posted on February 22, 2001 10:36:58 PM new
My experience is that AW has got a whole lot "kinder and gentler" than when I joined a couple of years back.
Situations like this tend to bring out strong emotions in buyers and sellers alike.
Discussion is good, whether or not we all agree with the way it goes. In the end usually everyone settles down and hopefully goes away with a bit more knowledge.
posted on February 22, 2001 10:55:51 PM new
brigette,
**if you wish to cancel your AuctionWatch membership, you can email [email protected]. We would like you to reconsider, of course. Not all threads are like this, but it does happen.
The thread got nasty, I won't disagree. I moderated as I saw fit.
To Everyone,
My post to lock the thread by 6pm was premature as there seemed to be much interest in this topic.
The thread has redeeming qualities as has been pointed out and the direction it is taking is much healthier. I have decided to leave it open.
Joice
Moderator.
**Clarity
[ edited by joice on Feb 22, 2001 10:57 PM ]
posted on February 22, 2001 11:41:21 PM new
I think leaving a negative in a situation such as this was a little harsh.
I feel that the seller would have benefited more by a kind-but-honest e-mail explaining what needed to be improved, and why ... rather than being left a negative out of the blue, and without having a chance to address the problem first.
Not everyone is a natural-born "packager" and may not realize how rough the post office can be on packages. For new sellers, it's hard to imagine all the perils that the package could possibly encounter, such as accidentally being left out in the rain, etc. That doesn't excuse bad packaging, of course, but perhaps the seller just didn't realize he/she needed to waterproof it or use more bubble wrap (or whatever). The seller may have been MORE than willing to do this, if he/she had known what the buyer expected.
If the buyer had contacted the seller after receiving the package, and the seller absolutely refused to even consider any suggestions, I might see where a neutral could be justified. But not a negative. Not when the item was received in good condition.
Leaving a negative turned what could have been a good learning experience into a disappointing experience for both the buyer and the seller. Yes, the seller may have made a mistake, but the book DID arrive okay, and I can't see damaging their reputation as a seller if he/she is willing to consider helpful suggestions to avoid problems like this in the future.
I have to ask: If packaging was so important, why didn't the buyer contact the seller before bidding (or at least before the item was shipped) and discuss how the item was to be packaged?
posted on February 23, 2001 12:28:45 AM new
I lean more towards education rather than punishment. You email the seller and tell them about possible water damage, bent corners etc. and protect the item well to prevent this sort of damage. Even if he's been told before, reputition helps for it to sink in and consider it again. Punishment usually has a way of being counterproductive.
posted on February 23, 2001 01:13:16 AM new
Okay, I saw this thread and I thought...okay, bully the low feedback guy.
Not nice.
No answer to the double standard question posed.
Not nice.
Insinuate posters can't think or read.
Not nice.
But, finally I think that it's petty and unnecessary. You know it. A low feedback anything (seller/bidder) feels the kiss of death against a phat feedbacker negging them.
You negged because you could.
If you had 27 feedback, and the 500 feedback seller had not left you his feedback yet, I am sure the neg wouldn't have happened.
As far as kindness goes, Brigette, this thread would not have gotten six pages long without some major ugliness in 1999. As irksome as this thread is, it only goes to show hubris more than anything else.
I also think that an email would be much more appropriate. I have handheld some newbies. I have helped sellers figure out what they had, so they could amend an auction even though I had no interest in bidding. I love seeing some of the cool stuff on ebay out in the universe.
I think EG's observations are right on, because a double standard exists, incarnate, and it's a hard sell to admit the truth to yourself.
Finally, I would echo Amy's acute wisdom, imagining you are the be all and end all of an idea or method is flawed.
Anyhow, would like to hear from the seller...who if it were me I'd be mad, mortified and melancholy over being dumped on like that.
So the best thing....Stand by your feedback, but don't use it as a weapon.
(I have gotten photocopied manuals on cameras worth three times the price of the gun and was greatful for those)
(or is it grateful??? argh)
[ edited by Capriole on Feb 23, 2001 01:15 AM ]
posted on February 23, 2001 04:18:11 AM new
FWIW the seller told me that he prefers to keep business matters between himself and the bidder. I already accepted his apology in the matter. That was the main reason why I requested the thread be closed yesterday. I haven't seen anything much that warrants continuance. I hope the moderator would be so considerate as to wrap this one up.
IMHO bidders (and sellers) often choose to leave eBay because feedback has become mainly a "thank you for the biz", rather than an honest evaluation of effort. Some of the other feedback systems have more latitude for adjustment, rating scale, explanation and response. eBay's system shortcircuits that in what appears to be mainly a preservation of bandwith and lower maintenanance cost.
