When to Leave Feedback?

[jaybird]

Back when I first started buying stuff on eBay, I was always frustrated with sellers who didn't leave me feedback after I paid. I thought that my end of the deal was done & deserved the feedback.

Now that I've sold stuff for a couple of years, I'm the same way as the sellers who I used to buy stuff from. After a few bad experiences, you realize that feedback is just about all the protection you have from a unreasonable buyer.

So, I now have a buyer demanding feedback since he paid with PayPal. I know where he's coming from, because I've been there myself. But since he's already been so picky over the transaction (shipping), I'm afraid to lose my protection.

What do you do about feedback?

[Achika]

I leave it as soon as I get payment or as soon as I get the item. I don't hound people for feedback nor do I care to. It's easier to go through my feedback-to-do list on eBay and check off those who have paid, so all I have remaining are people who "say" (I use this loosely nowadays) they will be sending a MO or for non paying bidders, so I know who I have to harass later with NPBR's and Final Value Fees.

I'm confident in what I sell and have been for 2 years, so if someone's paid, they've just fulfilled their contract so I can leave them f/b. And if they have a problem, they can email me and I'll take care of it. I haven't really had any "crazy" bidders I haven't been able to take care of and haven't had any problems with my no returns/refunds/exchanges for any reason policy. Sometimes I've been told I underdescribe how good a condition the item is in. Quite frankly, I know I'm picky so I sell things on a picky scale.

[jaybird]

I'm not sure...

I have no doubt he'll be happy with item, and I packed it very well, but I just have a bad feeling about him.

He emailed me about 6 times before the auction closed wanting to know where I bought the item, how long it had been used, if I would ship to Canada, how I would package, when I would ship.

Now it's why didn't I email to tell him when I shipped, what is the transit time, when will I leave feedback, why won't I leave feedback yet...

Maybe he's had bad eBay experiences, but I'd hope my feedback (396) would be good enough for him. I just don't want to see it go to 395 because the item had a speck of dust on it.

[slapdash]

Well, I'd say leave somewhat tentative feedback now -- I mean, if he leaves negative feedback for you, you can respond to it, right?

[jaybird]

Yeah, I can respond to it, but it still scars my feedback & he has a nice shiny positive.

Like I said before, I have absolutely no reason to think he won't be happy with the item (it works great, never had a problem), but I'm just not as picky as he obviously is.

[Mother]

If you sell alot you will get negatives. As a buyer it doesnt bother me to see someone with 2000 + and a few negatives. Actually if I see someone with perfect feedback I become suspicious. What I check for is retaliatory feedback from seller or a pattern of disreputable behavior. I also check to see if a seller witholds feedback. I may be an exception but I will not buy from someone if I see they only leave feedback if the buyer leaves it first.

At any rate if your really worried about your feedback just let the guy know you will refund him his money minus a small handling fee if he is not happy. Even though I dont sell a lot I offer 30 day refunds on most of my auctions and have yet to have anyone take me up on it.

[usk84flip]

I am exactly the way you are. I don't feel comfortable leaving feedback until the other person does. There are strange people out there, and then there are strangER people out there. Sounds like you have a case of the latter. I don't leave feedback first unless the item is NEW and in the package, and is clearly an item not to be mistaken for anything different. I currently have different accounts for different people I do business for, and frankly I wouldn't leave feedback for this guy until he leaves it for you. I feel that if you leave feedback, it is easier in his mind to give you a negative and not worry about it just because he's a an ass and thinks you did one tiny thing wrong and since the biggest source of recourse you had is now gone since you left him feedback. Now most people are genuine, and most people deserve the feedback given to them, but this guy is exactly the reason I don't leave feedback first. Just my Opinion, ~Matt

[leonk]

I used to leave feedback right after a sell was made, and item shipped..

but I got burned doing that!

I got one jack ass of a buyer that left me negative feedback (After I left him positive feedback) complaining about something in the product that is specifically writing in BOLD H1 case in the description of the item!

Talk about buyers not reading description of what they buy and then bitch about it!

Sheesh...

LK