Ebay feedback rant

[Warner1281]

Just a stupid rant about the whole ebay feedback thing. For anyone who sells on ebay semi-regularly, you know that getting feedback on your auction is about a 50/50 chance. In an attempt to get feedback from people who would otherwise forget to leave feedback, I usually e-mail the buyer approx. 3-4 days after Delivery Confirmation shows that they receive said item. My e-mail usual reads as follows.

"Hello. I just wanted to thank you for your purchase of *item*. I noticed that you should have received *item* a couple of days ago (*specific date*). Assuming everything arrived as expected, I would appreciate it if you could leave me the appropriate feedback through ebay and, in response, I will do the same for you. Again, thank you for your purchase and I hope to do business with you again."

1 outta 5 times= positive feedback swapped.
2 outta 5 times= no response.
2 outta 5 times= An email from the buyer to the effect of, "Everything arrived great. You're doing a good job, keep it up."


WTF? I guess if you have no idea what the ebay feedback system is, then that would be the natural response. But seriously, some of these people actually have 10+ feedback (most have 0-5). It just boggles my mind. Anyone else have any idea how to ge feedback from some of these people that would otherwise not leave any? One idea I liked was I bought something off of ebay once and the lady that shipped it included a business card that said something to the effect of "The ebay feedback system is vital to my business. If you are happy with your purchase, please take the time to leave me feedback. Thanks."

[YoshiFan1]

Some buyers won't leave feedback until it is left for them first

Others don't care about feedback since if you are primarily a buyer, feedback means nothing

I think I average somewhere around 60% of people leaving feedback for items they bought for me and I never leave feedback first unless asked

There isn't much you can do and if you ask more than once, they could get annoyed and leave bad feedback.

[Vinny]

Yeah, it is kinda annoying but feedback is purely optional so they have a right not to give you feedback. Most of my buyers usually do but some don't.

[angrywolf]

I just started selling my stuff on eBay a couple of months ago. I would say about 25% of my auctions actually get any feedback. I never leave feedback until the buyer does the same (since that's when I consider the transaction as "complete"). If buyer doesn't leave any feedback, I assume he/she got the item(s) he/she bid on and is satisfied with the transaction. I just let it go. On the other hand, if buyer leaves feedback, I do the same afterwards. I think that's fair enough for me.

[judyjudyjudy]

Feedback is optional, so I don't think you can really do much more without being annoying. I think putting a note with the item is a good idea, or putting a message on the invoice if you put invoices in with your items. Not only can you remind them that if they're happy, they can leave you feedback, you can also remind them to contact you first if they have any problems with the item. You don't have to remind people through email (which folks may find annoying), and everyone gets one, so it doesn't seem like you're singling anybody out.

[Kendro]

It used to bother me a lot when I first started selling but now it is a minor annoyance. Once I receive 50 positives, I won't care anymore. So far I have received 38 positives, 0 negatives, and left 46 for others. So in other words, I have about an 83% chance of receiving feedback (though it could be higher because I just sold items that haven't reached the recipients).

I always leave feedback first just to give them a "nudge." It has worked because 2 buyers who had like 5 feedback but never left any for sellers actually left me positive feedback. I'll continue to leave first until I come across the inevitable a-hole who will leave a negative for no reason at all.

[coolsteel]

Been selling for years, basically once I got past 100 feedback I completely stopped caring and don't leave it until I get feedback first. So how is that working out? I find that basically for those that care sooner or later, may it be two months down the line they'll leave feedback, the rest let it go and that doesn't bother me a bit. I mean come on as long as you're keeping up a 90 percent rating and up thats all that really matters.

[CGH]

I stopped asking for feedback when I got a neg from a buyer after I asked him for feedback now I never mention feedback at all and I always leave feedback after feedback has been left for me if I am the seller. Not receiving feedback used to bug me now I just let it go no feedback is better than negative feedback.

[angrywolf]

I always leave feedback first just to give them a "nudge." It has worked because 2 buyers who had like 5 feedback but never left any for sellers actually left me positive feedback.
mmm...maybe this is the reason why nobody ever leaves me feedback! :lol: I never do it first as a seller. Oh well, that's fine with me, I have about 20 positive feedback and zero negative. That's good enough for me.

[sasukekun]

As a seller... I dont leave feedback until it is left for me. It's a way to know the customer is happy with his/her product.

As a buyer... I leave feedback once I received and have tested the item for a day or 2 before I leave feedback.

[nativetongue88]

who really cares about feedback? as long as you have a good percent it doesnt matter.

[fatbeer]

I understand what are you talking about!It's true,there is 50/50 chance a buyer might leave you feedback.Lost over 200+ feedback due to this problem.I tryed the method "please leave feedback after a sucessfull tranaction" in auction description,that didn't help.I tried taking that away,got same results.My friend suggest same idea of leaving buiness card inside package,but i figure it not worth it for couple messly feedback.
High feedback doesn't mean that much,feedback response left by others are more important

[DFC222]

only half of my customers leave feedback, wheeas i always leave feedback

[zionoverfire]

Feedback really isn't that important to most people and ebay doesn't exactly go out of their way to promote its use either.

[Kendro]

Kinda off-topic but I feel feedback is more important on CAG than on eBay. And some CAGs don't (or forget to) leave feedback as well so it isn't just exclusive to eBay.