General Etiquette > Techno-quette

Ebay feedback – getting to be so touchy now??

(1/7) > >>

kingsrings:
I just bought an item from Ebay two weeks ago. It was the first Ebay purchase I had made in over two years. My transaction went absolutely fine, and I had no problems that were the seller’s fault. However, when I viewed the invoice that came with my item, there was a disclaimer about leaving feedback for the seller. It was polite, but kind of intimidated me. It basically said how vitally important leaving feedback was to the seller’s business, and how anything less than five stars would severely negatively impact her overall score, and thus her business. It said to PLEASE discuss with her any problems if one doesn’t want to give her anything less than five stars. It honestly kind of came across like a thinly veiled threat toward anyone who would dare mark her less than five stars.

When I’ve made Ebay purchases in the past, I certainly don’t remember anyone being so touchy about feedback, or receiving any of these disclaimers or “rules” from the sellers. I’ve fortunately never had a problem with any of my Ebay purchases or any sellers, but I feel like I have the right to make any rating that I feel justified to without being intimidated or threatened by any sellers! (Note: I am not accusing this particular seller of doing that, I am just wondering how much more touchier other sellers on Ebay are nowadays). I have even heard of some sellers suing buyers who give them bad feedback! I understand this is their money-making business and why they’re obviously so passionate about it, but I think they’re taking their attitude it too far nowadays. I am kind of afraid to purchase anything else from Ebay now lest I be anything but five-star satisfied!!

Has anyone else ever experienced this with Ebay lately? And do you think it’s polite for sellers to include these “disclaimers”, or just plain bad business? 

alkira6:
I kind of take it with a grain of salt. I am an ebay buyer and seller. Less than five stars can hurt your rating, especially if you are a new seller. *But* unfair feedback can be taken care of relatively easily. Be truthful, give the seller time to respond (don't send and e-mail and then rate them badly for not responding in half an hour), and please do make sure to send feedback. I personally don't buy from anyone with less than a 99% and I make sure to read feedback from the previous 6 months.

Twik:
I've got to admit, I didn't understand feedback until I read about it on this site (since I hadn't used eBay). Some people may well believe that 3/5 is "average", and a good score if nothing above and beyond the call of a regular seller was required. Now, as a buyer, I understand why a lot of "not fives" can make you very wary about using a seller.

Hopefully, the seller was trying to explain that 5 was for "no problems", not "reserved for when the seller gets out of her sickbed and drives the goods to the purchaser three states away, because the mail service won't get it there in less than 24 hours".

kingsrings:
I guess I just don't see anything quite wrong with receiving four out of five stars, that's close enough to a perfect five.

Virg:
I don't perceive that message as a threat, myself.  I see it more as a plea to address problems before leaving feedback so that "less than 5 stars" situations can be resolved to the point that buyers feel comfortable leaving full-positive feedback.  Given that feedback happens after the purchase and there's nothing to indicate that the seller will do anything after feedback is left, why would you see this comment as a threat?

Virg

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page