my seller, right away. It was circa. 1999-2000. And it was normal. After all, I paid, and my job as a buyer was over. If the seller was happy with me, he had gave me a good feedback. That worked. But now... gee... most sellers wait for OUR OWN feedback to THEM before leaving their note. Unbelievable... So if I'm unhappy and if I have the courage to leave a bad review, I'm always punished with the same (and then unfair) negativity. That was a complete joke. And obviously, since I wanted to keep my % high, I always left positive, even after very bad experiences. That will be over? Great. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 02-06-2008 07:44 AM
As a seller I have to say that I do exactly what's described above as "unbelievable" - I don't leave feedback until the buyer receives the item and lets me know (by contacting me or by leaving feedback). The transaction simply isn't over until that point for the seller or the buyer.The important thing of course is how a buyer responds to problems with a delivery and that's why the buyer's 'job' is not really over until the item arrives. If the item is held up by postal delay or by customs (can take a couple of weeks), or if the item is not really what the expected or not in the condition they expected that all has to be sorted out between the buyer and seller and feedback should only be left at the end of that process. My worst experience with feedback has been with Amazon Marketplace where they run effectively the same system as eBay is set to introduce (feedback to sellers only). I've sold much of my old CD collection this way (usually for peanuts) and occasionally a CD case is broken en route or the package held-up for some reason. If the buyer has half a brain cell they contact me and I refund them without a problem (since I make almost nothing anyway) but most of the time they slap a negative on me without even bothering to contact me, or to think 'Hey, maybe the fact that this package took two weeks to reach me isn't the seller's fault when the postmark clearly shows it was posted the day I placed my order.'. Grrrrr! |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 02-06-2008 07:44 AM
I think this skewed rationale says it all: quote:
When buyers receive negative Feedback, they reduce their activity in the marketplace, which in-turn harms all sellers.
...in other words eBay loses FEES. Don't let eBay get all altruistic about this.Paul |
medaris
Member Posts: 181
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 02-06-2008 07:47 AM
Tit for tat negative feedback annoys me as well. I sell surplus items on eBay now and again, however. You do get buyers who are simply unreasonable, and it can be very difficult or even impossible to resolve their concerns, despite your best efforts. I've tended to believe such individuals will be swamped by positive responses if you're offering a good service, so I'm not too worried - as long as buyers don't over-interpret the 0.3% of 99.7% positive! |
garymilgrom
Member Posts: 1966
From: Atlanta, GA
Registered: Feb 2007
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posted 02-06-2008 07:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by 1202 Alarm:
But now... gee... most sellers wait for OUR OWN feedback to THEM before leaving their note. Unbelievable...
1202 Alarm has hit the crux of this situation. If I pay within minutes of an auction ending, my job as buyer is done; and the seller should leave good feedback once they receive my money. As written above, if the object arrives broken or similarly poor condition and I can't reach a resolution with the seller, so after exhausting all avenues I leave negative (honest) feedback, why do they then leave negative (dishonest) feedback about me? My part of the transaction at this point is months old! |
biker123
Member Posts: 48
From: Palm Coast Fl. USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 02-06-2008 09:57 AM
I'd like to see eBay tweak their feedback process some more. For instance, in the last 5 years I've had 27 eBay transactions. Two were as a seller and the other 25 were as a buyer.
Both seller transactions received positive feedback and one of the buyer transactions received retaliatory negative feedback from a scam artist that I had promptly paid but who ignored all of my attempts to communicate with him. (He had the ba--- to accuse me of "using negative feedback as a communications tool") I currently have items for sale on eBay and under the "meet the seller" banner it shows my feedback as 95.5% positive. It's clear to me that as a seller my feedback is 100% positive, and the retaliatory feedback I received as a buyer is irrelevant and shouldn't be part of the calculation as a seller. Brian R. |
Wings4Flight
Member Posts: 89
From: Auburn, AL, USA
Registered: Dec 2007
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posted 02-06-2008 10:24 AM
I agree with some of what everyone is saying. I think that anyone who sells on ebay has at one time or another dealt with that one idiot who has no idea how negative feedback can impact a seller, or maybe they just don't care. Mine was a stupid half.com transaction where I sold a text book and it was damaged in shipping. The buyer never sent me a message giving me a chance to make it right they just left negative feedback. From a seller's perspective that is just plain wrong. I can't control what happens after I turn it over to USPS. As far as the buying perspective goes I never expect feedback to be left until after I have received the item, notified the seller of any problems, and given them an opportunity to resolve any issues that came up. My feedback is evaluating the entire transaction and the seller should have that same right.------------------
Aaron M. Lyon
www.wings4flight.com |
cddfspace
Member Posts: 609
From: Morris County, NJ, USA
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted 02-06-2008 12:27 PM
quote:
2. Sellers will no longer be able to leave negative or neutral Feedback for buyers. This change will occur in May, 2008.
What if a buyer does not pay? As a seller, you cannot leave negative feedback for someone not paying? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42988
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-06-2008 12:53 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cddfspace:
What if a buyer does not pay?
Under the new rules, eBay says the proper course of action is to report the buyer to them, and they will consider the appropriate disciplinary action(s). |
manilajim
Member Posts: 256
From: Bergenfield, NJ USA
Registered: May 2000
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posted 02-06-2008 01:33 PM
There needs to be some type of system whereby both seller and buyer are equally protected. For example, before negative feedback can be left by either party a series of steps or conditions need to have been taken to attempt to mediate the transaction prior to being able to leave the feedback. Otherwise, the buyer is getting a free pass at the sellers' expense. That's just my thought on this matter.
Best,
Jim Sigler |
gliderpilotuk
Member Posts: 3398
From: London, UK
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 05-16-2008 09:35 AM
Well, they've done it. quote:
Buyers, you can no longer receive negative or neutral Feedback from sellers. - You should leave honest and accurate Feedback without the fear of receiving negative or neutral ratings.
They also seem to have removed the % positive feedback figure and to have removed the exclusion of multiple feedback from single sellers as my feedback has leapt by 200+ positives!As previously discussed, I'm not sure how you hammer a slow or non-paying buyer. Paul |
Max Q
Member Posts: 399
From: Whyalla South Australia
Registered: Mar 2007
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posted 05-16-2008 09:36 AM
Ive often wondered about the way some Sellers work on eBay I pay within hours of the close of the sale 100% of the time but I get really annoyed when the sellers contact you and say we give good feed back when you leave Positive feedback. I for one don't get it Ive done my bit Ive paid they should leave feed back regardless.Sorry I am off my soapbox now. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3110
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
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posted 05-16-2008 09:36 AM
As an eBay seller I don't leave feedback for the buyer until the transaction is complete, that is to say the buyer has paid, I've shipped the item, the item has reached the buyer and the buyer is satisfied with the item.If there are any problems with the delivery or if the buyer is not happy with what they've received the transaction is not over until that's been resolved. That's why I don't leave feedback until I see that the buyer has done so. Their feedback is the indication that the transaction is completed. |
poofacio
Member Posts: 268
From: United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2006
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posted 05-16-2008 03:21 PM
This new system may work ok as of now but given a little time the bad buyers will realise they can take the p--s out of unfortunate sellers and be immune from any control. I have been looking at other online auctions. If enough people used them it would rid the world of the Ebay monopoly |
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