Hand written note with an Ebay purchase

[Whiskeinthejar]

I recently got my first ever negative feedback on Ebay after years of selling. Difficult buyer, long story. I'm just a private seller so I only sell a few items. I was worried it would affect my sales, but actually since then I've sold several items so maybe people aren't so bothered after all. It's frustrating though because none of these buyers have left me any feedback, which I could really have done with at the moment to dilute the bad one a bit.

As not many buyers leave feedback these days, I was looking through the Ebay forums to find some advice about getting more buyers to leave feedback, especially as pressing people for feedback is precarious and people can react negatively. One of the suggestions was to include a hand-written note with the item, saying thanks so much for buying, and I'd be so grateful if you could leave feedback as I really appreciate it etc.

How would you really feel if you received one? I'm not really sure if people really would appreciate that personal touch. I can see the potential for people to feel a bit weirded out by it, and it could feel a bit intrusive. Online selling has become so impersonal that I think I'd wonder what was going on.

I buy and sell. I send notes that are handwritten, they're not OTT, it's just a scribble on a piece of paper saying "enclosed is your (item name), thanks for buying." I don't ask about feedback, but I don't give feedback until/unless I receive it. That can be a big motivator for some people.
I've had three negatives over a 15-year career and I always balance them out by buying some stuff from sellers who definitely leave feedback before I sell anything else.

Years ago, I used to leave feedback on eBay. It was the only place where feedback seemed to exist. Now I have feedback fatigue - it's not just eBay but if I look at somewhere on Tripadvisor, I get automated emails asking if I'd been and to leave a review; if I book tickets to anything, I get asked to leave a review; if I buy from Amazon, I'm asked to leave a review ... I tend not to leave feedback anywhere now unless buying a bespoke, handmade item. It's feedback fatigue, that's all.

I sell a few items each week and buy a few each month. As a buyer I would feel a bit "meh" about a note and it would not make me feel like leaving feedback, emails asking me to leave feedback actively make me not do so. I leave feedback in batches like other posters but it tends to be the same short phrase pasted unless it was something I was extremely pleased with. This morning I received an item that I bought yesterday at 3pm for example and it was great and really well packaged.
Ebay do "adjust" your ratings (remove poor reviews) when you reach a certain level.

I don't leave feedback until I receive mine. That way it's more likely to receive feedback.

I don't understand buyers who expect sellers to leave feedback first. When a buyer leaves feedback, it means the parcel has arrived and all is well. If I leave feedback first as a seller, how do I know you're not going to turn around next week and suddenly claim you haven't received the item?

Can only speak for self... any review site (Amazon, tripadvisor, Ebay) I only look at the negative feedback & decide if it makes any sense. often people complain about things that are silly, or that I would never be bothered by.

You can respond to feedback if I recall, OP. Just keep it factual about the efforts you made to fix the situation.

I don't think there's anything that you can do. I have in the past rang eBay about negative feedback and they've managed to remove it, because the buyer was just being an unreasonable tit. Maybe you can try that?

When ebay started you used to send cash in the post (USD). Lots of people sent notes/letters because they tend to be collectors of similar items.

These days it is rare.

I have 6000+ feedback but don't leave it any more as it is pointless- you cant leave negative as a seller so why bother.

I very rarely leave feed back , I'm probably too lazy or busy . The exception being If there is a problem that needs resolving and the seller is fair I will leave good feedback stating this or if there is a problem and the seller is deliberately an arse about it I will leave feedback accordingly

I have had occasional notes included but just dispose of it with the wrapping never thought anything about them tbh

i sell for a cat charity on ebay and probably sell around 60 - 70 items a month and i dont push for feedback so out of average 15 items a week sent i get around 3 feedbacks from buyers, so overall people dont do feedback any more

Ive only rarely had a note left, it doesn't bother me either way. I've had sweets a couple of times which I felt was a nice touch. I'm more impressed by my items being sent promptly and packaged well/nicely tbh.
I only buy on eBay. I always leave feedback good or bad, I use it to gauge a sellers reliability so I think it's important.
I always pay straight away, so I think I should be left feedback first (although it doesn't bother me) as I've kept to my side of the contract and can't have done anymore. Private sellers seem to be leaving feedback increasingly less.

I always pay straight away, so I think I should be left feedback first (although it doesn't bother me) as I've kept to my side of the contract and can't have done anymore. Private sellers seem to be leaving feedback increasingly less.

I sell everything on Buy It Now, so everyone pays straight away!

If you find that private sellers don't leave you feedback, it's usually because they're waiting for you to leave feedback first, because they want to know if you've actually received the parcel.

I run an eBay business. Bad feedback never bothers me. Sales tend to go up rather than down if I get a neg, don't know why

What was the feedback for? If it's unfair and untrue, eBay WILL remove it for you. If it is for a fair reason, just be more careful/clear/quick (delete as applicable) next time.

I've only recently started selling a few bits, and discovered that eBay withhold your money for 28 days as a new seller, unless you've had positive feedback on the item, then they will shorten the period to release funds. So yes, I did enclose a note to ask if they were happy would they please give feedback, and got both good feedback and nice messages back. I did sell nice reasonably priced stuff though, packed well and sent quickly

I wish people would leave feedback

I am mostly a buyer on ebay, only very occasionally a seller.

Assuming no issues that require negative feedback

As a seller: I leave feedback once payment is received, I send one message saying something along the lines of 'thanks for your purchase/hope you enjoy' and do not mention feedback.

As a buyer: I don't leave feedback until the seller has.
One request to leave feedback (either in the package or by email not both) is viewed dimly but doesn't effect my response, multiple requests means no feedback.
I also do not automatically leave negative feedback if there is a problem (lost in the post/not as described/incorrect item sent) so long as the seller has actually tried to help and not just assumed I'm lying.

98-99% and I don't look further, 100% and I check to make sure that all the previous transactions aren't '1p for email' feedback generators, 85-97% and I check the reviews, a single negative wouldn't put me off, neither would 2-3 spaced out time wise, though how the seller responds to that feedback is important.
Multiple removed feedback makes me suspicious and I'm wary if an account looks like it has been sold/hacked (occasional 2nd hand items from a family home to bulk/repeat listings of new/high value items) I'm unlikely to look at anything over £5 total if the person is a first time seller, I'm also not likely to bid/buy on an item if the picture is just pulled off Google.

I sell the odd item on eBay so not a professional seller. When buyers don’t leave feedback, I wait about 5 days after they received the item then send a message saying I hope they were pleased with the item and to le me know if there are any issues to be resolved so that I can leave feedback knowing the transaction is complete. They all reply with thank you and 98% leave feedback. I then Leave feedback for them. You open yourself slightly to very, very few buyers claiming to not have received the item as in lost in the post but that’s life. A positive feedback is worth’s more than the hassle of claiming through the post office or proving the buyer was lying.

I usually leave feedback.

If I get a reminder message, I NEVER leave feedback!

I often get good feedback for nice packaging. I did seasonal packaging last year for Halloween (had a old Halloween table cover and black tissue paper lying around) and it was well I frequently purchase on eBay myself, thetwo thongs I appreciate most are speedy posting and nice packaging.

I had an absolutely hideous ebay transaction recently. Upset me for days if I'm honest. Thankfully, ebay agreed that the buyer was a wanker who was trying to blackmail me into partially refunding the item for no good reason and sending vile messages, and after a while removed the (very unfair) negative feedback. I like a note, printed or otherwise. Would it prompt me to leave feedback? Maybe, but I tend to do it in batches when I get around to it...

Also, as a seller I now often leave feedback for them first. It's not like you can leave them negative, so it often acts as a prompt for them to leave you feedback in return.

100% and I check to make sure that all the previous transactions aren't '1p for email' feedback generators

Interesting, so even if someone has 100% it doesn't automatically mean they're all that. It's a good point but I bet most people would never check.

When buyers don’t leave feedback, I wait about 5 days after they received the item then send a message saying I hope they were pleased with the item and to le me know if there are any issues to be resolved so that I can leave feedback knowing the transaction is complete. They all reply with thank you and 98% leave feedback. I then Leave feedback for them. You open yourself slightly to very, very few buyers claiming to not have received the item as in lost in the post but that’s life. A positive feedback is worth’s more than the hassle of claiming through the post office or proving the buyer was lying.

I was so tempted to do this but I'm so nervous in case the buyer isn't actually happy, and it opens up something unpleasant when they would otherwise have just let it go.

@BogglesGoggles I don't think it's fair to expect private sellers to use beautiful packaging. I'm sure most of us reuse packaging, mainly to save money but also to save plastic and be more environmentally friendly. I still package the item well in a neat and presentable way, and add another layer if necessary to make it safe. But I think "beautiful" packaging is an unfair expectation of private sellers, and also wasteful.