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eBay

If you buy or sell items on eBay, you will find tips and advice on this forum.

Original poster

Do you leave +ve feedback for buyers before you've got feedback from them?

75 replies

Legacy · 29/05/2007 09:33

I usually wait until my buyers have received their items and are happy and leave +ve feedback, but I've got a whole load of buyers who still owe me feedback. I don't think they're avoiding leaving it because it's negative, but I'm a bit nervous of asking 'was everything OK?' so should I leave +ve feedback first as a 'prompt' do you think?

OP posts:
FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 11:38

Icing, the buyer's response to any problems arising makes up an important part of the transaction. If a buyer leaves negative feedback for me without contacting me to allow me to sort out the problem, have they communicated well? Have they been a reasonable and fair partner in the transaction? Are they an eBayer who I would wish to recommend to other eBayers? No, they aren't. This would affect my feedback about them, of course. Being a good buyer is about more than paying on time.

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 11:43

Two examples:

Buyer 1 pays promptly, then after 5 weeks (when many sellers would have destroyed proof of purchase which enables them to claim their money back from the post office) claims item never turned up. Doesn't contact seller to sort out the problem, but claims the amount paid back on Paypal, and leaves bad feedback.

Buyer 2 is a slow payer but does pay after the first reminder. After 2 weeks he emails to let the seller know the item has not turned up. Seller agrees to look into it and makes claim at post office. Buyer co-operates with post office claim including filling out a form to say item has never been received. After receiving his refund, buyer leaves good feedback indicating there were problems but the seller sorted them out and he got a refund.

So what feedback does each buyer deserve, and what feedback would they get if the seller left feedback based only on how fast they paid, as has been suggested?

IcingOnTheCake · 29/05/2007 11:44

Thats true, i have only ever been on the buyer end so i wouldn't really know about being a seller. I have always left positive feedback as i am lucky enough to have had good transactions.

IcingOnTheCake · 29/05/2007 11:46

Do people really do that

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 11:49

People do ANYTHING, Icing

You would not BELIEVE stories I have heard about things buyers (and sellers, of course) get up to. Makes me so glad I am usually only to be found in the book category. It's relatively civilised over there

IcingOnTheCake · 29/05/2007 11:54

I would never do that to someone, it's so wrong! I have some stuff to sell on ebay soon, i hope no one does that to me.

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 11:57

Icing, always get proof of postage and keep it safe somewhere. If you don't hear from the buyer after 2 weeks or so then you can email them to check if the item arrived ok. Also keeping your paypal account empty protects against chargebacks. Post on here if you have any problems, we should be able to work something out.

IcingOnTheCake · 29/05/2007 11:59

I don't understand chargebacks?

IcingOnTheCake · 29/05/2007 12:00

I see now why sellers don't leave feedback until the buyer does.

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 12:01

If the buyer pays by paypal and claims not to have received the item, he / she can calim their money back through paypal if you can't provide proof the item was sent. Proof of postage should do as proof. If your paypal account is empty, however, Paypal are not able to take the money from you.

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 12:01

LOL I am glad you understand about the feedback now Icing!

IcingOnTheCake · 29/05/2007 12:05

I will remember that! What a** holes we have in this world!

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 12:06

Ah, eBay is mostly a good place. Just make sure you do things by the book and the protection is there for both buyers and sellers, usually.

Original poster
Legacy · 29/05/2007 12:10

Gosh F&Z - I didn't know that about chargebacks! Would you get notified about them, or could they just happen without you knowing?

I prefer to leave money I've made on eBay to buy things on eBay IYSWIM - means I probably have about £100 in Paypal. But I don't check the account that often - eek!

Also, doesn't it take longer to process payments if you don't have money in Paypal and they have to draw a charge from your bank?

Someone paid me by e-cheque through Paypal two weeks ago, and it's taking AGES to clear...

OP posts:
sixlostmonkeys · 29/05/2007 12:11

I'm totally with Franny on this.

Feedback is optional
feedback should be left at the end of the transaction - payment is just the beginning.

It's best not to ask for feedback because you might not like what you get.

Ebay is about the buying and selling of goods not the buying and selling of feedback.

Franny has given some great examples of what can go wrong - and what can make a buyer one to be avoided. I have a LOT of buyers on my blocked list, and they are not just the ones I have dealt with myself. If I see that a buyer has been totally unreasonable, abusive etc I will not allow him to bid on my items.

Do not fear the Feedback! feedback is there NOT for people to get bigger numbers after their name but to let other ebayers know who they are dealing with. Community spirit should prompt you to leave a neg if it's called for. If you get a retalitory neg you simply respond by stating its a retalitory neg. This will not put people off from trading with you.

Original poster
Legacy · 29/05/2007 12:12

well said SLM!

OP posts:
sixlostmonkeys · 29/05/2007 12:14

paypal can still do a chargback even if there is no money in your paypal account - they will take it from your card on file.
The minimum postal protection a seller needs is recorded delivery. Without a tracking number paypal will always refund the buyer

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 12:14

Sorry Legacy I don't know enough about it to answer your questions. I'll try to find out.

Personally I pay by paypal and they draw funds from my bank account and it is instant, like a debit card - I have a verified account linked to my bank account which is what makes the difference, I think. It takes a week or so to become verified but is well worth doing if you buy and sell with any regularity on eBay.

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 12:16

SLM is that right? Thanks for the information, I didn't know either of those things.

The reason I thought Paypal could not withdraw funds from your bank acc was that once I had to pursue a NPS through Paypal and I was unable to get my money back, I thought, because he had no funds in his Paypal acc. Perhaps he had no funds in his bank acc either? Or perhaps things have changed?

sixlostmonkeys · 29/05/2007 12:19

Franny - the only way I can see a seller not getting the money whipped from him is if he empties his bank account, closes it... or something. Of course this would be a lot of trouble to go to and he wouldn't be able to use paypal again.

It really is an almost automated process - buyer claims item not received, seller doesn't input the tracking number, paypal refund the buyer.

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 12:23

Yep, I see....I don't know what went wrong when I tried to claim through Paypal this one time

I am wondering if I have remembered it wrong and there was another reason for it not working out

I checked about the online tracking and see that you're right - I suppose the advice to get proof of posting is still good for less valuable items as you could then claim back from the Post office. I would always send more expensive items registered, anyway, as you are not covered otherwise.

Original poster
Legacy · 29/05/2007 12:23

So a proof of postage wouldn't be any good? (No tracking number)

OP posts:
Original poster
Legacy · 29/05/2007 12:24

Yes - sometimes it's quicker and cheaper to send things by £5.99 courier than posting! AND you get a tracking a number...

OP posts:
sixlostmonkeys · 29/05/2007 12:33

yes franny - I always send recorded for the more expensive items - in fact anything over a tenner

a (far too) common occurance is - buyers receive their item posted standerd mail. they claim money back from paypal knowing full well that the seller hasn't got a tracking number

FrannyandZooey · 29/05/2007 12:36

But ordinary proof of postage would mean you could claim back from the post office, at least

ruddy annoying, though