This Post is about eBay

Dealing with bad eBay feedback and complaints Part 1.

 

The eBay feedback system changed several months ago to only allowing sellers to leave positive feedback for buyers. This caused a great rumpus at the time in the eBay forums, with weeks of mostly negative comments about the changes.

 

So what was the problem and does it still exist? EBay perceived the system that was in place at the time was prone to manipulation. It was easy to gain positive feedback by buying enough 25p e-books so therefore buying positive feedback for a small amount of money.

 

It was also used buy a smaller number of sellers as a lever that they would leave bad feedback for other members if they failed to leave positive for them. Many including myself disliked the changes. I had very mixed feelings over the matter. Although I disliked the idea of using feedback as a lever over another seller or buyer, I disliked the fact that feedback could be bought.

 

I though the changes were ill thought out from the seller’s perspective as eBay were trying to keep buyers to make more money. The thought of negative feedback is a great disincentive to using the site.

 

Just after the changes were made I received an e-mail threatening that if I did not send double of the product I was selling for the same price as a single item I would get bad feedback. Needless to say I did not send another item free. Needless to say the negative comment was duly left and is still visible today on my detailed seller ratings (it is the only one).

 

So what can you do if you receive negative feedback? Well you can get mad; throw a wobbler, scream, shout etc, etc. Do you feel any better? Did it change anything? No.

 

Sometimes you just have to roll with it. You can ask the buyer or seller for mutual feedback withdrawal, where both parties agree to have there comments removed. It can work, it happened for me once but don’t hold your breath!

 

Continued next time

Rob.