AuctionCut

The question of avoiding negative feedback has been an ongoing debate on many forums since the start of ebay.

I personally look at the on cost of avoiding a negative, some times it can cost several hundred pounds to give a customer what they want. I must admit though that I aim to make my listings as accurate as possible and include everything possible so the customer is informed.

Unfortunately there is always going to be "one!" so whats your thoughts?

Is it worth all the time, effort and money to avoid negative feedbacks?

(Please take this question in context, I am assuming you are a good ebayer and accurately describe ect )

I'm still in the 100% feedback category, however I have had a couple of unjust neutrals left by petty or naive buyers.

If I am contacted by the buyer over a problem with their purchase, I will listen to what they have to say, and offer an alternative. The majority of my sales are lowish value so if an item is lost, I simply refund or replace without question, then claim back from the Royal Mail.

I've never had a problem with mis-discription, but have had problems with buyers mis-understanding. Most were kind enough to contact me first to discuss, and we sorted it out amicably - in one case i drove to leeds to pick-up a "faulty" Digital camera. Worked for me OK, and then the buyer admitted it was a present for his son, and the ungrateful gobsh17e did not like it - £300rrp as well!

And I have had the misfortune of somebody leaving a neutral with "Where is my item?" with no prior correspondance!

I appreciate a neg from an idiot is almost inevitable, but if it is avoidable at a small cost or effort by myself, then I will do what i can to avoid it, but i refuse to have my leg lifted when I know I am in the right.

I was at 100% for a long time. Then it finally happened, as it usually does. Some newbie, didn't read the auction, did not communicate dissatisfaction, left a neg. I thought I'd be really upset, but frankly, I really didn't care that much about it. In the big picture, it really isn't that important. If you consider any business, they always are going to have the odd person who just isn't satisfied, no matter what you do.

Well, I'll just add my 2 cents..

I was 100% until I hit 17.. (Yea, I know.. woo hoo.. :D)

I had 3 auctions that ended at the same time. A Thursday. Unfortunately, the next day, I took a header off my roof and broke my foot.. I was laid up all weekend, drugged up (with pharmacological remedies both gross and benign) and feeling pretty rotten..

I finally was able to get moving around again and hobbled to the Post to send the packages. They went out on a Tuesday.. I emailed all three recepients, explaining the problem and got 3 "Don't worry about it. 'Preciate the update" type responses...

Then, two weeks later, I got the Neutral "Shipping was late" FEEDBACK..

Grrrrrrr

And the REALLY annoying part is that the guy got a fully functional DVD/VHS Combo Player for $5.50!!!

So, anyways, I was really bummed, but just left a factual, "Medical Emergency prevented me from shipping item until 4 days after EOA."

Hopefully, people will see that and realize the circumstances...

Well, that's my negative/neutral feedback story..


Michale

This is a hazy area . As a seller I never left feedback until it had been left for me.

AuctionGuy wrote:This is a hazy area . As a seller I never left feedback until it had been left for me.

I guess it all depends on what criteria one uses to determine a good buyer.

For me, it's simply whether or not the buyer pays immediately. Or if he/she doesn't pay immediately, at least they get into contact and state when they will pay.

Using that criteria, I leave feedback as soon as the person pays.

However, I do see your point. Who wants to say nice things about a person who then turns around and is unreasonable in their expectations.

So, I can see both sides of the issue..

Especially since I did leave good feedback for the buyer I mentioned above. And they turn around and leave me neutral..


Michale

I am a newbie to ebay and had recently won a bid on a pair of boots : )

I paid immediately. The item arrived a week later & were not in the 'hardly worn' state as described by seller. Worse, the top rim of one boot was totally ripped off - (cleverly folded over and hidden in the photo displayed on ebay).

Although payment was immediate no feedback was left for me by the seller. I contacted the seller a number of times to see how to resolve this matter.

After 2 and half weeks the seller emailed and said that i could return the boots and they would refund me the money (which i agreed to), but the seller has since not responded with address etc. so i cant return them.

I share the ebay a/c with my boyfriend who does not want to leave bad feedback because he says the seller will leave us bad feedback...!!!???

The seller should have left us feedback once they recieved the money but didnt - i guess they knew we wouldnt be happy with the boots & not leaving us feedback was a tactic on their part.

This leaves me to believe that a lot of the feedback you see on ebay cant be very realible because people (for whatever reason may not leave negative feedback).

Because i'm a newbie and dont know what to do, i am going to do nothing...and that is probably what other buyers of this seller have done in the past, leading people to believe that the seller is an honest reliable person.

Do you think this is the right move or is there another approach i could use with the seller?

Unfortuantely, when you give anyone a soap box, they have an opportunity to say what the hell they want.....

Ive had issues wher eI've gone out my way to help, with computer issues etc and then the buyer goes and leaves neg for none support - it is a problem however you have to realise its the world we are in.