Dear eBay Queen,
My good friend sells on eBay. She complains all the time that buyers do not leave feedback for her before she leaves it for them. I’ve told her that there are many reasons why a buyer may not choose to leave feedback and some of those reasons have little to do with a buyer being a satisfied customer. I am primarily a SELLER on eBay. I do occasionally make personal purchases from my seller IDs, but I don't always want my buyers, or the general public for that matter, to be privy to personal items I may purchase on eBay. If an eBay seller chooses not to leave me Buyer feedback, without reciprocal feedback, that is their prerogative. My friend and I have discussed this and really just wore out the topic. What are your thoughts on the subject of asking for feedback?
While we are on the subject of my friend, her listings are full of statements regarding reciprocal feedback. One of her terms is, "don't bid on my items if you don't leave seller feedback." The terms of service in her listing forms are a stage for her to gripe about the workings of DSR's and seller fee discounts. (Maybe a tutorial on how to ensure sellers get their "DSR" ratings would be a better term.) We’ve discussed her eBay terms before, and I don't deny that DSR's can affect a seller. I just don’t think her listing form is the ideal place to rant about matters of business which a buyer could care less about. I don’t think she realizes it, but she is sending the message to potential customers that she is "doing them a favor by conducting business with them, and if they aren't willing to comply with her expectations, to get lost." I guess if it were me, I would completely avoid my friend’s listings if I were a potential buyer. I’ve tried to tell her to think like a buyer who is unfamiliar with eBay. Once they read all her verbiage, they will bolt. She just doesn’t seem to care. There is NO other retail venue where a customer’s patronage is subject on a buyer leaving feedback. Why any eBay seller would want to convey such a message to potential customers is beyond my comprehension, but I'm more than happy to sell to those customers who might by chance, choose to browse MY items after they leave a feedback desperate sellers auction and happen to run into my auctions next. I perform regular market research. I KNOW these buyers have a bunch of options to choose from to spend their dollars, and I'm grateful to have them consider my items.
The last time a brick and mortar store offended me with some unreasonable expectation to enter their store, I made the decision never to shop there again. Customers vote with their feet or with their "back button" as the case may be on the Internet. What do you think about sellers begging for feedback?
Darlene S.
Topeka, KS
Dear Darlene:
In recent years, it seems to be more and more important to receive feedback. I don’t completely understand the obsession with feedback myself. As a seller, I am a bit nervous to ask for feedback. Maybe I’m superstitious, but I’m worried if they haven’t left it and I have to ask for it, then maybe it won’t be a positive feedback in the first place. I know that some people feel feedback numbers are important, and the higher the better.
I agree with you when it comes to the crazy terms in some sellers listings. I know where these freaked out sellers are coming from with all the crazy terms, but I don’t think they care or realize how it sounds to someone that doesn’t sell on eBay. When I read some of the more extreme terms, I tend to believe they have had some kind of wild buyer make them that way. It’s been my experience that most people do not even read the listing, let alone the terms. I know even when I am bidding I tend to look at the photos. I have to remind myself to read the description.
If your friend still wants to keep asking for feedback and keep her terms let her! It takes all kinds of sellers to make the eBay world go round.
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