posted on May 27, 2001 08:50:04 AM
Does Ebay feedback really tell the true history of a buyer or seller? When I look at feedback and see all positive, or only one or two questionable, I tend to trust that person. But I really don't think that the feedback necessarily paints a true picture. People are afraid to give negatives - and if they do, it's usually only when they've been totally offended by the seller or buyer - or, very rarely, just some obnoxious flamer having 'fun'.
When I see someone with hundreds of positives and 10 or more negatives, I do take the time to scroll down to the negs. Sometimes a pattern emerges. Are things 'lost in the mail' a lot. Is slow delivery the main complaint. Or the responses obnoxious or threatening? A couple of negatives are to be expected - I look for patterns. And a few brave people who aren't afraid to give the true story. Buyers and sellers, do everyone a favour - post ACCURATE feedback. Don't do rote positive if the transaction had problems. At least give a 'neutral'. If you get a negative in response - respond with the facts! I tend to look at the feedback of the person giving the negatives. And then consider the source. Be honest in your feedback, perhaps they'll clean up their act.
posted on May 27, 2001 08:58:33 AM
No I think feed back dont always tell the true story but I beleave you have it wrong.
I think 99% of the time you see a positive feed back it usually an honest postive.
the times feed back dont tell the real story is neg feed back from emotional buyers who over react and leave nasty feed back before writeing and trying to work thing out with the seller frist.
and also buyer and sellers who dont leave feed back at all the storyies are never heard at all for good or bad.
I have been selling on ebay for over a year I have sold hundereds of item sucessfully got great email feed back on a sale but my feed back rate is way under 50% .
I have sold well over 500 items have a feed back of 62.
have got hundereds of thankyou emails love your item great packageing and service no feed back left on ebay.
posted on May 27, 2001 09:14:11 AM
I agree. Feedback does not tell the story. I have seen many feedback ratings where everything seemingly goes fine for a year, then suddenly it is as if the person was struck mentally ill and they have turned into a no-shipping money-receiving seller. You never know when it might hit. And with my luck, it is usually when I bid. You bring the balls and I'll bring the bat!!
posted on May 27, 2001 09:28:01 AM
I wonder how we can get HONEST feedback? Get Ebay to send reminders after 3 weeks? I agree that a lot of buyers and sellers neglect to leave positive feedback. Perhaps if there was an automatic email every time you receive a positive - with a link that goes straight to the feedback section to allow you to leave feedback in return? hmmm...
Of course, I believe that people are much less inclined to leave something neutral or negative, so LACK of feedback may show a problem. Or - maybe there's just a lot of rude people out there who don't know how to say 'thank you'.
posted on May 27, 2001 12:31:33 PM
In a word...NO...there are too many buyers that don't read the TOS, then aren't happy afterwards. also, some sellers with 100 plus feedback that take your money and run..no answer to emails from myself, ebay, or paypal.
my solution; buy less thru auctions..drive to walmart and save some headaches..
Actually your statement is not true there is far far less problem with buyers and sellers then some make it out to be.
there are up words of 4 to 5 million auction listed on ebay every day last year the FBI web site and other agency reported receiveing 70 thousand complaint about online fraud not all were online auctions and not all that were auctions were about ebay.
of these complaints they looked into 30% were found to be false reports or complaint that were more or less buyer remorse no fraud or crime involved.
Calulate the percentage of complaints its far better then for the brick and morter type buying.
just happen to see these facts and numbers in the paper over last week.
Not to mention when you get in your car and head off for walmarts you give up one headache for another.
