posted on November 16, 2000 06:39:18 PM
I am a relatively new ebayer. I have 32 positive feedbacks, but I have over 50 successful auctions. I am diligent about giving feedback in a timely fashion. What can I do to get people to return the favor? I don't want to come across as a "feedback junkie", but I know that more feedback improves my credibility. Does anyone have suggestions? Is it ok to email the seller to request feedback? Thanks, all.
posted on November 16, 2000 06:55:29 PM
well im in about the same shape as you I have only 9 feed back after nearly 8 months selling on ebay I have sold many items.
I just takem as they come feed back dont really improve your credibilty if you watch on this board you will see as it comes up time and time again.
people are for ever saying more times then not the high the feed back the worse the seller the more jaded they believe they are.
sometimes you will see them say I swear the higher the feed back the slower they are sending replys and items, and the list goes on so more feed back dont always mean better http://www.Dman-N-Company.com
posted on November 16, 2000 08:11:55 PM
When I first started selling on ebay a couple of years back my feedback was all from buying items from other sellers.I had around 30 positives. I ran into the same thing as frosty until I started including a short handwritten note with all packages telling the bidder I appreciated their payment and telling them I had left positive feedback to reflect that appreciation. Then I simply say I hope you will leave positive feedback for me when you receive your item. It's still no guarantee of course but my feedback has grown to over 500 and I really believe this simple note helped make the difference. Some people of course just rarely leave feedback even if they are extremely happy with their purchase.
James
posted on November 16, 2000 08:33:24 PM
If your a seller , try this
I have left feedback for you on ebay. I hope you will like your purchase, please drop me a line or leave feedback so I will know that your item was received and arrived safely. Thats the only way I know the transaction was actually completed!
Most actually do leave feedback and usually pretty promptly also. Some just drop a note but about 75% do post feedback, I think thats about average
posted on November 17, 2000 03:28:22 AM
Don't worry about it. YOu are running 60%, which is probably above average.
My % is higher than most (80%), perhaps because my emails are personalized (generated by eBud, but I add text) AND I leave feedback when I ship, and send a "it's shipped" email that lets the buyer know payment recieved, product shipped, FB left.
posted on November 17, 2000 11:53:49 AM
As a SELLER; In my "Thank you for Funds Received" Email, I mention that I ship PROMPTLY and I LEAVE FEEDBACK...
As BUYER: In my acknowledgement of seller's EOA, I mention that I pay promtly and I LEAVE FEEDBACK.
When I see either a new SELLER or a new BIDDER, I enclose this link, with easy instructions: (sorry, cannot make it clickable, as it is an Ebay link)
posted on November 17, 2000 12:33:43 PM
i have purchased over 500 items on ebay, paying for every single auction within several days. it is my opinion that the seller has an obligation to leave positive feedback when funds are cleared. it is my obligation as a buyer to leave positive feedback when the item arrives in condition as promised. my feedback rating is less than 300 which means over 200 sellers did not care enough to leave feedback. i no longer leave feedback unless the seller does it first. as positive feedback is generally more important to a seller, it is self-defeating for a seller not to leave feedback first. i guess that sellers with a high rating just do not care anymore. for me it is just a matter of principle.
posted on November 17, 2000 01:38:18 PMstusi...I too, love getting a nice feedback...but in all fairness, I cannot say it is a Seller/Bidder obligation...it is strictly a voluntary thingy...You are right, tho....Too bad so many users do not see it fit to leave them, or at least, reciprocate...About a 2/3 return seem to be the expectation...
My pet peeve is to see very high feedback received, yet find less than a hand-full, if any, left....
I guess we have to content ourselves with self-administered pat on the back for a job well done
******************** Gosh Shosh!
posted on November 17, 2000 07:08:54 PM
Thanks for all your great suggestions. I have tried the adding notes to the items I sell, but alas, it falls on deaf eyes. Oh well. I like the email idea, so I think I'll try that next. Thanks everyone for their inputs!!
posted on November 17, 2000 09:07:24 PM
I have been told by more then two other sellers, that they will NEVER leave feedback first, because it is a buffer against receiving negs.
If a bidder knows that you get the last shot, they don't fire first.
I do not subscribe to this way of thinking, but some, and I am sure many, others do.
posted on November 17, 2000 09:36:21 PM
Pocono, is 100% correct. Many just won't leave it till they see yours. I'm ALWAYS suspicious of sellers that are waiting for my feedback first or state(hard to believe this but I been victim to this,several times) that they will NOT leave feedback until I ,the buyer have. I have never repeat bought from these people (obviously).This is what has driven some buyers (I know they are many other reasons) away from eBay, Poor sellers who use feedback as a threat,and have NO sense of customer service (people they can get great bad service at the Mall, and it's even up close and personal). I have worked to Upgrade my service even further (and state this in my auctions) to seperate myself from a lot of my mediocre competitors, but the bidders at times seem to have flown the coop ,Oh well, maybe they will come back someday.
posted on November 17, 2000 09:52:32 PM
My feedback % is 85%. I am mostly a seller.
I sent my items and leave feedback the same day as payment is received and sent out an e-mail to the buyer at the same time, telling him/her that payment arrived, item was shipped and feedback was left ( I leave feedback for every single transaction even with multiple purchases). I always write a little handwritten note to the buyer, thanking them for their business and that they hopefully enjoy their purchase; and I ask them to please leave feedback if they were satisfied. I believe if the service is right and the buyer is satisfied mostly the feedback will follow.
I as a seller usually contact my buyers within minutes (longest 2 hours) after auctions ended and most buyers find that alone very impressive.
But also as a Buyer my principle is to mail payment right after the auction ended and the seller contacted me.
I always leave feedback, even if the seller does not give me any!
Sometimes that might even trigger some feedback from those sellers, because they might have plainly forgotten.
posted on November 17, 2000 09:55:35 PM
I think that frosty' feedback return is great - I've never counted total successful auctions versus feedback, but I know mine is lower than that. The ones that do leave it are glowing, though, so I can't complain.
As a seller, I always leave feedback when I ship. The buyer has done their part and sent me the moolah - I won't hold it hostage or as a guarantee against a neg. I know that it would upset me greatly to be burned by that, but I really feel that if they kept their end of the bargain, it's a done deal.
And mother always taught me to be careful what you ask for - maybe they are just so-so about what they received and if you ask for it - you may just get a neutral or a neg! (I would hope they would email with complaints, but I know that usually doesn't happen).
posted on November 19, 2000 07:06:23 PM
oh that's so funny what you said about maybe the buyer wasn't too thrilled with what they got..that's EXACTLY what i think when I don't get a feedback from them. So I guess I really don't push the envelope...thanks!!
posted on November 19, 2000 07:17:09 PM
Believe it or not, some people can't figure out how to leave feedback and find the procedure very confusing or time consuming. I personally know someone who had to ask me for instructions on how to do it, and they thought it was very complicated to even find the area on ebay to do this. I suppose that some people who don't spend a lot of time on ebay might find it not too user-friendly.
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