Leaving feedback on Ebay

[denis567]

Do you have a policy about leaving feedback on Ebay?.
If you are a seller, do you leave feedback as soon as the item is paid for, or if you are a buyer, do you leave feedback as soon as the item arrives and is satisfactory.
I ask the question because, I used to do as above, but I am fed up with people just not bothering to leave feedback, even if they have already got mine, so I now wait until they have left theirs, then I leave mine immediately.

[HarryFindlay]

I leave mine as soon as I get the money or item,

Most people get the same feedback, none of that A++++++ great ebayer , would love to deal with again nonsense

[bednobs]

sellers never seem to leave feedback till you have left yours, which is pretty rude if you ask me

[welshlibranr]

never leave mine until the item is received, don't sell, only buy!............if item is received always give positive feedback, but having a problem now for the very first time in years, not received item!............sellers says she has posted!.........not received, says she will repost, well, we'll see!..........hope she does!....otherwise very negative feedback for her!..........

[karenmac60]

That's the thing though Welsh - she may well have posted it and the item has gone astray. That's not really her fault is it? Mr mac sells a lot and he is really organised about it - he'll go out to post items in all weathers as soon as the auction ends. But one or two items have gone missing in the post or been delayed. It's as frustrating for him as it is for the buyer because he knows he has posted it really promptly, and as it is books or cds he's done with, he doesn't have a replacement to send on. Some buyers can be quite nasty about it, even though he has always refunded - leaving himself out of pocket.

[TheWinner]

I buy and sell. I believe in good communication. If I buy an item, I usually leave feedback when I have received the item. When I sell, I usually drop the buyer a note, thanking them for their prompt payment, telling them when the item was posted plus a few words like 'I'm sure you will enjoy this book it's a great read!' or something similar. When they have received it, they can leave me feedback which I return immediately. I have never had anyone not leave me feeback and I sell worldwide. I always thought that the buyer should leave f/b first, so you know it has arrived. What I don't like, is buying something, paying immediately, and not hearing anything until it drops on the mat! That's what I think is rude.

[boxtops]

I agree with the Winner - I buy and sell. If I'm buying I leave feedback as soon as I've received the item. If I'm selling, I drop a line to the buyer saying "I've mailed your item, please let me know when it arrives, and I will leave feedback for you then - I hope that you will do the same for me", then as soon as I get their feedback I leave mine for them. If they don't respond within a couple of weeks, I'll leave feedback (kind of general "good transaction" stuff) in the hopes that it will trigger their memory. I can't see the point in leaving feedback the minute someone pays - there's a lot can go wrong between paying and receipt.
Welsh - it may not be the seller's fault, I've had things go missing in the post in the past - it does take a while to sort out with Royal Mail and I would never leave bad feedback under those circumstances, until all other avenues have been explored.

[bednobs]

hmm, but say the buyer pays by paypal, directly after the auction finishes, they have then completed their part of the transaction. So why not leave them feedback then? if they don't recieve item, or you've been rubbish and packed it awfully and they say so in their feedback, are you then going to leave them crap feedback? despite the fact they've completed the transaction perfectly? By implication, you are saying you'll only leave them feedback if they leave you good feedback

[TheWinner]

and I agree with Boxtops. I would never leave my feedback just because I have their money.
I have sold all over the world,even as far as Hawaii and Australia, and I have never, ever, had a parcel go missing. I always get proof of posting or send recorded delivery or similar, and I clearly write the senders name address and postcode on the back of every envelope or parcel.

[boxtops]

I don't see it that way, bednobs - we keep communication open, I wouldn't want to leave five star feedback until I know that the customer is happy. Even if they don't leave feedback at all, I will still leave good for them if all went smoothly from my end - just not immediately.

[bednobs]

" I wouldn't want to leave five star feedback until I know that the customer is happy"

surely whether they are happy or not is related to the feedback they leave you, not what you leave them. If they weren't happy because, for example the packaging was rubbish and something broke in transit, it has nothing to do with the fact they paid in good time, and completed the transaction in a five star manner!

[welshlibranr]

karen, not really worried about it!........not q great loss to me if it never arrives, just that this it the first time this has happened for me and that she said it was despatched on 16th May, that was a Sunday!........Not sure, but i think she forgot to post it!.............but as long as it arrives, then it's fine!.................

[boxtops]

I take your point, bednobs - but my way works for me, and my buyers who leave feedback all seem very happy.

[flobadob]

I usually leave feedback soon after receiving the item if it is going to be positive. If I am not too happy with the purchase I sometimes don't bother leaving negative feedback, I just don't leave any feedback.

[annie0000]

If I am selling then I leave feedback as soon as the person has paid, buying usually when it arrives. Didn't leave feedback for a buyer recently as they took 10 days to pay - it was only £1 though so wasn't bothered about leaving poor feedback, they were fairly new but had positive feedback so far - i guess they just forgot but I couldn't really leave positive feedback either. I went with the old adage, If you can't say something nice then don't say anything at all>

[TheWinner]

Annie0000, in cases like that, leave a one word feedback, like: Thanks, or a two word feedback, like Transaction completed.

[boxtops]

Agree, my feedback is muted if people don't play ball, a lady in Europe asked for 10 days to pay then sent an eBay cheque which took another 5 days to pay. She still got good feedback from me but not "quick payment" which others might get.

Incidentally - I bought something last week paying with PayPal, I left feedback as soon as it arrived a few days ago - the seller just left feedback for me tonight - so others do use my protocol of feeding back when receipt confirmed. I'm happy with that.

[annie0000]

good idea winner