Something is odd here.

[TPCShauna]

I think I must be missing something with the whole ebay feedback process. I figured it was a step-by-step kind of thing. If I am selling something, I leave feedback when the buyer pays me because that is the first step and then they leave feedback when they receive the item. Likewise, when I am buying something, I wait until I receive the item to leave feedback as I need to comment on shipping and packaging.

Here's my confusion. I just bought a new cart on ebay. I paid immediately upon the end of the auction. As in; I refreshed, the screen said I won, and I hit pay now. It was seriously not even 30 seconds. The seller has already shipped the item and today I receive an email from her thanking me for the purchase and letting me know she will be happy to leave positive feedback after I do the same for her.

What is wrong with this picture? Am I missing something? Shouldn't the ball be in her court first? I'm so irritated by this that I am considering not leaving feedback at all. I know in the scheme of things it's a petty annoyance but I'm grouchy and this is just one more thing that ticked me off.

So am I not understanding this? What do y'all think?

 

[calanniebu]

I have had a few sellers do that recently, so unfortunately I think people "can" do it. I think there were a few sellers that got burned by putting feedback in once the item was shipped and paid for. So now they wait till the buyer receives the item and then posts their feedback.

 

[Diana Lyn]

The last 3 things I've bought on ebay this has happened to me. The first two times I chalked it up to I genuinely forgot to leave feedback and they were pointing it out to me, I didn't realize they hadn't left my feedback yet. But just today I got another one.

I think this is also in part why ebay is changing their feedback policies now. It's getting to be the sellers are holding feedback to make sure the buyer doesn't leave a neg, so they can leave a neg in "retaliation".

 

[Faerie]

I hate sellers that do that and because of that I don't leave them feedback. I did my end of things Why do you have to wait for me to see what I'll say? As long as I paid within your guidelines, you (please know this is a generic "you" to all sellers) should leave me positive feedback. Sellers sometimes annoy me. But then I get an awesome one, I bought grungeboard and then got a paypal refund for $1.50. I was confused and then saw her note - Shipping was less than I charged you so here is the difference. Have a great day. I was SHOCKED! and then I wished there was something better than positive feedback I could have given her

 

[TPCShauna]

I'm sure it is "allowed". It just seems ridiculous. I agree with you Faerie - I've paid within your timeline (faster as a matter of fact) so my part is done. It is time for you to acknowledge that.

I will email her when I get the cart but I'll not be putting up feedback until she does. She could totally look at my feedback and see that I have never given a negative. I have done one neutral because I bought something from a seller, got no communication for 5 days and then a refund with a note saying they didn't have the item. I didn't think a negative was appropriate because I was at least given the refund in a timely manner but I felt that the situation should be noted somewhere. My feedback as a seller AND buyer is 100% so I just don't get why she is being weird about it.

Faerie - Your seller is awesome. Very cool!

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

I've noticed that ALL the sellers I've dealt with in the past year do NOT leave feedback until I do. Not one has left feedback before me.
I don't sell. But I'm guessing it is the need to keep the negative feedback option open, but I think read were sellers can no longer even give negative feedback. That makes no sense at all to me.

 

[marlynnp]

Because you have not "done your part" as soon as you've paid.

Experienced sellers will not leave feedback until the transaction is complete.

That means you have received your item and you have communicated to the seller that you have and are satisfied. If you are not satisfied for any reason you should give the seller the chance to rectify that. However, a large numbers of buyers (especially inexperienced ones) will just neg a seller rather than communicate any disatisfaction.

Another thing to keep in mind is that busy sellers have their feedback automated. There is a program that will automatically respond with a 'canned' message and positive feedback after feedback is received from the buyer.

The bottom line is what are you buying??? Widgets or Feedback? If you don't like it just don't participate in the feedback system.

 

[ddavis860]

I've gotten those letters too for a while. Leave me feedback and I'll leave you feedback. I have been a buyer and a seller...small one for both, and been on eBay for years.

I didn't realize there was a program for feedback...so it's generated after feedback is left? Wow, they think of everything....

I will say I appreciate the ones that send an email saying it's shipped, and that have good communication with me. And I prefer the ones that leave feedback as soon as I pay, because it's usually instant like Shauna does...

 

[AlexWyattMommy]

The bottom line is what are you buying??? Widgets or Feedback? If you don't like it just don't participate in the feedback system.

I have some pretty stinkin expensive feedback.


So what happens now for the seller? Now that they can not leave negative feedback. We all must have read the horror stories over on the community & budget boards about the seller who gets the buyer from nutsoville. Paypal already sides with the buyer on most instances. Who sticks up for the seller?

I am so all about fair play. I don't sell. I don't intend to sell. But I sure want the seller to be able to have a fair shake

 

[TPCShauna]

I have the option to leave neg. feedback as a seller. I have only done so for one person who bid on an item and then disappeared off the face of the planet. I had my fees refunded when I relisted but I was still given the option of warning other sellers. The person still hasn't been back.

Yes, I am buying a widget but ebay runs on a feedback system. I still feel it is "playing fair" for the seller to post feedback after I pay for an item. I can understand your point about wanting to make sure that I am satisfied as the buyer so I did email her to let her know that I received the item and was happy with the transaction. If she still chooses not to leave feedback, she won't be getting any from me as I have now done everything I am supposed to.