eBay Will No Longer Allow Negative Buyer Feedback
Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:39AM EST
See Comments (48)
2008 is bringing some interesting times for eBay. Its CEO Meg Whitman, one of Silicon Valley's most long-lived and controversy-free CEOs, is stepping down in March. Rumors of a big acquisition are flying. And now, some changes are in store for people who actually use the site to buy and sell stuff.
The big news: Come May 2008, sellers will no longer be able to leave negative or neutral feedback for buyers. eBay's rationale is that it will encourage buyers to leave more honest feedback for sellers. Negative feedback from buyers is rare because of the fear of reprisal from a seller leaving negative feedback against you out of spite.
And while this should remove the fear of leaving negative feedback against crooked sellers, longtime eBay merchants are already upset with the change, as it takes away their lone mechanism for fighting buyer fraud in the auction process. Just about every seller (including myself) has faced a buyer who refused to pay, or who just didn't understand how auctions worked, and once in a while I've hit these buyers with negative feedback.
I can understand where eBay is coming from: Protecting buyers is critical in an auction system. But could this move backfire? eBay has historically placed more and more restrictions on its sellers over the years. Could this be the straw that breaks the camel's back? (I'm not sure it is, if for no other reason than that auction sellers really have nowhere else to go.)
Other changes are also in the works, including the removal of all negative/neutral feedback left by suspended members, switching the time you can leave feedback from 90 to 60 days, and additional ability for repeat buyers to leave more feedback for sellers. (Today, your feedback for a seller counts only one time, ever.)
Hear the seller anger by listening in here! That's a lot of ranting!
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7 Posted by frishman1 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree, I've bought and sold about 80 items through Ebay. The only negative feedback I've received is from a seller only after I complained about how they packaged the merchandise. It was just a payback for giving them negative feedback.
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8 Posted by redsphinx@verizon.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:34PM EDT Report Abuse
What happens to buyers victimized by shabby business practices involving poor quality wares or equipment that won't work? What happens to sellers victimized by deadbeats? Negatives are unpleasant, but a necessity nonetheless. This is an abysmally stupid move, and may end up being a costly one as well.
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9 Posted by m_knopp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:32PM EDT Report Abuse
This is a heavy handed and poorly thought out solution. Did they spend more then a minute thinking this up and deciding to implement it. The most practical solution to avoiding reprisal feedback while still allowing for negative feedback is to make a blind submittal process. Until both parties have submitted feedback neither can see what the other stated or how they ranked. This completely negates the fear of reprisal. As for the problem with sellers and buyers who do not leave feedback, I agree, in part, with rougeist. After the 60 days period any unsubmitted feedback automatically becomes a neutral with a note of no complaint/feedback left. I have both bought and sold on EBay and I regularly use the feedback in all of my dealings. Without that feedback, I am doubtful that I will continue to use Ebay much.
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10 Posted by david_lmt on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:38PM EDT Report Abuse
eBay needs to make buyers register with a credit card or checking account, or ID Verify, just like they do with sellers. I am tired of buyers that can just go and create another eBay account to harass a seller. I recommend that all eBay users send their ideas/suggestions/complaints to the suggestion box found on the site map, or here: http://pages.ebay.com/help/newtoebay/suggest.html and let your voice be heard.
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11 Posted by beloth on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:05PM EDT Report Abuse
I’ve been selling on ebay for over 8 years, I have 99.9% positive feedback and the only negatives I have are from bad buyers. I think the feedback change is absolutely insane. I have had multiple buyers in the past that have tried to scam me, and use feedback extortion to get there way and now eBay is facilitating them. I’m not saying there are not BAD sellers too, but no matter what anyone says THERE ARE BAD BUYERS, and this is not the answer. I am actively looking for an alternative to eBay.
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12 Posted by garden_railroader on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:06PM EDT Report Abuse
from tlsantosuosso@sbcglobal.net "change any positive feedback to the seller into and automatic double negative feedback because the seller never left feedback for the buyer." You sir have a strange sense of how to cure the system. At least eBay is trying to turn things around and your suggestion only turns it to failure.
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13 Posted by thatdamngood04 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:02PM EDT Report Abuse
Good its about time.Some of the sellers on Ebay think they are gods.They dont hold up their end of the deal and give negative feedback.There should be a place for both sides to leave more info on the transaction.This is not to say the buyers are all perfect.
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14 Posted by ibmspatsy on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:22PM EDT Report Abuse
I buy & sell on ebay! I say No To the new Feedback Policy! It is a unfair onesided system!!!
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15 Posted by kykbs on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:55PM EDT Report Abuse
Please, eBay, don't ruin such a good thing for all of us. I live in a very rural area and depend on eBay for my lifeline to the things I can't find near me. It has enriched my life, and, frankly, has been a lot of fun. Why don't we just use the rule that I learned at an early age while my mom was twisting my ear: "If you can't say anything good about someone, don't say anything at all."
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16 Posted by ka7aok831 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:46PM EDT Report Abuse
We understand why Ebay is doing what it is doing but we also understand the sellers; concerns. Perhaps Ebay could set up their program so that only the first post counts and a response will not be printed. That way if the seller posts a negative first, it is probably accurate, and not a reactive get even.
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17 Posted by uffpet on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:27PM EDT Report Abuse
As someone who buys on eBay a lot more than the other way around, I welcome this change. Although I am not sure that this is the best way to go about this. But something needed to be done - I learned a long time ago not to ever leave negative feedback for a seller (even if the pillow wasn't new as stated, or the vase was damaged instead of in mint condition...). The good old eBay days where sellers and buyers actually dealt in a by and large friendly, civilized and personal way with each other are long gone. They have been replaced with automated messages from sellers and the heck with it if it doesn't fit your question or problem, forget about getting a response - most of them don't even seem to check their mailboxes. I've been on eBay with one interruption since around 1999 and have become thoroughly disillusioned with the process and eBay's ways of dealing with problems - not. My 100 % feedback rating that I have worked very hard at by paying promptly and attempting to communicate in a friendly way can be ----- tered to pieces by one negative feedback from a seller who doesn't like the truth (ever seen Spode plates wrapped in nothing but newspaper and shipped to you across the country?). I therefore agree that the system needs to change. Just not sure whether now forbidding sellers to tell the truth about buyers is the way to go. With all the technology out there, there should be a way to find an intelligent solution that is fair to both sides.
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18 Posted by mn_treasures on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:24PM EDT Report Abuse
We were already looking at changing over to Google checkout to save on fees and with eBay/PayPal's new 21 day hold rule which could mean shipping and never getting paid that is a certain. The other change these new rules are going to mean is that more sellers "myself included" will not except bids from bidders with only a few feedbacks as they are the people bid without understanding how eBay works and the ones that are most likely to leave a negative feedback for no reason. Which makes the no negative feedback change a catch 22 as these bidders are precisely the ones eBay is trying to get back into the house. And we again have eBay shoving a increase down our throats but for many of us though upset this one won't hurt for long as we've already closed our eBay stores and moved those auctions to other sites. So I welcome eBay's latest moves as it will only help all of us sellers that have already moved over the Amazon's and Overstock.com's.
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19 Posted by roddygra on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:47PM EDT Report Abuse
To be honest, the system really needs updating. I find it really funny that people come on here and complain that they are criticised by newbies who do not understand ebay. However, the problems of negative feedback have been developed by these so called superior experienced Buyers because the whole ebay system is so over focused on the % approval that they have put in place a system that actually helps poor sellers rather than good sellers. The eBay of today, thanks to the experience Ebay Campaigners, contains a lot of sellers that have artifiicially high reputations (due to the %). This in turn gives buyers too much confidence in the seller and helps to perpetuate the fraudulent activities. What the heck is wrong with a little criticism anyway? Why do people take been told that there was long dispatch time so badly? If it is true the Seller should learn, accept it and apologise. The seller, should only get a little angry when it is not warranted. If the seller continues to get the same criticism maybe he/she should look at how to improve it rather than kill the messanger with retalitory feedback. For god sake, there is not even a way on the feedback to view just all the negatives, i really do not want to read pages and pages of A++++++ seller. I want to know if the problem with a seller is recurring, long dispatch times, item not arriving etc. Why do I need to know this is an A++++++ seller. What does that even mean anyhow? is there a difference between a A with 7+'s and an A with 8? I am an occasional buyer and I have just received retalitory negative feedback. I bought something off of eBay from a company that misrepresented its location and I ended up with a huge import tax bill. Of course paypal and eBay did nothing about it, the seller is a power seller (more than 30,000 items) and is still selling and still misrepresenting the item's location.
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20 Posted by russp1968 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:56PM EDT Report Abuse
Concerning the first posting by, mwbudd,It appears that only SELLERS will not be able to leave negative feedback. Buyers are still able to rate the buyers.
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21 Posted by uffpet on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:27PM EDT Report Abuse
In response to comment no. 22 by roddygra, there is a website that allows you to query all the negative eBay feedback a person has received, buyer or seller. I use it quite a bit with these power sellers you mentioned where it is tough/impossible to find amongst 30,000 ratings. Go to toolhaus.org, and just enter the eBay Id of the person. It works and by getting all the negative feedback on one page, one can also get a feel for the nature of the problems people had and then make a more informed decision about whether it is a good idea to buy from someone.
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22 Posted by carolynlsp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse
I agree with the posting that Feedback is not being used right/correctly. I think it should be the Seller that leaves feedback First, as the Buyer bids, and then pays, and the Seller mails item out...once Seller has mailed item to Buyer, Seller is done with his/her job for the most part...so she/he can leave feedback for Buyer. Buyer shouldn't have to leave feedback until the item(s) are received and then should feel comfortable leaving true real feedback(positive or negative but true)...not worrying if they leave true feedback then the Seller will also leave negative feedback for the Buyer... Ebay could also have another step for Seller to respond, but not go back and forth..leave that for dispute department... Something for Ebay to think about...but for Sellers to not be able to leave any negative feedback is not fair...as other Sellers have a right to know if this person is a good Buyer...
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23 Posted by carolynlsp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:18PM EDT Report Abuse
There have been some Great Comments here and I think it would be in the Best Interest of Ebay for their CEO to read them and give this another thought. I think #10 has a great idea, to where both sides leave feeback, and nothing is shown until both feebacks have been posted..then post feedbacks to where all can see. With this goes the fact that everyone must leave feedback... or Seller leaves feedback first as Sellers job is complete before Buyers is. These two so far are well worth looking into... Leave well enough alone, until you have a Solution that will work for all..
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24 Posted by kc20022005 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:48PM EDT Report Abuse
what safety as anybody got in trusting ebay when buying or selling , im sure people will stop using ebay without this guarantee, 6 of my friends have already stated this, it appears that ebay are opening a door to fraud. regards k
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25 Posted by riverwest2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:42PM EDT Report Abuse
If this is how things are for new customers, you can forget about me buying anything on EBay.
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6 Posted by tlsantosuosso@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:12PM EDT Report Abuse
As both a buyer and a seller I see the merit of this. Since I sell and have to protect my feedback rating for the highest paypal protection amount many time when I have been ripped off by a seller I have refused to leave negative feedback for fear of it messing up my feedback for selling.