They need to do something about the whole feedback issue anyways. I got a negative the other day because I questioned why I paid $4.50 for an item that cost $2.42 to send (and I'm being generous and allowing $1 for the paper mailer). He changed his story a few times, but eventually he said:



Paypal fee: .72

eBay fee: .55



Anyways, he decided to give me a negative and I had told him I wasn't leaving ANY feedback! Naturally I responded in kind, and am taking the extra measure of reporting his "paypal fee" to eBay, since it is against eBay policy to charge a Paypal fee to winning bidders, and no fee was mentioned.

Not a bad idea that Cougarrinard has.  It helps in preventing a buyer from giving negative feedback for a trivial reason.  Seems to me that people sometimes get awfully trigger-happy with the negatives.  They are supposed to be used as a last resort when no other solution can be agreed upon.



I've found that most sellers, if given the chance, will make a situation right rather than sustain a negative "hit".  Cougarrinard has nothing to gain by giving a customer a negative unless the customer did something that warranted it.  He's been doing the ebay thing for a long time.  Plus he wants the business again!



Just my 2-cents.

If there are two areas on ebay that are guaranteed to provoke discussion, it's feedback and shipping charges!



I sell very little so neither is an issue for me, but I'll share my views - as a seller I leave feedback when I know the buyer is happy with the item. Usually that's when I see feedback from the buyer indicating this, but it can also be through email - a couple of times I've received an email saying thanks for the item, and I'll then go leave feedback for them. I just feel that after I receive the money and post the item off, there are still many ways for the transaction to go south. Like if I've described the item as being in 'very good' condition, which on my scale is no rips, no writing, nothing missing, and all books/covers in reasonably good condition (ie it probably has a couple of scuff marks, wear on the spine, maybe a corner fold)... it's possible that the buyer's idea of VGC is substantially different to mine and when he gets the item, he's unhappy and starts demanding all sorts of recompense.



I only ever charge actual shipping - whatever I pay for stamps and bubble wrap envelopes. But I don't have a problem with those who add a couple of bucks for handling - it's their choice. I PREFER to buy from sellers who only charge actual shipping, but if I buy from a seller who charges handling, I just factor it in to my bid price - eg if an item is worth $20 to me, and I see in the auction the seller is charging $6 for shipping when I know the postage will run to $2-3, my max bid will be $17.



What I don't like is those buyers who request feedback from you after they've paid.... they email something like "I just deposited $xx into your account, so please leave me positive feedback for being such a smug prick".



Regards



Mike

Badmike wrote:As a frequent Ebay seller (five years and +2500 feedback) I have done best by having standardized shipping fees rather than actual fees.

As a side note, I'd like to commend Mike (and not because he is of Italian descent   ) for his efficient and reliable selling system. I am always extremely careful when doing non EBay transaction (hey, no protection!), but I must say Mike is very good.

Hi All,



if something gets lost in the post, what has that to do with how the buyer performed?



Cheers,

malcolm

tec-9-7 wrote:

nn wrote:I thought it was normal for the buyer to give positive feedback before the the seller. The transaction isnt complete until the seller has the goods, giving feedback on receiving payment seems premature. What if it gets lost in the post?

I'm going to TOTALLY disagree with this notion.  The feedback the seller leaves is based upon whether the buyer has communicated promptly and clearly, and whether the buyer paid in a timely manner - these are the duties of the buyer!  If the buyer does these things, they deserve positive feedback.  They Seller has a much higher burden, and the buyer leaving positive feedback should have ZERO bearing on what feedback the seller leaves.



When I sell on ebay, I leave feedback immediately upon receiving payment - when that happens, the buyer has fulfilled his part of the contract and deserves positive feedback.  As a buyer, I expect feedback within a day or so of paying.



Paul

I agree with Paul 100%, and that is how I also do business.  When I buy an item and send the payment promptly, I've done my part...now the seller needs to do his and get me the item.  I won't do repeat business with sellers who won't leave feedback until I leave them feedback first.



Mike B.

My point has nothing to do with not wanting to go first with feedback.



Its that the transaction is not over until the buyer has confirmed safe receipt of the goods.



What if the seller does everything right but Mr. Postman screws up, and then the buyer throws a hissy fit and gives negative feedback for non-delivery?

Ok then, how about



1. buyer confirms receipt

2. seller gives +ve feedback

3. buyer gives +ve feedback

foster1969 wrote:nn:



I would have to agree with you, and strongly disagree that payment is the buyer's only duty in the transaction.



I don't think the transaction is over until the buyer e-mails you to tell you the item is received in the condition specified in the auction.  If a seller waits until the buyer acknowledges proper receipt of the item, it makes it much more likely that the buyer will contact the seller to let them know if there are problems and try to work the situation out.  If the seller has already given positive feedback, the buyer has no reason not to just leave a negative for the hell of it.  I don't see anything wrong with waiting to give positive until the buyer receives the item and indicates, through e-mail that they are satisfied with the item.  At that point, the seller should be the first to leave the positive.



Just my 2 cents...  

In 5 years of selling on Ebay, I find buyers very seldom leave negative feedback "for the hell of it".  Usually the seller has screwed things up somehow.  I do ask all my buyers to let me know when the item arrives, but that is mostly for bookkeeping purposes, I don't make that contingent on feedback. However, I don't have any problems with your method (waiting for buyer to acknowledge receipt before leaving feedback).  I do have problems with the seller that won't, after recieving my payment, bother to send feedback until I leave him positive feedback after recieving the item (whether or not I'm satisfied with the product/service, although my threshold is actually pretty low for satisfaction).  

  BTW, if you want to post deserved negative feedback, but don't want unwarranted retalitory feedback, use the method I always use:  On Ebay You can leave feedback for up to 90 days, count ahead on your calender and leave feedback after 89 days and 20-23 hours...the deserving recipient will rarely have time to retaliate before his window of opportunity for leaving feedback is cut off entirely, and has likely completely forgotten the transaction anyway.



Mike B.