ebay sellers and buyers...

[gonefishin]

...I know there are a few on this board who buy and sell things on ebay. So do I...and I get some great deals, although from time to time I still get a little nervous.

My question is...How much weight do you give someone with only a few remarks? I've seen many sellers say they won't even accept bids from someone without "X" number of comments under their name.

I have bought several things off ebay...and EVERY time I win an auction I try and get an e-mail out to the person selling the item as fast as possible...I'm not talking fast within a day or two...I'm talking about as soon as the auction ends. I then state that I have won your bid...I include my address and ask for his/her address, a total and if a MO is good for them. Once I get the total, their name an address...either that day or the next I will get the MO sent to them...but before sending it...I usually scan in the Money Order, which has their name on it, and send them a jpg via e-mail.

Well, almost all my transactions have gone smooth...very smooth. The last item was not really as described (it didn't run) but ended up getting fixed(at no cost). Ok...back to the point. I've only got (4) comments under my ebay moniker! I refuse to ask people to please leave me a positive comment. I haven't bought a ton...but I should have way more than (4).

I guess I shouldn't really complain...I haven't had anyone actually say they won't accept my bid(even if this was stated in their auction) But I have heard many complain about bidders with only a few coments...I ask...what does it matter :dunno:

well...thanks fer listening...I just wondered what other ebay users think about this.

[Wardsweb]

You have hit the nail on the head. If everyone I have left feedback for had left me feedback, mine would almost be double. You have a couple of choices. It is OK once all is said and done to email the person and ask politely for some feedback. I tell them I have left you positive feedback and would appreciate the same - thanks. Then there is always the option of not leaving feedback until they do, but if they are waiting on you, then you will both wait forever.:(

[grumpy]

Feedback is a real touchy subject. Yes I sell a bunch but I think its rediculous to limit bidders for their lack of feedback. I do get a bit worried when I see the shades and they have a zero rating but thats the chance you take. As a seller I appreciate how you handle yourself when you win an auction. Not many people go through the trouble to even write me a quick not with their address. I am guilty also for not leaving feedback on occasion but its only when I am the buyer. I leave feedback regardless of how the transaction went when I am the seller. The last time I did not leave feedback was a guy sold me some JBL brochures on a set of speakers and neglected to say that they had pen writing on them. I mentioned it to him and he did not even bother responding.My suggestion is if there is something you really want to bid on and the seller states a min of feedback required to bid is just to drop them a quick polite note asking their permission. I think you would find that just by doing this you will be surprised that they will oblige you.

Dave

[Don]

You should at least try to get 10 so you can use the buy it now feature. Go back to your last 6 or 8 transactions (if they were within 90 days) and email those ebayers. Ask them to please leave you feedback. State that you either already have or soon will leave it for them.

Feedback is key ...buying or selling on ebay. Get 10 and then don't worry about it anymore.

I put in my auction fine print that I will not leave feedback unless it is first left for me. There's just too many people who have 500+ feedbacks that have only left 15 or 20. That's just not fair.

[thoots]

Don,

There you go again:

I put in my auction fine print that I will not leave feedback unless it is first left for me.

Boy, I just can't believe how diametrically opposed your views are to mine and a lot of other folks I know.

Bottom line, if a seller gets his money within the time frame mentioned in the auction, he should leave positive feedback for the buyer. Right there and then upon receipt of the money.

As a buyer, I won't leave feedback for a buyer who won't acknowledge my prompt payment with positive feedback. End of story.

Once again, you have judged the other party "guilty" before the transaction has even begun. I don't know -- to me, you're setting up an adversarial relationship before the transaction even begins, rather than proceeding with an attitude of good faith and courtesy toward your buyers. I would imagine that plenty of folks would take some kind of mild offense to that stipulation in your auctions....

[Don]

thoots, I had two ebayers back out of auctions they won just today. One was for $260+. So, do me a favor and stick that "good faith garbage" and the "adversarial relationship" crap up your kazoo.

[Lefty]

I'm pretty much a casual E-bayer. Probably bought 75 items and
only received 45 feedbacks. Sometimes I e-mail them a reminder for them to post feedback but never more then once. I have sold about 5 items and left feedback as soon as I recevied the funds and shipped the item, they fullfilled their part so I left positive feedback without waiting. I know I always apprechated sellers that post feedback upon receiving my funds, show class.

Now I know their are a ton of a$$hole buyers out there that abuse the sellers and try and hold them up at times so I don't expect anyone to feel the same as me. If I had burned as much as some I'm sure I would have a different opinion.

[thoots]

Don,

You reap what you sow.

[Don]

if that were the case I'd be a millionaire by now.:p:

[jay]

Steady, Don

Thoots' point is merely that there is another way of looking at a sale--namely that the buyer has arbitrarily decided to favor me the seller with his business and what probably amounts to a significant chunk of his after-tax income.

That sort of decision ought to be honored. Believe me, I do honor anyone who wants to give me money!!

IMO I OWE feedback on a sale, in equal proportion to both the buyer and my fellow ebayers who may have to deal with this guy in the future. Besides, I rely on the feedbacks left by others. It's intended as a means of reducing uncertainty.

Stated simply, all ebayers NEED accurate info on our trading partners and we have no other low cost way to evaluate the reliability of the other party than feedback.

It's all we've got. Don't despise it. Make it count.......

Jay

[thoots]

Jay,

Well said. :p:

Don, the difference between you and me is that you are demanding that people leave you feedback. I try to earn positive feedback, by giving the buyer an honest auction, with high-quality pictures that allow him to determine the condition of the item, then following through with a smooth, fast transaction during which I ship as soon as I possibly can, and insist upon packaging the item in truly UPS-survivable packaging. I don't use "hyperbole" in my auctions, and I describe exactly how I will package the item. In fact, I usually take pictures of the packing process, so the buyer can SEE what he's getting.

I leave positive feedback immediately after the buyer pays, and I think him for his prompt payment. Then I tell him that I'll send the item out straight away, and that I have packed it just as if it was something I would be receiving myself. I never ask the buyer to "return the favor" and leave feedback for me. Instead, I tell him how I believe I have crafted a truly UPS-resistant package, and ask him to please let me know the item survived the trip when it gets to him.

I have never had a deadbeat, and most of my transactions have been very fast, smooth, professional deals. I have had a couple where the other guy was a bit less than talkative, or less than super-fast with his side of the transaction, but nothing has been outside of a "reasonable" transaction. And, while not every one has left feedback, most have left me very fine feedback. That's the way it goes at eBay-land.

All I can tell you is that my approach has worked very well for me. You, on the other hand, seem to have had more problems than virtually every eBay seller I know, combined. I offer this as "constructive criticism," but you might consider changing your approach. I definitely do believe that your actions have a substantial amount to do with the problems you have had. For instance, I think your auction text saying that you won't leave feedback until feedback is left for you is a horrifyingly awful thing to do. I can just imagine lots of guys seeing that and going, "Oh, please!!!" and walking straight away from you. Geez, what kind of low self-esteem do you have to have to put up with that kind of abuse from a seller? All I can tell you is that, if you're going to treat your buyers like dogs, don't be surprised if you attract a pack of dogs.

Anyway, you might try to relax about the feedback, and consider just busting your butt trying to earn some. Then, maybe you might try trusting your buyers just a little bit, rather than expecting each one to screw you over. Then, consider having just a little bit of patience, and not going ballistic if you don't hear from the buyer within the first ten minutes after the end of the auction. OK, so I'm being a little sarcastic here, but I find it just unbelievable to hear of some of the "written fistfights" you have gotten into with some of your buyers within the first day or two after your auctions.

In the end -- and this is the most amazing thing -- comprehend that you are the seller. YOU are in control over the transaction. If the buyer doesn't come through, you don't send the item. Put "pay within ten days" in your auction text, and then if you don't get the dough within ten days, relist the item. Simple. The only thing you really can't control is the feedback, which seems to be something you are virtually obscenely obsessed with! Just relax, try to do a good job, and let the feedbacks come when and if they come. I swear, this ultra-demanding insistence upon the feedback may well have everything to do with all the trouble you've been having!

Anyway, that's how I see these things, and I do offer my views with sincere interest in helping you avoid the problems you continue to describe with your eBay dealings. I hope you'll give them at least a little thought.

[gonefishin]

Thanks for all the feedback guys. I know I could request feedback from the seller...but I refuse to do that. How I look at it is that the seller is taking a little more of a risk than the buyer(tho the buyer has some risk too) and I try to help make as smooth as a transaction as possible. Just keep in mind when your selling an item...you may have a good buyer that doesn't have alot of feedback.
The reason why I asked the question is...well, very few people have left feedback for me...and I recently had a $500.00 item that was not as described. Now, everything ended up fine...and working good after about 6 hours of work...but the seller made a note that this wasn't a problem in his description. So my thought was to leave feedack which was neutral...but I've seen to many people live negative feedback in retaliation. Now I would have five positive comments and one negative...and I have just seen too many people put too much emphasis on feedback. So, I chose not to leave any feedback at all.

again...thanks all!

[jay]

GoneF,

I know from whence you come....I too have bought things that were just a bit less than advertised.

The very first thing to do in that case is to figure out Whodunnit.

If it was shipping damage then obviously it's not the sellers' fault unless it was packed poorly.

If it was not described accurately, then say as much to the seller--politely. You'd be amazed at what a dignified tone will do.

As an example, I recently used BIN to buy a TOTL Sony 7800SD receiver. It was described as "perfect" and "fully tested". When I got it I checked it out and found that it had a number of flaws that weren't readily discernable. I emailed the seller, told him of the problems and how I relied on his exemplary feedback record and solid reputation when I bought the thing. I then closed by asking him to undo the deal. He did, and paid the shipping (50 bucks!) both ways! I came out completely whole, because I was dealing with an honorable seller who valued his reputation. I ended up giving him a pos. feedback for that. He earned it!
As for me, he left no feedback. Do I care? No. He was surely annoyed at the undone deal and lost $$ and it was enough for me that he performed where it counted--the money!!

Sorry to go on, I hope this helps,

Jay;)

[thoots]

Jay,

Good story! Once again, well done! :p:

[Kamakiri]

Guys, I'm locking this thread. Debate, even heated debate, is good, but I'm not going to see this thread topic turn around into the ugliness that it did on AU.