People won't leave me eBay feedback!

[Courtesy Flush]

This is frustrating. I'm selling stuff for a friend. I make a small commission, but I really would like the added feedback numbers. That's part of the reason I agreed to do it in the first place.

When an item sells, and the buyer pays, I immediately leave positive feedback for him (or her). But so far, of the three completed auctions, I've only gotten one feedback. The one guy who left feedback also failed to do so until I emailed him about it.

I've sent two emails to one guy, and one to the latest one. UPS tracking shows that items were delivered on time, and no one has contacted me about any problems... so why no feedback?

My partner suggested that I not leave feedback until after I receive mine. I don't like that idea for two reasons. First, when I receive payment, the buyer has completed his end of the bargain, and deserves his feedback. Second, I don't want to end up in a standoff with someone who wants his feedback first.

Any suggestions?

[auntAgonist]

1. human nature

people are quicker to complain than to praise. It's been my experience on ebay as well.

Keep up with the good service. When you bill, or receive payment add a friendly reminder that you would like feedback, positive or otherwise.

aA

[Bunny]

2. I recently bought two things on e-bay, from two different sellers.

It's the first time I've ever bought anything there. I paid instantly, using Paypal. I received receipt of my payments within minutes of buying the items.

This was at the beginning of July, and to date neither person has given me feedback. I refuse to leave any for them because they didn't leave any for me, and, as you said, I completed my end of the bargain instantly. There was nothing for them to do but give me positive feedback, and they didn't.

They both already have 99.9% positive feedback (which is the main reason I bought from them), so I imagine there is no real incentive on their part to worry about my paltry little feedback. But since they're my first purchases, I'd appreciate some positive marks from the sellers.

[Shakespeare]

3. When I sell to low-feedback (newbie) buyers....

...I go out of my way to make sure I leave them feedback so that their numbers go up. That's pretty bad if neither seller left feedback for you. I buy more than I sell on eBay, but I always try to remember to complete my feedback--it's bad eBay etiquette to do otherwise.

[Bunny]

4. That's nice of you. Do you think I should leave them feedback

and mention that they did not return the favor, or is that considered poor form?

[Shakespeare]

6. no, definitely don't do that

Never use feedback to lash out at somebody; negatives should be used for legitimately bad transactions. If you haven't already done so, maybe try sending a friendly email noting that you're new and have low feedback, and that you'd really appreciate it if they left feedback for you now that the transaction has been satisfactorily completed.

[Bunny]

7. Okay, thanks for the advice. The whole e-bay thing is new and

weird to me, and I'm not sure if I'll buy from there again, but I appreciate the heads-up. I don't want to commit a faux-pas! :)

[ComerPerro]

5. Fuck eBay. Seriously.

I sold exactly two things there a while back. Both items were as pictured and promised and in good shape, both arrived on time.

One guy left no feedback, and the other left negative feedback, claiming that I didn't send the item advertised, that I overcharged for shipping, and that it took too long to get there.


Screw that shit.