I'm having a problem with a seller right now too. This guy is really getting to me. First of all, I payed immediately after the auction ended (why not? gonna have to pay sooner or later anyways, right?), which was 12 February. He hasn't left feedback, and I *STILL* haven't received the item yet. I'm not so concerned that I don't have the item yet, but he refuses to leave feedback until I leave feedback for him. This will almost surely guarantee negative left for me in retaliation, even if mine is left in a respectful, professional manner. He even sent me this email when I asked him to leave me some feedback...
> My email <
Well in all honesty, as my part of the deal has been fulfilled, in my opinion, as a seller you should leave feedback as soon as you receive payment on the item. As a buyer, it is my responsibility to leave feedback upon receiving the product in the condition as described in the description.
> His reply <
I have had users that have frauded me + then left negative feedback well after the payment was made. This is why I only post postive feedback when a succesfull transaction is completed (you are happy).
Thanks
xxxx
As a buyer with only 4 comments to my name, I can't really afford a negative. I wouldn't be so worried if I was one of the big boys with 2,000 plus comments.
I can definitely understand a seller’s reluctance in leaving the first feedback. There are some buyers that will leave a neg for no apparent reason, although, in most cases, I suspect the buyer has justified, to them self, leaving a neg.
A neg can impact a seller’s business (actually cut down on their profit). I was talking to a seller who has 500+ positives and 1 (count them – one) negative. He recently got an email questioning him about the neg as the buyer was reluctant to bid on someone with ONE neg. Although it was obvious that the problem encountered by the neg-leaving-buyer was an exceptional case, it may have caused this seller some income. This buyer was new to ebay, and they didn’t bid.
On the other hand, I think that anyone with a perfect high score is asking for trouble. It’s a given that it’s impossible to please all the people all the time. To be able to accomplish that, at some point, requires a policy that regardless, the buyer must be appeased. I believe some buyers sense that when they see a seller with a perfect score. It just takes too much time and effort to satisfy everyone.
It’s a mistake to run one’s business to handle the small minority of customers. To deal with the most troublesome 5% of the population costs a heck of a lot more time/money than the least most troublesome 5%. Personally, I’d rather find some way to encourage that troublesome 5% to my competition (but give the other 95% the red carpet). With my competition’s current 5%, plus my 5%, pretty soon my competition will only have troublesome customers.
I’m of the opinion that squeaky wheels should NOT always get oiled – sometimes they need to be replaced.
A neg can impact a seller’s business (actually cut down on their profit). I was talking to a seller who has 500+ positives and 1 (count them – one) negative. He recently got an email questioning him about the neg as the buyer was reluctant to bid on someone with ONE neg. Although it was obvious that the problem encountered by the neg-leaving-buyer was an exceptional case, it may have caused this seller some income. This buyer was new to ebay, and they didn’t bid.
On the other hand, I think that anyone with a perfect high score is asking for trouble. It’s a given that it’s impossible to please all the people all the time. To be able to accomplish that, at some point, requires a policy that regardless, the buyer must be appeased. I believe some buyers sense that when they see a seller with a perfect score. It just takes too much time and effort to satisfy everyone.
It’s a mistake to run one’s business to handle the small minority of customers. To deal with the most troublesome 5% of the population costs a heck of a lot more time/money than the least most troublesome 5%. Personally, I’d rather find some way to encourage that troublesome 5% to my competition (but give the other 95% the red carpet). With my competition’s current 5%, plus my 5%, pretty soon my competition will only have troublesome customers.
I’m of the opinion that squeaky wheels should NOT always get oiled – sometimes they need to be replaced.
USAFjetdriver,
The seller might be a decent person. You can check to see if he is the first to leave negs (decent uncertain), or only responds to those that leave him negs (decent more certain). You can use this service to help determine:
http://www.toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs
In any case, I’d not leave a feedback until after I had received the item.
P.S. Most of these things work out for the best.
The seller might be a decent person. You can check to see if he is the first to leave negs (decent uncertain), or only responds to those that leave him negs (decent more certain). You can use this service to help determine:
http://www.toolhaus.org/cgi-bin/negs
In any case, I’d not leave a feedback until after I had received the item.
P.S. Most of these things work out for the best.
Well, my point still stands. As soon as a buyer's obligation has been fulfilled, the seller should leave feedback; the main purpose being that other sellers want to know what kind of timeline to expect for a payment from that particular buyer.
Now, as far as leaving neg FB for no reason, I have seen a few auctions now that request that the buyer contact the seller if there are any probs before leaving neg feedback. I think that's the way to go. I have done this with an ebay company who (probably accidentally) sent me the wrong item. Why not give them a fair chance to help me out first?
I see where you're coming from Rick, but it still just illustrates that sellers use FB as a way to blackmail their buyers into leaving positive FB.
Now, as far as leaving neg FB for no reason, I have seen a few auctions now that request that the buyer contact the seller if there are any probs before leaving neg feedback. I think that's the way to go. I have done this with an ebay company who (probably accidentally) sent me the wrong item. Why not give them a fair chance to help me out first?
I see where you're coming from Rick, but it still just illustrates that sellers use FB as a way to blackmail their buyers into leaving positive FB.
This may sound like I’m contradicting myself, but what you said in that quote is my approach as a buyer. If the seller doesn’t leave feedback, I don’t. About half the times (a month or two after the auction) when it’s obvious I don’t have any problems, the seller will leave me a feedback (I think they are fishing for a positive from me, which will usually work on me).quote:Originally posted by USAFjetdriver:
As soon as a buyer's obligation has been fulfilled, the seller should leave feedback.
Couldn’t agree more. Communicates doesn’t guarantee a successful resolution to any problem, but the lack of it surely guarantees an unsuccessful one.quote:Originally posted by USAFjetdriver:
I have seen a few auctions now that request that the buyer contact the seller if there are any probs before leaving neg feedback. I think that's the way to go. I have done this with an ebay company who (probably accidentally) sent me the wrong item. Why not give them a fair chance to help me out first?
Unfortunately, sellers often view things the same way. So, without a little trust on someone’s part, no one would ever leave feedback. Personally, I alternate between seeing the seller’s feedback viewpoint and the buyer’s.quote:Originally posted by USAFjetdriver:
I see where you're coming from Rick, but it still just illustrates that sellers use FB as a way to blackmail their buyers into leaving positive FB.
My experience, and what I’ve gathered from this forum – most of the people (that includes sellers) are decent and honest. The seller has some goodies they want to get rid of, and the buyer wants to get some goodies.
quote:Originally posted by Rick:
This may sound like I’m contradicting myself, but what you said in that quote is my approach as a buyer. If the seller doesn’t leave feedback, I don’t. About half the times (a month or two after the auction) when it’s obvious I don’t have any problems, the seller will leave me a feedback (I think they are fishing for a positive from me, which will usually work on me).
I like that idea. I suppose right now, this guy's only negative is that the shipping *seems* a little slow, but as I look at the calendar, it is probably reasonable ... not enough to leave a neg. The only other thing is that he refuses to leave a pos. for me (I literally paid within the half hour of the auction ending), so maybe I will use the Rick Strategy and just not leave him any at all.
Think about giving it a little more time (say a week) for the merchandise to be delivered.quote:Originally posted by USAFjetdriver:
I like that idea. I suppose right now, this guy's only negative is that the shipping *seems* a little slow, but as I look at the calendar, it is probably reasonable ... not enough to leave a neg.
If someone asked me to leave feedback before they did, I’d be a little reluctant (I don’t like it when they “suggest” it as standard text in their email). Also, consider that now he might be even more paranoid about leaving you feedback until you do. And, since you only have 4 feedbacks, it’s somewhat hard for him to predict your response.
Like I said, I can understand the seller’s reluctance. And believe me, I understand where you’re coming from. Just like you, I usually pay them within minutes of the closing.quote:Originally posted by USAFjetdriver:
The only other thing is that he refuses to leave a pos. for me (I literally paid within the half hour of the auction ending)
I got my first neg after about 100 positives. At the time I thought ebay would outcast me and I would have a big red N painted on me. Now, 100 is a lot more than 4, and at 4 it would probably be wise to avoid getting a neg. But, when I got mine, nothing happened. The earth didn’t swallow me. In fact, one seller that I dealt with a lot, left a positive saying the other seller was a jerk (or something like that).
USAFjetdriver;
Firstly, this matter of when feedback is due has been a bone of contention for quite some time now.
Like yourself, and many others, I believe a buyer has fulfilled their end of the bargain once payment is made in good time and in full. The seller admits this by the fact that they then post the item.
Too many sellers are now insisting on providing feedback only after the buyer posts theirs and all will state that it's because they've been shafted in the past.
However, no matter what spin they put on it, they are indulging in blackmail, pure and simple, reserving the ability (but not the right) to retailiate for negative comments and holding that over the buyers head.
Remember, it's you, the buyer, who is taking the greatest risk in any transaction on eBay - why should not the seller take a certain amount of risk as well?
From your first comments I feel you have a good sense of fair play and honest dealing and it's unfortunate that you've struck this attitude in a seller so soon. As you say, many sellers can afford the odd neg. (even if it's undeserved) and in some cases it'd make a 0.001 difference to their FB number, yet they still insist on the seller posting first.
If you do get a neg. on this one you'll just have to accept it and put it down to experience, but don't let it dissuade you from being honest. - at least your comments might save someone else from getting caught in the same trap.
GG
"Heavy Metal or no metal at all!"
Firstly, this matter of when feedback is due has been a bone of contention for quite some time now.
Like yourself, and many others, I believe a buyer has fulfilled their end of the bargain once payment is made in good time and in full. The seller admits this by the fact that they then post the item.
Too many sellers are now insisting on providing feedback only after the buyer posts theirs and all will state that it's because they've been shafted in the past.
However, no matter what spin they put on it, they are indulging in blackmail, pure and simple, reserving the ability (but not the right) to retailiate for negative comments and holding that over the buyers head.
Remember, it's you, the buyer, who is taking the greatest risk in any transaction on eBay - why should not the seller take a certain amount of risk as well?
From your first comments I feel you have a good sense of fair play and honest dealing and it's unfortunate that you've struck this attitude in a seller so soon. As you say, many sellers can afford the odd neg. (even if it's undeserved) and in some cases it'd make a 0.001 difference to their FB number, yet they still insist on the seller posting first.
If you do get a neg. on this one you'll just have to accept it and put it down to experience, but don't let it dissuade you from being honest. - at least your comments might save someone else from getting caught in the same trap.
GG
"Heavy Metal or no metal at all!"
quote:I will use the Rick Strategy and just not leave him any at all
I just think this is all too silly! I stand pat that I leave a feedback for a buyer as soon as he pays and I leave feedback for a seller as soon as the product arrives. What they do is their business. To leave feedback is not written in stone, but just good honest curtious business.
Silly? I think it's Nobel Prize material (without the explosion).quote:Originally posted by Serenity:
I just think this is all too silly!
Why not have a system where feedback is left but not posted right away for lets say 30 days. A buyer or seller only has 30 days in which to enter a feedback which no one will see until that 30 days is up. That way neither the buyer or seller will feel "blackmailed" into leaving a positive. Once the 30 days is up the feedback will be posted for all to see. This tit for tat thing is wrong and should stop. Maybe it needs to be longer than 30 days, maybe 45 or even 60. I don't know but I think something like this could work. Any ideas?
It might increase the number of negatives people leave. Without the “tit for tat” there are some that might be more “reckless” in leaving negatives.
And, since a lot of people are into instant gratification, waiting 30 days might drive them crazy.
And, since a lot of people are into instant gratification, waiting 30 days might drive them crazy.
I had a buyer who never paid and left me a negitive.I left her one after she left me one,I thought I was being a nice person not leaving a negitive and then she left me one.She then sent me a bunch of harassing emails.I think that why a lot of sellers wait now.
You sure get excited over new rocks...you don't like old ones? 
Where do they make new rocks these days? In a 'rockery' maybe?
GG
GG
LMAO.quote:Originally posted by Serenity:
You sure get excited over new rocks...you don't like old ones?
A convent for your rocks.quote:Originally posted by Gardengnome:
In a 'rockery' maybe?
P.S. LMRsO!
quote:Where do they make new rocks these days? In a 'rockery' maybe?
GG, do I need to tell you about the "rocky" birds and the bees?
A ballery must be where one keeps their balls.
LM*sO!quote:Originally posted by Serenity:
GG, do I need to tell you about the "rocky" birds and the bees?
G'night?
You mean like when a mummy rock and a daddy rock get together and want to hear the patter of tiny gravel?
GG
GG
You're becoming quite the punster. I like it!quote:Originally posted by Gardengnome:
You mean like when a mummy rock and a daddy rock get together and want to hear the patter of tiny gravel?
GG
Uhh, well, GG, not sure we should discuss it in mixed company! Some might think we are stoned or is that rolling stones?!
Rock On!
GG
GG
>> This kind of rocking? <<quote:Originally posted by Gardengnome:
Rock On!
Ah! The old days - been there; done that.