posted on November 29, 2000 09:22:53 PM new
I posted feedback for several completed transactions this afternoon, and sent feedback reminders for those buyers who hadn't left feedback yet. Eleven hours later, I get this letter from one buyer:
"I did receive the XYZ, it looks very good. I don't understand the Feedback
Reminder though, did you leave feedback for me? When I receive payment
from my Bidders, I leave feedback first, because in all fairness, they paid
first. When I make a purchase, then I expect the Seller to leave me
feedback. Not imply that I should leave it for them first. Well at any
rate, I do appreciate the service."
"Have a great evening."
Gee, have I been dissed or what? So much for the "glowing praise" I left her in feedback.
posted on November 29, 2000 10:56:05 PM new
You are saying that you already left feedback for the transaction and emailed for like and they refused to because they were unaware of your feedback? Is this right,Do I have this straight??
posted on November 30, 2000 12:44:06 AM new
Obviously, some time passed between the time you received payment and the time you left feedback, since the buyer had already received the item. I'd guess that the buyer checked her feedback when she received the item, saw that you hadn't left any, and assumed you were playing the "you first" game. She didn't check her feedback again after receiving the e-mail, but assumed you still hadn't posted any.
I ask buyers to leave feedback in my "item shipped" notice, and enclose a printed request in the package. Basically, I say "I've left positive feedback for you. If you're happy, I hope you'll leave feedback for me. If thee's a problem, please contact me so I can fix it."
Any "reminder" beyond that I would personally find annoying. Feedback isn't a debt that must be paid.
posted on November 30, 2000 01:30:07 AM new
I consider leaving feedback a matter of personal choice. I don't think it should be forced on anyone or "friendly" reminders sent to people that don't leave it.
I recently saw a sellers feedback that had 3 negatives. All were from people that were annoyed that she solicted them for feedback.
One negative said:
"ASKED FOR FEEDBACK! HERE IT IS : I HATE PEOPLE THAT BEG FOR FEEDBACK".
posted on November 30, 2000 03:49:14 AM new
I have to agree on this. Don't ask for feedback in "reminder" emails. Mention that you appreciate feedback from satisfied buyers in your "item has shipped" email and then drop it. The line in my email says, "I have left feedback for you, and appreciate feedback from satisfied buyers. This also lets me know that the package arrived safely."
I get about 75% return feedback, and I've never once reminded, prodded, asked, begged, or threatened those who haven't left it. I figure, I got paid, that is the motivation for selling, not a comment on a screen.
posted on November 30, 2000 04:05:35 AM new
I agree with Meya, when I ship I email them and tell them I have shipped and left feedback for them. I don't mention leaving it for me but most of the time they do.
posted on November 30, 2000 07:59:27 AM new
macandjan,
You are so right! Why is everybody so defensive? I made a totally innocuous remark on a thread recently which anybody
with a sense of humor would appreciate but
guess what happened!
I think that Meya's suggestion and others
to just mention it in the email is the best way to handle it.
posted on November 30, 2000 08:29:59 AM new
Thanks for the comments. They will definitely be taken into consideration.
To answer Booksbooksbooks, it was 10 days from the time that I received payment, shipped the item, and posted feedback to the buyer. I assumed that the shipment had been recveived by then. In this case I specifically reminded the buyer about feedback because at the time of payment, she had emphatically asked me to post feedback, and stated that she would do the same for me. I guess it often comes down to "who goes first".
Usually, in the case of small $ auctions, I leave feedback upon receipt of payment. With my larger auctions, I prefer that the buyer contact me to let me know that they are happy with the item, and then I post feedback.
Regarding the case cited by Grumpyebayer, I would think that this is a gross misuse of the feedback feature. No, it's not a buyer's obligation to leave feedback, but neither is it the seller's. But due to the nature of internet auctioning, feedback is the ONLY means availabe to verify the credibility of the buyer or seller, and from what I've seen seller's are getting the worst end of the deal. This comes again to the ongoing misuse of the feedback feature by both parties.
posted on November 30, 2000 08:41:33 AM new
HJW, you're so right. I wasn't trying to slam this poor buyer, I just thought it was rather bizarre. Mind you this lady left me glowing feedback this morning (all caps too), stating that my service was excellent and that she will definitely buy from me again. Now she has written me wanting to know if I'm going to be expanding my business anytime soon, how long I've been eBaying, and what my gender is!
What I do find conflictual in this thread is that it sounds like some of you are using Auction Manager for post-sales managment. On another thread that I'd posted a few days back, most sellers indicated that they preferred not to use Auction Manager because a lot of buyer's don't like to click yet another button, or leave personal information at yet another internet site. What gives?
posted on November 30, 2000 04:01:33 PM new
I don't think I would neg someone for asking for feedback unless they kept doing it.
I don't think it is an abuse of the system to neg them. How the seller behaves is part of the transaction and if she keeps asking for feedback, the buyer is justified in leaving a negative if the requests bother him.
Taking it to the extreme: If a seller called you at your home or work and asked for feedback, would you be angry? Many people treat email the same way they treat phone calls. Multiple emails is the same as harrasing calls to them.
I have rarely seen someone negged for asking for feedback. She had 3 negs from different users. It would appear that her method of asking for feedback is annoying.
